Tawatha Agee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tawatha Agee
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Agee in 2021
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 14, 1954 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1978–present |
| Labels | Epic |
Tawatha Agee (born November 14, 1954) is an American singer and songwriter. She is known for her powerful voice. People have described her voice as "gospel-charged," meaning it sounds like the strong, soulful singing often heard in gospel music.
Tawatha Agee was the main singer for the funk and soul band Mtume. Her amazing voice can be heard on their big hit song from 1983, "Juicy Fruit". This song was very popular in the R&B music world.
Besides singing lead, Agee has also been a busy backing vocalist for many years. A backing vocalist sings harmonies or background parts to support the main singer. She worked a lot with James Mtume, who also produced her only solo album, Welcome to My Dream, in 1987. Today, she is also part of a group called "the Lovely Ladies." They sing on tour with the famous Dave Matthews Band.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tawatha Agee was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She grew up in Newark, New Jersey. For her education, she went to Newark Arts High School. Later, she studied at Howard University.
Music Career Highlights
Singing with Mtume and Other Artists
Tawatha Agee first sang on James Mtume's album Rebirth Cycle in 1977. She then joined the band Mtume. She sang on their album Kiss This World Goodbye in 1978. This album included a song called "The Closer I Get to You".
She continued to sing with Mtume on their next album, In Search of the Rainbow Seekers (1980). Agee also sang backup for many other artists. She worked with Stephanie Mills on three of her albums. She also sang for Jean Knight and Premium.
Tawatha Agee helped write some songs too. She co-wrote the song "Two Hearts" for Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass. She also co-wrote "Getting Ready for Love" for her friend Ullanda McCullough.
Agee was the main voice on many of Mtume's hit songs. One of their biggest hits was "Juicy Fruit". This song was very popular in 1983. It was number one on the R&B charts in the U.S. for eight weeks! She stayed with Mtume for their last two albums. These were You, Me and He (1984) and Theater of the Mind (1986). On these albums, she also played guitar and keyboards.
In 2021, Tawatha Agee received a special honor. She was one of the first people to be added to the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame. This award celebrates women who have written great songs.
Her Solo Album
Tawatha Agee has released one solo album so far. It is called Welcome to My Dream. Epic Records released it in 1987. James Mtume produced the album. Other people like James Batton and Ed Moore also helped. Agee wrote songs for the album with Mtume and other band members. Her album had a top ten R&B hit song called "Thigh Ride." It reached number 7 on the charts.
Returning to Backup Singing
After her solo album, Tawatha Agee went back to being a session singer. A session singer is someone who sings on recordings for many different artists. She has sung with many famous musicians. These include Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, Steely Dan, Celine Dion, and Sting. She also sang as one of the muses on the soundtrack for the movie Hercules in 1997.
Solo Music Releases
Albums
- Welcome to My Dream (Epic Records, 1987)
Singles
- "Are You Serious?" (Epic, 1987)
- "Thigh Ride" (Epic, 1987)
- "Did I Dream You" (Epic, 1987)
- "Love On Hold" (Glitterbox/Defected Records, 2017) with Aeroplane
