Tia Fuller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tia Fuller
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Tia Fuller, Moers Festival 2011
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| Background information | |
| Born | March 27, 1976 Aurora, Colorado, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, educator |
| Instruments | Saxophone |
| Labels | Mack Avenue |
| Associated acts | Beyoncé, Nancy Wilson, Sean Jones, Ralph Peterson, T.S. Monk, Jon Faddis, Kit McClure Band |
Tia Fuller was born on March 27, 1976. She is an American saxophonist, composer, and teacher. Tia was also part of the all-female band that toured with the famous singer Beyoncé. Today, she teaches music at the Berklee College of Music. Tia Fuller was a featured jazz musician in Pixar's animated movie Soul. For the film, she played the alto saxophone for the character Dorothea Williams. The way Dorothea Williams looks was inspired by Tia Fuller. The character's speaking voice was done by Angela Bassett.
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Tia Fuller's Early Life
Tia Fuller was born in Aurora, Colorado. Her parents, Fred and Ethiopia Fuller, were both jazz musicians. Her father, Fred, played the bass, and her mother, Ethiopia, was a singer. Tia started playing classical piano when she was just three years old. She grew up listening to her parents practice music at home. She also listened to famous jazz artists like John Coltrane and Charlie Parker.
Tia studied classical piano for ten years. When she was nine, she began playing the flute. In high school, she started playing the saxophone and became very interested in jazz music. Her sister, Shamie Royston, is also a jazz pianist. Shamie often plays with Tia's music group.
Her Music Education
Tia Fuller began playing saxophone at Gateway High School. After that, she continued her music studies at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. There, she learned from a teacher named Joseph Jennings. While at Spelman, she even performed with the legendary musician Ray Charles.
In 1998, Tia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. She then earned a Master's degree in Music in 2000. This degree focused on jazz teaching and performance. She received it from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Tia Fuller's Music Career
Tia Fuller has performed with many well-known jazz artists. Some of these include Esperanza Spalding and Terri Lyne Carrington. She has also played with groups like the T.S. Monk Septet and the Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra.
Tia leads her own music group, called a quartet. This group includes her sister, Shamie Royston, on piano. Kim Thompson plays the drums, and Miriam Sullivan plays the bass. This quartet has recorded several albums. These include Pillar of Strength (2005), Healing Space (2007), and Decisive Steps (2010).
In 2006, Tia Fuller was part of the all-female band that toured with Beyoncé. In 2012, she toured with Esperanza Spalding. Tia played the saxophone in the horn section of Spalding's Radio Music Society band.
In 2019, Tia recorded music for The Walt Disney Company's movie Soul. She worked with other great musicians like Roy Haynes and Jon Batiste on this project.
Tia Fuller's 2019 album, Diamond Cut, was nominated for a Grammy Award. This album was produced by Terri Lyne Carrington, who Tia considers one of her mentors. Tia also teaches music at the Berklee College of Music.
Tia Fuller's Albums
Albums as a Leader
- Pillar of Strength (2005)
- Healing Space (2007)
- Decisive Steps (2010)
- Angelic Warrior (2012)
- Diamond Cut (2018)
Albums with Other Artists
Tia Fuller has also played on albums with other musicians.
- With Sean Jones: Eternal Journey (2004), Gemini (2005), Roots (2006), Kaleidoscope (2007)
- With Nancy Wilson: Turned to Blue (2006)
