Before Tamia Washington (born May 9, 1976) was discovered, she studied voice, acting, singing and performed on stage and at church in her native Windsor, Canada. She won several awards, including the 1993 YTV Youth Achievement Award in the Vocal category. In 1994, Tamia won the Steve Ross Music Scholarship as an Honor Youth Delegate at the American Academy of Achievement's thirty-third Annual Salute to Excellence. She also performed to an audience of 75,000 people at a gala honoring Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and appeared on a benefit tour where she shared the stage with Peabo Bryson, Kenny Loggins, Kenny G., and Julio Iglesias.
Tamia's big break came after she moved to Los Angeles in 1994. She met Quincy Jones when he happened to be chosen to present an award to her in Las Vegas. (Quincy Jones is known for discovering many artists such as Patti Austin, James Ingram, and Tevin Campbell). Quincy asked Tamia if she would like to sing the lead-off single from his first new album in six years, Q's Jook Joint. The single was called You Put A Move On My Heart and it would be the single that introduced Tamia to the world.
After appearing on Quincy Jones' album on the songs You Put A Move On My Heart and Slow Jams (with Babyface), and signing with Quincy's Qwest label, Tamia immediately ventured into the music world, singing the hit song Missing You (from the movie Set It Off) with Brandy, Gladys Knight, and Chaka Khan. She also sings on LL Cool J's new Phenomenon album. Last summer, Tamia tried her hand at acting by landing a supporting role in the movie Speed 2: Cruise Control, acting opposite Jason Patric and Sandra Bullock. She has appeared as a guest and presenter at award shows such as the Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, and the Soul Train Awards. A magazine article also mentioned that she would be the new spokes-model for Tommy Hilfiger clothing, but nothing was seen of that. She recently wed NBA basketball star Grant Hill (whom she was introduced to by singer Anita Baker). They wed in late July 1999.
So what makes people like Tamia? Well, Quincy Jones describes her as the "perfect music diva". In a world where some singers only look good or only sing good, Tamia is a singer that is perfect, because she looks and sings amazingly. We've been patiently waiting for three years for her debut album and it was finally released in April 1998. Her single first two singles Imagination and So Into You have already been heating up the radio waves and her videos has been on rotation on BET, The Box & Much Music. Her most recent single, a duet with Eric Benet entitled Spend My Life With You, made it to #1 on the R&B Singles/Tracks charts. After much speculation, it was confirmed that Tamia did indeed leave Qwest/Warner Bros. in Spring 1999 for a new label, Elektra, where she is preparing a new album for a June 2000 release.
