Oleta Adams
Oleta Adams | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 4, 1953 |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist, pianist, songwriter |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Known for | Collaboration with Tears for Fears, solo albums Circle of One and Evolution |
Oleta Angela Adams (born May 4, 1953) is a distinguished American vocalist, pianist, and songwriter. Although her early 1980s endeavors met with modest success, she achieved global acclaim through her involvement in Tears for Fears' acclaimed album The Seeds of Love (1989). Her solo projects, including Circle of One (1991) and Evolution (1993), both secured positions within the UK top 10. Notably, Circle of One featured a Grammy-nominated rendition of Brenda Russell's "Get Here", which climbed into the top 5 charts in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Throughout her career, Adams has earned four Grammy nods alongside two nominations at the Soul Train Music Awards.
Biography
Raised by a preacher father, Adams’ early life was steeped in gospel music, where she first developed her musical talents within the church setting. Her family later settled in Yakima, Washington. During the 1970s, she moved to Los Angeles and produced a demo tape; however, the music industry’s focus on disco at the time limited interest in her style.
Acting on guidance from vocal coach Lee Farrell, Adams relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, where she performed locally and self-funded two initial albums that achieved only modest commercial recognition.
She also delivered the National Anthem prior to Game Two of the 1984 American League Championship Series.
Collaboration with Tears for Fears
In June 1985, while performing at Kansas City's Peppercorn Duck Club, Adams caught the attention of Ian Stanley from Tears for Fears during their "Big Chair Tour." The following evening, Stanley along with band members Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal invited her to participate in their next album project, The Seeds of Love. Adams accepted this opportunity and was subsequently invited two years later to join as vocalist and pianist.
The 1989 release included the successful single "Woman in Chains," a duet featuring Adams and Orzabal, supported by Manu Katche and Phil Collins on drums—marking her breakthrough moment. In 1990, she toured worldwide with Tears for Fears, opening performances with solo sets before joining them on stage for piano and vocal contributions during their main act.
1990s
Following her work with Tears for Fears, Adams signed with their label, Fontana Records, revitalizing her solo career in 1990. Collaborating again with Orzabal as co-producer, she released Circle of One, which reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart in 1991. This success was propelled by her Grammy-nominated cover of Brenda Russell's "Get Here", a single that broke into the top 5 charts in both the UK and US. The song gained particular significance during the 1991 Gulf War, serving as an emotional anthem for families with loved ones deployed overseas.
In 1991, Adams entered into an agreement with independent publisher Fairwood Music and contributed to the Elton John/Bernie Taupin tribute compilation Two Rooms, delivering a rendition of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" that reached the UK top 40.
Her subsequent album Evolution (1993) also secured a place within the UK top 10 and featured the adult contemporary track "Window of Hope." In 1995, with Moving On, she embraced a more pronounced R&B influence. That same year saw a reunion with Orzabal for their duet "Me and My Big Ideas" on Tears for Fears' album Raoul and the Kings of Spain. In 1997, Adams released Come Walk with Me, an album centered on Christian themes which earned her a Grammy nomination for "Holy Is the Lamb."
Expanding her artistic reach in 1998, Adams joined Phil Collins as a guest vocalist during his Big Band Jazz Tour.
2000s
Adams returned to her R&B and Adult Contemporary roots with the release of her sixth studio album, All the Love, in 2001. This album was later re-released in Germany in 2004 under the title I Can't Live a Day without You. That same year, she joined Tears for Fears on stage as a guest vocalist for their performance of "Woman in Chains" during their concert in Kansas City. On October 3, 2006, Adams debuted her first holiday-themed collection, Christmas Time with Oleta. Subsequently, on April 21, 2009, she unveiled her eighth album, Let's Stay Here.
2010s
Following an eight-year break from recording, Adams introduced her ninth album, Third Set, which was released on February 10, 2017.
Personal life
In 1994, Adams wed drummer John Cushon, whom she had originally met in 1980 while collaborating on a demo recording. Their choice to marry was deeply influenced by their shared experience of the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake, an event Adams interpreted as a divine signal.
Discography
- Oleta Adams (1982)
- Going on Record (1983)
- Circle of One (1990)
- Evolution (1993)
- Moving On (1995)
- Come Walk with Me (1997)
- All the Love (2001)
- Christmas Time with Oleta (2006)
- Let's Stay Here (2009)
- Third Set (2017)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Outcome | Award | Category | Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Nominated | Soul Train Music Award | Best R&B/Urban Contemporary New Artist | — |
| 1992 | Nominated | Grammy Awards | Best Female Pop Vocal Performance | "Get Here" |
| 1993 | Nominated | Grammy Awards | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" |
| 1994 | Nominated | Soul Train Music Award | Best R&B Single, Female | "I Just Had to Hear Your Voice" |
| 1997 | Nominated | Grammy Awards | Best R&B Album | Moving On |
| 1998 | Nominated | Grammy Awards | Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album | Come Walk with Me |