Kendra Ross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kendra Ross
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kendra Janelle Ross |
| Born | December 4, 1975 Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, soul, neo soul, jazz, gospel, hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, record producer, music business executive, social activist |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Labels | Lola's Child |
Kendra Janelle Ross, born on December 4, 1975, is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer. She also works as a community organizer. Kendra is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was born in Youngstown, Ohio.
Contents
Kendra Ross's Music Journey
Kendra Ross began her singing career in church. She also performed with the Civic Light Opera Mini Stars of Pittsburgh. After working in musical theater for many years, Kendra became a vocalist and songwriter.
She has worked with famous artists like Quincy Jones, Kanye West, and Talib Kweli. Kendra has also appeared on TV shows such as NBC's Today and BET's 106 & Park. Her work has even been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine. Kendra has opened concerts for musicians like Babyface and Isaac Hayes.
Her First Album: New Voice
Kendra Ross released her first album, New Voice, in June 2007. She co-produced the album with Christian Ver Halen, who is her longtime music director. The album features appearances by artists like Talib Kweli and Eric Roberson.
Many talented musicians also played on the album. These include Teodross Avery, Maurice Brown, Lonnie Plaxico, Chris Rob, Daniel Sadownick, and Skoota Warner. New Voice was popular in both the U.S. and Japan. In Japan, it was released by P-Vine Records in December 2007.
Awards and Recognition
Kendra Ross won the New Artist of the Year award in 2007. This award was given at the SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards in Detroit.
Hip hop artist Talib Kweli praised Kendra in his 2002 album Quality. He wrote that "Kendra's talented, beautiful, and one of a kind." Kendra wrote and performed on that album.
Kendra's Academic Life
Kendra Ross is also a scholar who studies feminism and cultural anthropology. She looks up to Zora Neale Hurston and Katherine Dunham as her main academic inspirations.
She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from New York University. Kendra also has two Master of Arts degrees. One is from Brooklyn College and the other from The New School for Social Research. She also holds a PhD in Community Engagement from Point Park University.
Upcoming Music
Kendra Ross plans to release new music in 2024. She is set to release a new EP (Extended Play) of original songs.
Discography and Appearances
- 1997 Encore/Ill Advised [background vocals]
- 1997 Never Put U Down/Rahsheed [background vocals]
- 2000 Train of Thought/Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) [lead and background vocals]
- 2001 Too Close/A Hundred Birds(Japan)[songwriter; background vocals]
- 2002 Quality/Talib Kweli [songwriting; featured and background vocals]
- 2003 Space Under Sun/Ari Gold [songwriting; featured and background vocals]
- 2004 Beautiful Struggle/Talib Kweli [songwriting]
- 2005 Right About Now/Talib Kweli [background vocals]
- 2005 Rawkus Records Best of Decade I 1995–2005 [vocals]
- 2006 Live Shot/The Rooftop [featured vocals]
- 2007 Kendra Ross/New Voice (debut album) [executive producer, co-producer, arranger, and lead and background vocals]
- 2007 Art of Life/Charon Don [background vocals]
- 2007 Eardrum/Talib Kweli [background vocals]
- 2010 Q: Soul Bossa Nostra/Quincy Jones [featured and background vocals]
- 2010 Sleeping Beauty: You Are the One You've Been Waiting On/Abby Dobson [background vocals]
- 2011 Gutter Rainbows/Talib Kweli [songwriting; featured and background vocals; production coordination]
- 2011 Habits of the Heart/Idle Warship (Talib Kweli & Res) [songwriting; background vocals]
- 2014 Enough to Go Around [co-producer, arranger, and lead and background vocals]
- 2014 Prisoner of Conscious LIVE/Talib Kweli [background vocals]
- 2015 F--- The Money/Talib Kweli [songwriting/featured vocalist]
- 2015 Indie 500/9th Wonder & Talib Kweli [featured vocalist]
- 2017 Heads Up Eyes Open/Talib Kweli ft. Rick Ross & Yummy Bingham [background vocalist/background arrangements]
- 2020 Kendra Ross/You Don’t Know What Love Is [cover/single]
- 2024 Kendra Ross/Hideous Want [single]
- 2024 Kendra Ross/This Womanist's Work EP [FORTHCOMING]
- 2024 Kendra Ross/Sister Americana EP [FORTHCOMING]
