N'Dambi
N'Dambi | |
|---|---|
 N'Dambi at the Vienna Jazz Festival 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Chonita N. Gillespie [Gilbert] |
| Born | 1970 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter |
| Instrument | Vocals, Piano |
| Labels | Concord Music Group2006–present, Cheeky-I (independent)1998-2019 |
| Website | NDambiOnline.com |
N'Dambi is a Grammy nominated American soul/jazz singer from Dallas, TX.[1][2][3]
Early life
N'Dambi is the ninth of eleven children born to a Baptist minister and missionary. Her name, "N'Dambi" means "most beautiful". Her father was a minister and singer in a quartet group. She got her professional start singing with Gaye Arbuckle, a local gospel singer, touring with Arbuckle for two years (from the ages of 18 to 20). Shortly thereafter she sang as background singer and collaborator with Erykah Badu.[4][5][2]
Career
Little Lost Girls Blues
N'Dambi debut soul album Little Lost Girls Blues was recorded in 1996 in Oak Cliff, a community in Dallas. It was independently released in 1999 and went on to receive critical acclaim throughout the world. It sound scanned over 20,000 units and sold over 70,000 units worldwide. The album was primarily marketed via word of mouth lifestyle marketing, press and college radio.[6][1][7]
Tunin' Up & Co-Siginin'
This two disc set contains live recordings from Little Lost Girls Blues and new recordings. The album was recorded in Dallas with a group of local musicians. It featured Ode 2 Nina, was a tribute song to Nina Simone.
A Weird Kind of Wonderful
This album was released independently and recorded with a live band in Los Angeles, California. It has a more funk, rock, soul vibe with more influences of Mother's Finest and Tina Turner.
Pink Elephant
Pink Elephant was recorded in Santa Monica, California with producer Leon Sylvers III. N'dambi insisted the record have a modern sheen yet adhere to the sturdy influence of classic R&B and soul artists like Slave, Heatwave, Michael Jackson, Betty Davis, Isaac Hayes, Smokey Robinson, and The Sylvers. On December 2, 2010, Pink Elephant was nominated for a 2011 Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album.[1]
Work with other artists
N'Dambi has collaborated with artists such as Keite Young, Down To The Bone, Lecrae and The D.O.C.. She has also worked with Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicholas Payton, DJ Kemit and Snarky Puppy's Family Dinner vol. 1. N'Dambi's performance on that album earned her a SESAC Award for Best Jazz Performance.[1]
Discography
| Albums: |
Little Lost Girl Blues
|
Tunin' Up & Cosignin'
|
A Weird Kind of Wonderful
|
Pink Elephant
|
| Remixes/Singles: |
"Call Me" (Yam Who reworks)
|
"Can't Change Me" (Ron Trent Remix)
|
"If We Were Alone" with Keite Young (AaronCarl Mix)
|
References
- ^ a b c d "N'Dambi: Interview". soulinterviews.com. May 8, 2010.
- ^ a b Lewis, Pete. "N'Dambi: True Colors". bluesandsoul.com. Blues & Soul.
- ^ "N'Dambi". grammy.com. The Recording Academy.
- ^ "The Spirit Of N'Dambi". rnation.com. March 23, 2000.
- ^ "Meet N’Dambi! Badu’s Back-Up Singer Makes A Name For Herself"
- ^ Dallas Observer, 2001: Soul Alone
- ^ Eustache, Joanne (February 2000). Hard Rock: Nas, Eve And Sisqo Take It To The New Millennium. Vibe Magazine. p. 169.
- ^ discogs entry for Call Me
- ^ 12 inch N'dambi Can't Change Me
- ^ discogs entry If We Were Alone
External links
- N'dambi interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' August 2011
- Dallas Observer, 1999
- Dallas Observer, 2001
- discogs.com N'dambi Discography
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- American neo soul singers
- 1970 births
- 20th-century American singers
- 21st-century American singers
- Living people
- Musicians from Dallas
- Stax Records artists
- 21st-century American women singers
- American contemporary R&B singers
- American female jazz singers
- American jazz singers
- American soul musicians
- 20th-century American women singers
- Jazz musicians from Texas