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.
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Yolanda Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
The hymn “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” tells a beautiful story of angels who come to earth to announce the birth of Jesus Christ. The song speaks to the hope, peace, and joy that Jesus brings to the world. The first verse of the song talks about the birth of Jesus and the angels that come down from heaven to sing, “peace on the earth, goodwill to men, from heavens all gracious King.” The second verse speaks about the ongoing message of hope and peace that the angels bring, and how their music still fills the world. The third verse is a message of comfort and hope for those who are struggling in life or feeling lost, reminding them that there is always hope and that they are never alone. The final verse is a prophecy of the future, that one day, the world will be at peace, and everyone will sing and rejoice with the angels.
The hymn “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” was written in 1849 by Edmund Hamilton Sears, a Unitarian pastor in Massachusetts. The song was inspired by the political and social turmoil of the time, including the recent Mexican-American War and increasing tensions over the issue of slavery. Despite these difficult times, Sears wrote the hymn as a message of hope and peace. Over time, the song became one of the most popular Christmas carols in the United States and around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
It came upon the midnight clear,
The song of peace came in the middle of the night when everything was quiet and still.
That glorious song of old,
The peace song was a beautiful and sacred tune that had been around for a long time.
From angels bending near the earth,
Angels came down from heaven to share the peace song with those on Earth.
To touch their harps of gold:
The angels played their harps made of gold to create a heavenly and peaceful sound.
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
The peace song was about spreading peace and goodwill to everyone on Earth."
From heavens all gracious King!"
The song came from a kind and generous ruler of heaven.
The world in solemn stillness lay
The whole world was quiet and peaceful, waiting to hear the angels' message.
To hear the angels sing.
The world was listening intently to hear the message of peace from the angels' song.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
The angels continue to arrive, coming through the split skies.
With peaceful wings unfurled;
The angels' wings were spread out in a peaceful, welcoming way.
And still their heavenly music floats
The angels' beautiful and peaceful music continued to play.
O'er all the weary world:
Their music spread over the entire world which was tired and needed peace.
Above its sad and lowly plains
The angels hovered over the sad and humble lands of the world.
They bend on hovering wing,
The angels' wings were used to hover over the world below.
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
Despite the noise and chaos of the world, the angels' music could be heard.
The blessed angels sing.
The angels continue to spread their message of peace through their song.
O ye beneath life's crushing load,
The song is meant for those who are weighed down by the struggles of life.
Whose forms are bending low,
Those struggling in life may feel physically and emotionally drained and unable to stand tall.
Who toil along the climbing way
Those people are working very hard towards their goals but it is a difficult journey.
With painful steps and slow;
It's a painful journey where progress is slow.
Look now, for glad and golden hours
They should take a moment to pause, look up, and pay attention because good things are coming.
Come swiftly on the wing;
Those good things are coming quickly.
Oh rest beside the weary road
Take a break from the journey and rest beside the path you've been traveling.
And hear the angels sing.
Listen to the angels' message of peace and take comfort in it.
For lo! the days are hastening on,
The future is not far off.
By prophets seen of old,
It was predicted by old prophets that this day would come.
When with the ever-circling years
As time goes on, we look forward to a better world.
Shall come the time foretold,
The day that was predicted long ago will finally arrive.
When the new heaven and earth shall own
When there is a new world in which there is no more fighting, and there is peace and tranquility.
The Prince of Peace, their King,
Jesus Christ, who will be called the Prince of Peace, is predicted to be the ruler of this new world.
And the whole world send back the song
The whole world will sing the angels' song and celebrate the peace that has come.
Which now the angels sing.
The song of peace that the angels are currently singing will become the anthem celebrated by the entire world.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edmund Hamilton Sears, Richard Storrs Willis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind