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Yahzarah

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Yahzarah
Also known asPurple St. James, Yahz
Born
Dana Nicole Amma Williams

(1978-06-24) June 24, 1978 (age 48)
OriginWashington D.C.
Genres
Occupations
Instrumentvoice
Years active1999–present
Labels
  • +F.E. Music
  • Three Keys Music
Websiteyahzarah.com

Dana Nicole Amma Williams (born June 24, 1978), known professionally as YahZarah, is a Ghanaian-American singer and music producer. She is known for radio hits "Wishing" and "Why Dontcha Call Me No More". She has released four albums, with two reaching the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

In 1997, she began her career as a background singer for Erykah Badu. In 2000, Yahzarah signed to Keo Music Records released her first album, Hear Me. In 2002, Yahzarah signed a recording contract with Three Keys Music and released her second album, Blackstar, in September 2003. In 2004, Yahzarah left Three Keys Music and join The Foreign Exchange. After a brief hiatus, Yahzarah returned the music industry. In 2008, she released her extended play, The Prelude. In January 2010, Yahzarah released her single "Why Dontcha Call Me No More" followed by her third album, The Ballad of Purple St. James in May 2010. Her fourth album The Ceremony was release in February 2021.

Her musical genre has varied throughout her career including R&B, rock, soul, jazz, and pop. Her artistic influences include Michael Jackson, Minnie Riperton, Prince, and The Beatles. She has a soprano vocal range with the ability to use the whistle register.

Early life

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Dana Williams was born to Ghanaian activist and owner of the "Sporting News" Thomas Kojo Oduro-Kwarteng and Beverly Brown[1] and then adopted by her stepfather Clarence Williams and raised partly in Germany[1] and Washington D.C.. Williams started singing at the age of seven in her church choir.[2] Her love for music began after winning the National Postal Service Arts and Talent search at the Kennedy Center at the age of ten.[2] After years of honing her talent in churches, talent shows, and local concerts, she entered high school at Washington D.C.'s Duke Ellington School of the Arts.[3] After graduating in 1998, she attended North Carolina Central University in Durham,[4][5] where she received a full scholarship in the school's jazz program.[2][3][6]

Musical career

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1999–2004: Hear Me and Blackstar

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In 1999, Williams recorded a few songs and toured with her band "Dirty Soul". She adopted the name "Yahzarah", as a tribute to her grandmothers Yaa Asantewaa and Sarah.[1] In 2000, Yahzarah received her break into the recording industry by singing back-up vocals for Erykah Badu for seven years.[2][6] Yahzarah also appeared in Badu's Bag Lady music video. Later in 2000, Yahzarah toured with Erykah Badu as the opening act for Badu's "Mama's Gun World Tour".[3][5]

In 2000, Yahzarah signed to Keo Music Records and began recording her first album. In early 2001, she released her debut single "Feel Me", followed later that year by her first album, Hear Me.[5][6][7][8] The album also spawned the singles "Love Is You" and "Natural". In 2002, Yahzarah signed a recording contract with Three Keys Music and began recording sessions for her second album. In August 2003, she released "Wishing" as the lead single for her second album. In September 2003, Yahzarah released her second album, Blackstar,[4][6][9][10] which reached #44 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart[11] and began her "Blackstar Tour". Later that year, she returned to her hometown Washington D.C.[4] to perform at the Black Luv Festival. In November 2003, she released the title-track "Blackstar" as the second single. In 2004, she released "One Day" as the third single. Later that year, Yahzarah left Three Keys Music and signed to The Foreign Exchange Music.[12]

2005–2011: The Prelude and The Ballad of Purple St. James

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In 2005, Yahzarah was featured on Foreign Exchange's Connected album. The song "Sincere" which featured long-time friend Phonte was chosen as the single for the album. In 2008, Yahzarah released an extended play, entitled "The Prelude", on the +FE Music recording label.[11] She toured with Chaka Khan, Musiq Soulchild, The Roots, and R. Kelly to promote her EP. Yahzarah later appeared on the Little Brother album The Minstrel Show.[13] Later that year, Yahzarah was the featured artist opener on the Anthony Hamilton "Playing it Cool Tour" which was featured at the House of Blues. She is also featured the album Leave It All Behind by The Foreign Exchange.

In 2009, Yahzarah was elected to the "Board of Governors" for the Washington D.C. Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) and still currently holds that post. Later that year, Yahzarah performed at the invitation of the Republic of Italy for the inauguration of Barack Obama. In July 2009, she toured with Conya Doss, Sy Smith, and Maya Azucena where she hosted the Soulsista Tour where she also tributed to Michael Jackson. In late 2009, Yahzarah reunited with long-time friend "Natalie "The Floacist" Stewart" to perform "Butterflies" in tribute to Michael Jackson.

In January 2010, Yahzarah released her buzz single "The Tickler". In March 2010, Yahzarah released the lead single "Why Dontcha Call Me No More". In May 2010, she released The Ballad of Purple St. James.[11] A music video for her single "Why Dontcha Call Me No More" was released May 19, 2010. Andy Kellman of Allmusic said of the album: "YahZarah had worked on and off with the duo for several years, but never in a concentrated burst like this. The album allows the singer and songwriter to flash her vocal and thematic flexibility in ways her previous albums did not."[14] The album charted at #75 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

In mid-2010, Yahzarah began the "Love vs Lust Tour" along with The Foreign Exchange. In September 2010, Yahzarah released the second single "Cry Over You" along a music video. On September 18, 2010, Yahzarah announced that she will be touring with The Roots and Q-Tip on the 2010 Hennesy Artistry Tour.[2][15] Yahzarah also made a cameo on the tune "I Remember" by Wes Felton on his album Land of Sheep, Ran by Pigs, Ruled by Wolves.[16]

In July 2011, Yahzarah released the video for her single "Love Come Save the Day". In December 2011, Yahazarh re-appeared on FoxDC News to perform the single. On December 18, 2011, she released a Christmas single, "What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas".

2012–present: Recent activities

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In 2012, Yahzarah began her Tribute to the Beatles Tour. In 2014, she started to sing in Lenny Kravitz' band and toured as a backing vocalist during his Strut Tour in Europe.[1] In January 2017, she released a single "Running". In 2019, she toured as a backing vocalist for Madonna during her Madame X Tour.[2] In 2021, she released the album The Ceremony.[12]

Style

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Vocal ability

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Williams is a lyric soprano[11] and who has been noted for her ability to sing in the whistle register. She possesses a four-octave vocal range. She has also been credited for her ability to sustain notes in the sixth and seventh octave.[citation needed][6]

Influences

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Williams has been influenced by singers such as Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Erykah Badu.[17] In an interview with The Couch Sessions, she named Tina Turner, Grace Jones, Diana Ross, Minnie Ripperton, and Mahalia Jackson as the five singers who shaped her into the person she is today.[5] Although Yahzarah has done many R&B influenced songs, her primary musical style is heavily influenced by elements of electronic soul and rock.

Personal life

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On July 28, 2011, Williams gave birth to her first son, Miles.[citation needed][5]

Discography

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Albums
  • Hear Me (2001)
  • Blackstar (2003)
  • The Ballad of Purple St. James (2010)
  • The Ceremony (2021)
EPs
  • The Prelude (2008)
Singles
  • "Natural" (1999)
  • "Feel Me" (2000)
  • "Love Is You" (2001)
  • "Same Page" (2002)
  • "Wishing" (2003)
  • "Blackstar"(2003)
  • "One Day" (2004)
  • "Rooftop (2004)
  • "Sincere" (2005, with Phonte)
  • "Where I Is" (2008)
  • "Orbit" (2008)
  • "Your Love" (2009)
  • "The Tickler" (2010)
  • "Why Dontcha Call Me No More" (2010)
  • "Cry Over You" (2010, feat. Phonte)
  • "Starship" (2010)
  • "I'm a Legend" (2011)
  • "Love Come Save the Day" (2011)
  • "What Do Lonely Do at Christmas" (2011)
  • "Running" (2017)

Tours

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  • Yahzarah & Dirty Soul Tour (1999)
  • Mama's Gun World Tour (opening act for Erykah Badu) (2000)
  • Blackstar Tour (2003)
  • Playing It Cool Tour (opening act for Anthony Hamilton) (2008)
  • Soul Sista Tour (2009)
  • Love-vs-Lust Tour (2010)
  • The Foreign Exchange Tour (2010)
  • The Hennesy Artistry Tour (2010)
  • Tribute to Prince Tour (2011)
  • Tribute to the Beatles Tour (2012–13)
  • Strut Tour (with Lenny Kravitz) (2015)
  • Madame X Tour (with Madonna) (2019)

Awards and nominations

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 Yahzarah Soultracks Readers' Choice Award: Female Vocalist of the Year[18] Nominated
2010 The Ballad of Purple St. James Soultracks Readers' Choice Award: Independent Album of the Year[19] Nominated
2010 "Why Dontcha Call Me No More" Soultracks Readers' Choice Award: Song of the Year[19] Nominated
2010 Yahzarah Soultracks Readers' Choice Award: Female Vocalist of the Year[19] Won

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Oduro, Yahzarah (February 11, 2024). Yahzarah A Ghana Homecoming. YouTube. Archived from the original on April 27, 2026. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Locke, Dan (July 15, 2020). "YahZarah- A True Jazz Performer with a Full Ride in College". UnRated Mag. Chicago. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "Who Is Yahzarah". Yahzarah.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Burch, Artellia (November 20, 2003). "Yahzarah: Star in the making". Charlotte Post. Archived from the original on April 10, 2026. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Interview: Yahzarah". The Couch Sessions. New York. April 22, 2011. Archived from the original on April 27, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Breaking & Entering". Billboard. October 15, 2003. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  7. ^ "Yahzarah Performing as Purple St. James". South by Southwest. Archived from the original on March 31, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2008.
  8. ^ Durham, J. Shawn (June 17, 2001). "Road to stardom not easy". The Herald-Sun. Archived from the original on April 10, 2026. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  9. ^ "Blackstar". Billboard. November 8, 2003. Archived from the original on April 27, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  10. ^ Menconi, David (October 19, 2003). "You'd better watch out for... YahZarah". The News and Observer. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  11. ^ a b c d "Yahzarah". Black Women Rock!. Archived from the original on April 27, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  12. ^ a b Kelly, Chris (December 15, 2021). "After an 11-year hiatus, YahZarah is back where she belongs". Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 26, 2026. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  13. ^ "The Minstrel Show | Little Brother". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 27, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  14. ^ Kellman, Andy. "The Ballad of Purple Saint James". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 28, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  15. ^ "Yahzarah Added to the Hennesy Artistry Tour 2010". WhoIsYahzarah.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  16. ^ "Land of Sheep, Ran by Pigs, Ruled By Wolves | by W.Ellington Felton". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on November 5, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  17. ^ Johnson Martin, Adrienne (April 27, 2012). "YahZarah's songs covered with love". The News and Observer. Archived from the original on April 11, 2026. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  18. ^ "2009 SoulTracks Awards Finalists Named!". SoulTracks. October 18, 2009. Archived from the original on October 20, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  19. ^ a b c "2010 SoulTracks Awards Finalists Named!". SoulTracks. October 20, 2010. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
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