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.
Fragile Heart
Yolanda Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I remember the promises,
You would never leave my side
Now I'm standing with the news of a tragedy
Standing here with a fragile heart,
You see I never shed a tear
I stayed strong for them, oh yes I did
When everybody disappears
And I can't imagine going on
Without you in my life,
Going on with a fragile heart
When I think about,think about life
Lord I think of you
I forget about everything else, there's only you and I
And I can't think about ever giving up
Can't give up the fight (no, no)
The only thing that matters Lord, is you
I ain't got no time to pretend
That I'm not missing you, oh no no no no
I know you're in good hands
Same hands that hold my heart
And I'll cherish every moment we spent
As a gift from God above
For he takes care of all the fragile hearts
When I think about, think about life
Lord I think of you, and I
Forget about everything else
There's only you and I
I can't think about, ever, ever, ever giving up
For the only thing that matters, when I'm going through
Is giving my fragile heart right back to you
You see my fragile heart's been broken
And you're the only one who can put it all together again
So I'm trusting you Lord to see me through
There's only you and I
I can't think about ever giving
I can't give up(up a fight)
The only thing that matters
When I'm going through
Is giving my fragile heart right back to you
When I think about my life
I,I,I,I forget about everything else
Only you and I
And I can't think about ever giving up
Can't give up, No, no, no, no
The only thing that matters when I'm going through
Is giving my fragile heart back to you.
When I think about my life, I forget about everything else
Only you and I
And I can't think about ever giving up
Can't give up, can't give up
For the only thing that matter's when I'm going through
Is giving my fragile heart back to you.
The lyrics to Yolanda Adams' "Fragile Heart" are an ode to the pain and healing that come with loss. Adams sings of the memories that she shares with a loved one who was taken from her unexpectedly. Even though she has tried to remain strong for those around her, she can't help but feel overwhelmed with grief. She recognizes that the only way to move forward is to trust in God, who will help her pick up the pieces and mend her "fragile heart."
Line by Line Meaning
I remember the first time, you laughed with me
I recall the moment we first shared laughter together
And I remember the promises,
You would never leave my side
I recall the commitment you made to never abandon me
Now I'm standing with the news of a tragedy
Standing here with a fragile heart,
You see I never shed a tear
I am now faced with a tragic event and my heart is vulnerable, but I have not cried
I stayed strong for them, oh yes I did
When everybody disappears
It's only you who keeps me strong
I remained resilient for the sake of others, but it is your support that gives me strength
And I can't imagine going on
Without you in my life,
Going on with a fragile heart
I cannot fathom living without you and a heart that is easily broken
When I think about,think about life
Lord I think of you
I forget about everything else, there's only you and I
When I reflect on life, you are the first thing that comes to mind and everything else fades away
And I can't think about ever giving up
Can't give up the fight (no, no)
The only thing that matters Lord, is you
I cannot entertain the idea of quitting and must continue to persevere, as you are the most important thing in my life
I ain't got no time to pretend
That I'm not missing you, oh no no no no
I know you're in good hands
Same hands that hold my heart
I cannot pretend that I do not miss you, but I take solace in knowing you are in good hands, which are the same hands that hold my heart
And I'll cherish every moment we spent
As a gift from God above
For he takes care of all the fragile hearts
I treasure every memory we shared as a divine gift, knowing that God cares for all vulnerable hearts
You see my fragile heart's been broken
And you're the only one who can put it all together again
So I'm trusting you Lord to see me through
My heart has been shattered and only you have the power to mend it. I trust in you to guide me through this difficult time
Can't give up, No, no, no, no
The only thing that matters when I'm going through
Is giving my fragile heart back to you.
I cannot surrender, the only thing that matters when I am struggling is returning my vulnerable heart to you
When I think about my life, I forget about everything else
Only you and I
And I can't think about ever giving up
Can't give up, can't give up
For the only thing that matter's when I'm going through
Is giving my fragile heart back to you.
When I ponder my existence, you are all that matters and I cannot quit. The most important thing when I face challenges is to entrust my fragile heart to you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: SCOTT STEVEN PARKER, LOUIS E. III BROWN, YOLANDA ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind