Yolanda Adams (born Yolanda Yvette Adams on ) is an American Grammy and Dove-award winning Gospel music singer and radio show host. She has sold 4.5 million albums since 1991 according to Soundscan. http://www.billboard.com/#/column/chartbeat/ask-billboard-madonna-yoko-ono-gospel-1004014251.story?page=2

Life

The oldest of six siblings, Adams was raised in Houston, Texas. She graduated from Sterling High School in Houston in 1979. After graduating from Texas Southern University, 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. In 1990, she signed to Ben Tankard's independent label Tribute Records and released Through The Storm.