Tamia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tamia
Tamia during an interview in September 2018
Born	Tamia Marilyn Washington (1975-05-09) May 9, 1975 (age 50) Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Singer songwriter record producer
Years active	1994–present
Spouse(s)	Grant Hill ​ (m. 1999)​
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	R&B soul gospel
Labels	Def Jam Elektra

Tamia Marilyn Washington Hill (born May 9, 1975) is a talented Canadian singer and songwriter. She grew up in Windsor, Ontario, where she loved to sing and dance in local competitions.

In 1994, a famous producer named Quincy Jones asked her to sing on his album. This led to her getting nominations for the Grammy Awards, which are like the Oscars for music! Her first album, Tamia, came out in 1998. After that, she released many successful albums, including A Nu Day (2000) and More (2004).

Many of her songs became big hits on the pop and R&B music charts. Some popular ones include "So Into You" and "Stranger in My House". She also had hit songs with other artists, like "Into You" and "Spend My Life with You".

Tamia later started her own music company, Plus One Music Group. This allowed her to release her music independently. Her album Love Life (2015) was very successful, reaching number two on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Tamia has been nominated for six Grammy Awards and has won an NAACP Image Award. She is married to former basketball player Grant Hill and they have two daughters. Tamia was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2003 and now helps raise awareness for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Tamia Marilyn Washington was born on May 9, 1975, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She was the only daughter in her family and has three younger brothers. Her mother raised them as a single parent.

Tamia was surrounded by different kinds of music from a young age. She started singing on stage at her local church when she was just six years old. By the time she was 12, she had already been in several musicals. These experiences helped her become a better singer. She also took piano and voice lessons from a well-known musician, Eugene Davis.

Tamia attended Walkerville Collegiate Institute in Windsor, where she studied visual and performing arts. She performed in local theater and concerts. In 1993, she won a special award called the YTV Achievement Award for her singing.

In 1994, Tamia met Brenda Richie, a music manager, at a charity event. Brenda helped Tamia connect with Warner Bros. Records. Soon after, Brenda arranged for Tamia to perform at a party for singer Luther Vandross. Her performance impressed everyone, especially producer Quincy Jones. He then invited her to sing on his album Q's Jook Joint (1995).

Music Career Highlights

Early Success and First Album

Tamia in 1998

One of the songs Tamia recorded for Quincy Jones' album was "You Put a Move on My Heart". This song became a hit and earned her a Grammy Award nomination. She also received nominations for other songs from the album, like "Slow Jams". Another important song was "Missing You", which she sang with Brandy, Gladys Knight, and Chaka Khan for a movie soundtrack. This song was very popular and sold many copies.

In 1997, Tamia appeared in the movie Speed 2: Cruise Control as a musical entertainer. She also sang a song for the movie's soundtrack. The same year, she was on TV shows like Rock Me Baby and Kenan & Kel.

Her first album, Tamia, was released in April 1998. It featured songs produced by famous names like Jermaine Dupri. Critics liked her singing, and the album included popular songs like "Imagination" and "So Into You". In 1999, the album was nominated for two Juno Awards, which are Canadian music awards.

New Beginnings and Hit Songs

In 1999, Tamia sang with Eric Benét on his hit song "Spend My Life with You". This song reached the top of the R&B charts and earned them another Grammy nomination. It also won an NAACP Image Award.

Tamia then moved to Elektra Records and started working on her second album, A Nu Day. She wanted this album to be more upbeat than her first. It was released in October 2000 and became her first album to reach the top ten on the R&B charts. It sold well and included her biggest hit, "Stranger in My House", which made it into the top ten on the main US music chart. A Nu Day was also nominated for a Juno Award in 2001.

In 2003, Tamia collaborated with rapper Fabolous on the song "Into You". This song was a huge international hit, reaching the top five in the US and Australia. After this, she released "Officially Missing You", which was the first song from her third album.

Her third album, More, was released in April 2004. It debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling many copies in its first week. To support the album, Tamia joined the Verizon Ladies First Tour, performing with stars like Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, and Missy Elliott. In 2005, More received a Juno Award nomination.

Independent Music and Recent Albums

To have more control over her music, Tamia left Elektra Records in 2005 and started her own record label, Plus One Music Group. She worked closely with producer Shep Crawford on her fourth album, Between Friends. This album was released in 2006 and did well on the independent music charts. Two songs from the album, "Can't Get Enough" and "Me", became top 30 hits on the R&B charts.

In August 2012, Tamia released her fifth album, Beautiful Surprise, through her own label. The album received good reviews and reached number 23 on the Billboard 200. The main song, "Beautiful Surprise", was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. The album itself was also nominated for Best R&B Album. Tamia also received a Soul Train Music Award nomination. She toured with R. Kelly to promote the album.

In August 2014, Tamia signed with Def Jam Recordings, returning to a major record label. Her sixth album, Love Life, was released in June 2015. It was a big success, reaching number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. This made it her highest-charting album ever on those charts. The album included popular songs like "Sandwich and a Soda" and "Stuck with Me".

Tamia's seventh album, Passion Like Fire, came out in September 2018. The song "Leave It Smokin'" became a big hit, reaching number two on the Adult R&B Songs chart. She went on the Passion Like Fire Tour to support the album. In 2019, she received the Soul Music Icon Award at the Black Music Honors. In 2023, she was given an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Morris Brown College.

Personal Life and Advocacy

Singer Anita Baker introduced Tamia to American basketball player Grant Hill in 1996. They got married on July 24, 1999. They have two daughters, Myla Grace (born in 2002) and Lael Rose Hill (born in 2007). The family first lived in Detroit and then moved to Orlando when Grant Hill joined the Orlando Magic basketball team.

In 2003, while working on her third album, Tamia was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, causing symptoms like fatigue and numbness. Tamia experienced these symptoms, but her diagnosis was early. She received treatment, and her illness has been in remission, meaning the symptoms are under control. Tamia is now an advocate for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, helping others who are affected by the disease.

Discography

• Tamia (1998)
• A Nu Day (2000)
• More (2004)
• Between Friends (2006)
• Beautiful Surprise (2012)
• Love Life (2015)
• Passion Like Fire (2018)

Tours

Awards and Nominations

Tamia has received many awards and nominations throughout her career for her amazing music.

Grammy Awards

NAACP Image Award

Juno Award

Soul Train Music Awards

Source Awards

See also

In Spanish: Tamia (cantante) para niños

• List of people with multiple sclerosis