The oldest of six siblings, Adams was raised in Houston, Texas. She graduated from Sterling High School in Houston in 1979. After graduating from University of California Berkeley, she began a career as a schoolteacher and part-time model in Houston, Texas. Eventually she gave up teaching to perform full-time as a lead singer.
Musical career;
Beginnings;
Adams attracted the attention of Thomas Whitfield and Sound of Gospel Records as a lead singer in the Southeast Inspirational Choir. She signed a recording contract with Sound of Gospel which yielded her first album Just As I Am in 1987.[4] In 1990, she signed to Ben Tankard's independent label Tribute Records and released Through The Storm.
Two years later, Adams followed with Save the World, which included her first signature song "The Battle Is The Lord's". Her next release was 1995's More Than A Melody, which featured production work from Ben Tankard, O'Landa Draper, and BeBe Winans. The single "Gotta Have Love," from that album featuring Tony Terry on background vocals, gained mainstream notoriety and was her first single and music video. Yolanda... Live In Washington, released the following year, featured versions of material from her first two albums. The footage from this recording was released as a collection of two videos on VHS initially, and later as a single set on DVD.
Songs from the Heart was her final release for Verity Records and included "Only Believe" which was popular songs on contemporary radio. The album also included "Still I Rise," a dedication to Rosa Parks which was inspired by the Maya Angelou poem of the same name.
"Fragile Heart", was dedicated to the memory of Yolanda's long time road manager who died in 1998. Adams' first significant attention outside the urban contemporary gospel arena came with the release of Mountain High... Valley Low in 1999 on Elektra Records. Several mainstream artists and producers helped in the production of this album including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men), James "Big Jim" Wright (Mariah Carey, Nicole C. Mullen), Warryn Campbell (Mary Mary, Brandy), and Keith Thomas (BeBe & CeCe Winans). The album went Platinum in 2000 and won her a Grammy Award. Notable singles from the album include Yeah", "Fragile Heart", and "Open My Heart".
In 2000, Adams released a Christmas album, and in 2001 she released a live album (The Experience). The Experience netted Adams a second Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. Believe, which included the hit "Never Give Up" was released in 2001. She would later go on to perform this song at "The Salute to Gospel Music" at the White House during President George W. Bush's administration. Believe was certified Gold in 2002. The Divas Of Gospel, with Albertina Walker (queen of gospel), was also released in 2001.
Yolanda recorded a song for the 2003 film, Honey titled "I Believe" that played during the last scene in the final dance.
Adams was also a judge for the 2nd annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.
Back after break;
After nearly four years without releasing an album, Adams returned in 2005 with Day By Day. Although charting higher than Mountain High...Valley Low on the Billboard 100, and Billboard R&B Albums Chart, It didn't get a RIAA certification. The album featured the singles "Be Blessed," "Someone Watching Over You," "This Too Shall Pass", and "Victory" which was prominently featured in the movie The Gospel. After ending her long association with Atlantic Records, They released a greatest hits collection entitled The Best of Me in May 2007. Adams signed with Columbia Records in 2007. Columbia released What a Wonderful Time, her second holiday collection in October 2007. "Hold On" was released as the lead single.
2008-Present;
In 2007 after releasing her holiday album with Columbia, She stated in different interviews that she was currently in the planning stages for a new album. Her official website states that it will be a duets project including possible collaborations with Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Natalie Cole, Trin-i-Tee 5:7, and Mary Mary. In a interview with Commercial Appeal. Adams stated that Chaka Khan, and Shirley Caesar might be on the new project also. In March 2009, she was interview by a FOX station in Houston, where she stated that her women's clothing line and new album is still in progress. The new album is currently untitled, and will be out in the last quarter of the year. She stated that the new album will be full of dance tracks. Adams' may do a secular album in the future.
Adams' song "Hold On" is included in a compilation in support of Barack Obama's campaign entitled 'Yes We Can: Voices of a Grass Roots Movement'.
Adams performed the National Anthem at the 2009 BCS National Championship game between the #1 University of Florida and #2 University of Oklahoma in Dolphin Stadium (Miami, Florida).
Personal life;
In 1997, Yolanda Adams married former NFL player Tim Crawford. The couple divorced in August 2004. They had one daughter, Taylor Ayanna, in 2001. Yolanda served as a spokesperson for the FILA Corporation's Operation Rebound, a program that addressed the concern of inner city schoolchildren. On October 15, 2008, Yolanda Adams' mother Carolyn Jean Adams died.
Before I Tell Them
Yolanda Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before I serve them, Lord, please serve me
How can I lead where I've not been?
How can I show if I don't know?
Before I tell them, Lord, please tell me
Before I teach them, Lord, please teach me
How can I lead where I've not been?
How can I show if I don't know?
Before I tell them, oh, Lord, tell me
Before I tell it my way
Sit me down and make me silent
And give it to me your way
Please don't let the things I do
Distract me from hearing a word from you
Before I tell them, Lord, tell me
Before I serve them, please serve me
Before I say one word or sing one word
Say it or sing it in me
Before I tell them, oh, Lord, tell me
Teach me, show me, reach out to me
Tell me
what you want me to see
Before I tell them, Lord, please tell me is a powerful gospel song by Yolanda Adams. The song is about seeking guidance from God and asking Him to lead us before we lead others. The Lyrics convey the idea that we need to allow ourselves to be taught, served, and reached out to by God before we can do the same for others. It's all about understanding that we need to be led before we can lead.
The first two lines of the song ask God to guide and lead the singer before she leads others. She realizes that it is only through God's guidance that she can show others the right way to go. The lyric "How can I show if I don't know?" emphasizes how important it is to receive guidance before trying to lead or teach others.
The second verse expands on the importance of being taught and reached out to, recognizing that it's impossible to teach or help others if we haven't been taught or helped ourselves. The last verse emphasizes the importance of listening to God's voice and waiting for His direction before speaking or acting.
Overall, Before I Tell Them is a call for humility and a reminder that we are not the ones in charge. We need to lean on God for guidance and direction in order to lead others effectively.
Line by Line Meaning
Before I tell them, Lord, please tell me
The singer seeks guidance from God before sharing advice or opinions with others.
Before I serve them, Lord, please serve me
The singer asks for God's help in serving others by first being served and strengthened by God.
How can I lead where I've not been?
The singer questions her ability to guide others to places where she herself has not yet traveled.
How can I show if I don't know?
The singer acknowledges that she cannot demonstrate something she has not yet learned or experienced.
Before I teach them, Lord, please teach me
The singer wants to be better equipped by God's teachings before trying to educate or enlighten others.
Before I reach out to them, Lord, reach out to me
The singer recognizes that she needs to first be reached by God's grace and love before she can effectively reach out to others.
Before I tell it my way
The singer hesitates to share her own opinions or interpretations of events before seeking God's wisdom and guidance.
Sit me down and make me silent
The singer asks God to help her be still and attentive to His voice before taking action or speaking.
And give it to me your way
The singer desires to receive God's message and share it with others, rather than relying solely on her own words or understanding.
Please don't let the things I do
The singer is concerned that her own actions may distract her from hearing God's message clearly.
Before I say one word or sing one word
The singer wants to be sure she has received God's message clearly before sharing it through speech or song.
Say it or sing it in me
The singer wants God's words to be spoken or sung through her, rather than relying on her own abilities or understanding.
Teach me, show me, reach out to me
The singer seeks God's guidance and support in her efforts to serve and share His truth.
Tell me the way before I lead
The singer wants to be sure she understands God's direction before leading others.
Guide me before I teach
The singer recognizes her need for guidance from God before trying to pass on knowledge or wisdom to others.
Speak to my heart before I speak to others
The singer wants God to speak to her internally and strengthen her heart before she shares words externally with others.
Help me to be silent and listen to your voice before I share my own
The singer desires to be still and attentive to God's voice before sharing her own opinions or thoughts with others.
Don't let my actions or words become a distraction from hearing your truth
The singer asks God to prevent her own deeds or words from becoming a hindrance to hearing God's message clearly.
May your words be the ones I share before I serve or sing to others
The singer wants to make God's message the focus of her actions and music before trying to serve or entertain others.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: VARN MICHAEL MCKAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Renee Folk
I try so hard to live by the lyrics, Yolanda Adams, sings in this song. So powerful!!!❤️
Citadel Opticals
I love this song
El Daniels
I call this song The Ministers' Prayer. Every servant of God that truly lives this song will never go wrong, will never veer into error. This is the secret of successful ministry "Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." John 5:19. God bless you Yolanda for receiving and giving us this song.
Renee Folk
Absolutely!!!
Patricia Bascombe
Amen
Vickki Norton
Yes, Ameen.
phillyloki
i really love the way yolanda adams sing this beautiful gospel song.
Q C
Lead and guide me Lord.
MercyfulGrace
Love this song ..'
Melonie Bradley
Thank you Lord for the reminder.