Vanessa Bell Armstrong
Encyclopedia
Vanessa Bell Armstrong is a gospel
singer who released her debut album Peace Be Still in 1983.
Armstrong's second album Chosen hit number one on the US Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart.
Bell Armstrong performed on the 1st Annual Soul Train Awards ceremony. Her 1986 album Following Jesus won a Soul Train Music Award
for Best Gospel Album - Solo in 1988. She is also a seven time Grammy Award
-nominee.
Vanessa enjoyed a slice of mainstream success in the late 80's. Her self-titled 1987 Jive Records debut
yielded the Billboard-charting hit "You Bring Out The Best In Me," as well as the club favorite "Pressing On." The next year's follow-up album Wonderful One featured a cover of the Labi Siffre
anti-Apartheid anthem "Something Inside So Strong." The song was later remade in 1995 by Armstrong along with Shirley Caesar
, Fred Hammond
, Tramaine Hawkins, Yolanda Adams
, and a host of other gospel artists as a tribute to Rosa Parks
. The song was serviced to radio stations to play on the 40th anniversary of the civil rights icon's arrest.
Armstrong appeared on Broadway in 1991 in a production of Don't Get God Started. "Always," a Marvin Winans composition that anchors the play, also appears on Armstrong's 1987 self-titled album. Her Broadway role lead to a cameo appearance in the Oprah Winfrey TV special The Women of Brewster Place
. Armstrong was also chosen to record the theme to the popular 80's NBC sitcom Amen
.
Vanessa Bell Armstrong took a 3 year self-imposed hiatus from recording before releasing A Brand New Day under a new deal with Tommy Boy Gospel in 2001. Vanessa was presented with a lifetime achievement award during 2004's Gospel Superfest.
Armstrong's 2007 album, Walking Miracle, is her first release in 6 years, and blends traditional gospel fare like "So Good To Me" (produced by Smokie Norful
) with contemporary songs like "Til The Victory's Won" (produced by Fred Jerkins III
) and the title track (produced by Rodney Jerkins
). The latter song was inspired by Armstrong's son who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
on their major label debut Let My People Go for Qwest Records
. She also sang the theme song for the 1980s NBC
sitcom Amen
.
Armstrong was a frequent musical guest of the early projects of John P. Kee & The New Life Community Choir, and lent her voice to several classics that include "We Walk By Faith", and "We Glorify".
sorority
Season Six
Top 3 American Idol
contestant Melinda Doolittle
used to sing backup for Vanessa Bell Armstrong.
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
singer who released her debut album Peace Be Still in 1983.
Musical career
Vanessa Bell Armstrong made her solo debut on Onyx/Muscle Shoals Sound Records in 1983 with the album Peace Be Still. The title track has since became one of Armstrong's signature songs.Armstrong's second album Chosen hit number one on the US Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart.
Bell Armstrong performed on the 1st Annual Soul Train Awards ceremony. Her 1986 album Following Jesus won a Soul Train Music Award
Soul Train Music Awards of 1988
The 2nd Annual Soul Train Music Awards were held on March 30, 1988 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA. The show was broadcast live in select cities and aired later in other areas...
for Best Gospel Album - Solo in 1988. She is also a seven time Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-nominee.
Vanessa enjoyed a slice of mainstream success in the late 80's. Her self-titled 1987 Jive Records debut
Vanessa Bell Armstrong (album)
Vanessa Bell Armstrong is the major-label debut album of gospel singer Vanessa Bell Armstrong. Though the artist had garnered Grammy- and Stellar-award nominations previously for her work as an independent artist, this album was the gospel artist's first foray into the mainstream market...
yielded the Billboard-charting hit "You Bring Out The Best In Me," as well as the club favorite "Pressing On." The next year's follow-up album Wonderful One featured a cover of the Labi Siffre
Labi Siffre
Labi Siffre is a British poet, songwriter, musician and singer most widely known as the writer and singer of " So Strong", "It Must Be Love" and "I Got The", the sampled rhythm track which provides the basis for a number of well-known hip hop tracks such as Eminem’s breakthrough hit single, "My...
anti-Apartheid anthem "Something Inside So Strong." The song was later remade in 1995 by Armstrong along with Shirley Caesar
Shirley Caesar
Shirley Ann Caesar is an American Gospel music singer, songwriter and recording artist whose career has spanned six decades...
, Fred Hammond
Fred Hammond
Fred Hammond is a gospel music singer, bass guitar player, and record producer.-Musical career:Hammond has been active both as a member of the gospel performing group Commissioned, and as a solo artist...
, Tramaine Hawkins, Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams is an American Grammy- and Dove-award-winning Yolanda Adams is an American [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]- and [[Dove Awards|Dove]]-award-winning...
, and a host of other gospel artists as a tribute to Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement"....
. The song was serviced to radio stations to play on the 40th anniversary of the civil rights icon's arrest.
Armstrong appeared on Broadway in 1991 in a production of Don't Get God Started. "Always," a Marvin Winans composition that anchors the play, also appears on Armstrong's 1987 self-titled album. Her Broadway role lead to a cameo appearance in the Oprah Winfrey TV special The Women of Brewster Place
The Women of Brewster Place
The Women of Brewster Place may refer to:*The Women of Brewster Place , a 1982 novel by Gloria Naylor*The Women of Brewster Place , a 1989 television miniseries based upon the novel...
. Armstrong was also chosen to record the theme to the popular 80's NBC sitcom Amen
Amen (TV series)
Amen is an American television sitcom produced by Carson Productions that ran from September 27, 1986 to May 11, 1991 on NBC. Set in Sherman Hemsley's real-life hometown of Philadelphia, Amen starred Hemsley as the deacon of a church and was part of a wave of successful sitcoms on NBC in the 1980s...
.
Vanessa Bell Armstrong took a 3 year self-imposed hiatus from recording before releasing A Brand New Day under a new deal with Tommy Boy Gospel in 2001. Vanessa was presented with a lifetime achievement award during 2004's Gospel Superfest.
Armstrong's 2007 album, Walking Miracle, is her first release in 6 years, and blends traditional gospel fare like "So Good To Me" (produced by Smokie Norful
Smokie Norful
Rev. W.R. "Smokie" Norful, Jr. is an American gospel singer and pianist, best known for his 2002 album, I Need You Now and his 2004 release, Nothing Without You, which won a Grammy at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 2004.-Early life:Norful, a minister who...
) with contemporary songs like "Til The Victory's Won" (produced by Fred Jerkins III
Fred Jerkins III
Fred Jerkins III is an American songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with his brother Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Jerkins has co-written several hit songs with Rodney Jerkins and LaShawn Daniels, among them "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy and Monica, "Say My Name" and "Lose My...
) and the title track (produced by Rodney Jerkins
Rodney Jerkins
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. Jerkins received two Grammy nominations in 2011.-Biography:...
). The latter song was inspired by Armstrong's son who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Other works and collaborations
Armstrong recorded a stand out duet "Choose Ye" with gospel act The WinansThe Winans
The Winans are an American Gospel music quartet from Detroit, Michigan consisting of brothers Marvin, Carvin, Michael and Ronald Winans.-Members:Please refer to the Winans family page for more detail on the individual members.-Origins:...
on their major label debut Let My People Go for Qwest Records
Qwest Records
Qwest Records is the American record label started by Quincy Jones in 1980 as a joint venture with Warner Bros. Records, and owned byWarner Music Group. although Quincy was still under contract with A&M records through 1981. George Benson's 1980 Give Me the Night LP was the first release on Qwest,...
. She also sang the theme song for the 1980s NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
sitcom Amen
Amen (TV series)
Amen is an American television sitcom produced by Carson Productions that ran from September 27, 1986 to May 11, 1991 on NBC. Set in Sherman Hemsley's real-life hometown of Philadelphia, Amen starred Hemsley as the deacon of a church and was part of a wave of successful sitcoms on NBC in the 1980s...
.
Armstrong was a frequent musical guest of the early projects of John P. Kee & The New Life Community Choir, and lent her voice to several classics that include "We Walk By Faith", and "We Glorify".
Awards and honors
Grammy Nominations- Best Soul Gospel Performance - Female for Peace Be Still (1983)
- Best Soul Gospel Performance - Female for Chosen (1985)
- Best Soul Gospel Performance - Duo, Group, Choir or Chorus for "Choose Ye" (1986)
- Best Soul Gospel Performance - Female for "Pressing On" (1988)
Personal life
She is a member of Sigma Gamma RhoSigma Gamma Rho
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Butler University on November 12, 1922, by seven school teachers in Indianapolis, Indiana...
sorority
Season Six
American Idol (Season 6)
The sixth season of American Idol premiered on the Fox Broadcasting Company as a two-night, four-hour premiere special on January 16 and January 17, and ran until May 23, 2007. Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returned to judge once again, and Ryan Seacrest returned as host...
Top 3 American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
contestant Melinda Doolittle
Melinda Doolittle
Melinda Marie Doolittle is an American singer who finished as the third place finalist on the sixth season of American Idol...
used to sing backup for Vanessa Bell Armstrong.