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.
Is Your All on the Altar?
Yolanda Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And for favour to increase
You have earnestly, so fervently
Oh, oh, you really prayed
Oh, yes you have
But you cannot find rest
Nor be perfectly blessed
Until all on the alter, until it's laid
Is your all on the alter of sacrifice?
Is it laid?
Your heart does the Spirit control?
Now, you can only, you can only be blessed
And have peace and sweet rest
After you have yielded unto the Lord
Your body and your soul
Is your all on the alter of sacrifice?
Of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does the Spirit control?
Now, you can only, only, only be blessed
And have peace and sweet rest
After you have yielded Him
Yielded Him your body and your soul
That's all He wants
Everything, everything, everything
So would you walk with the Lord
In the beauty of His light?
Would you obey His Word
Everyday and every night?
We will never know just what
The Lord has to bestow upon his children
Until we give Him complete control
Give Him your, your heart and your mind
Give Him your spirit, your soul
Give Him your thoughts, give Him your ways, your desires
Just give Him your body and your soul
The lyrics to Yolanda Adams's song "Is Your All on the Altar?" are a call to surrender oneself fully to God. The song starts off by recognizing the listener's desire for peace and favor, but acknowledges that true rest and blessings can only come after complete surrender to God. The "altar of sacrifice" refers to the biblical practice of offering sacrifices to God on an altar, and the lyrics suggest that one's entire being, both body and soul, should be offered up to God in sacrifice.
The repetition of the phrase "Is your all on the altar of sacrifice?" underscores the importance of this act of surrender, and the urgency in which it should be done. The lyrics ask if the listener's heart is controlled by the Spirit, and suggests that only after yielding everything to God can one truly be blessed and experience peace and rest.
Overall, the song is a powerful reminder of the importance of complete surrender to God, and the blessings that come with giving Him control of one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
You have longed for sweet peace
You have been seeking inner peace and harmony in your life.
And for favour to increase
You have been hoping for good fortune and blessings in your life.
You have earnestly, so fervently
You have sincerely and passionately
Oh, oh, you really prayed
You have prayed deeply and earnestly
But you cannot find rest
You are unable to find inner peace and calmness
Nor be perfectly blessed
You are unable to experience complete blessing and fulfillment
Until all on the altar, until it's laid
Until you surrender everything to God and offer it as a sacrifice.
Is your all on the altar of sacrifice?
Have you given everything to God as a sacrifice?
Is it laid?
Is everything surrendered and offered to God?
Your heart does the Spirit control?
Is your heart under the guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit?
Now, you can only, you can only be blessed
Only by fully surrendering to God can you experience true blessings.
And have peace and sweet rest
You will find inner peace and calmness
After you have yielded unto the Lord
After you have surrendered your life and will to God
Your body and your soul
Your physical and spiritual self
That's all He wants
God wants you to surrender everything to Him.
So would you walk with the Lord
Do you want to live a life that is guided by God?
In the beauty of His light?
In the radiance of God's love and grace?
Would you obey His Word
Do you want to follow God's teachings and commands?
Everyday and every night?
At all times, without exception?
We will never know just what
We cannot fathom the extent of
The Lord has to bestow upon his children
The blessings and gifts that God has in store for His followers.
Until we give Him complete control
We can only experience God's full grace and blessings when we completely surrender our lives to Him.
Give Him your, your heart and your mind
Give God your thoughts, emotions and intellect.
Give Him your spirit, your soul
Surrender your spiritual self to God.
Give Him your thoughts, give Him your ways, your desires
Submit to God your thought patterns, life plans, and aspirations.
Just give Him your body and your soul
Overall, surrender all aspects of your being to God.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Elisha A. Hoffman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind