Vanessa Bell Armstrong

Vanessa Bell Armstrong
Birth name Vanessa Bell
Born (1953-10-02) October 2, 1953
Origin Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres gospel music
Occupation(s) singer
Instruments voice
Years active 1968–present
Labels Muscle Shoals Sound (1983-87)
Jive (1987-95)
Verity (1995-98)
Tommy Boy (2000-02)
EMI Gospel (2006-present)
Associated acts Margaret Bell-Byars
Website http://www.emigospel.com

Vanessa Bell Armstrong (born Vanessa Bell on October 2, 1953 in Detroit, Michigan) is a gospel 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.[1]

Bell Armstrong performed on the 1st Annual Soul Train Awards ceremony.[2] 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.

Armstrong enjoyed a slice of mainstream success in the late 1980s. 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." [1][3] 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.[4]

Armstrong appeared on Broadway in 1991 in a production of Don't Get God Started.[5] "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 1980s NBC sitcom Amen.

Vanessa Bell Armstrong took a three-year self-imposed hiatus from recording before releasing A Brand New Day under a new deal with Tommy Boy Gospel in 2001.[6] She was presented with a lifetime achievement award during 2004's Gospel Superfest.[7]

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.[8]

Discography

Albums

Compilations

Singles

Other works and collaborations

Armstrong recorded a stand out duet "Choose Ye" with gospel act The Winans 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".

Awards and honors

Grammy Nominations [10]
  • 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 Rho sorority[11]

Season Six Top 3 American Idol contestant Melinda Doolittle used to sing backup for Vanessa Bell Armstrong.

References

  1. 1 2 J. Matthew Cobb (August 31, 2007). "80's Countdown". PraiseHymnOnline.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2007.
  2. ↑ "Soul Train - Don Cornelius Production". SoulTrain.com. Archived from the original on 2013-07-25.
  3. ↑ Hardy, James Earl (December–January 1995). "Hip deep in gospel - American African music form continues to change". American Visions. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ↑ "Celebrities". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. November 12, 1995.
  5. ↑ Holden, Stephen (October 31, 1987). "The Stage: 'Don't Get God Started,' a Gospel Musical". New York Times.
  6. ↑ "Vanessa Bell Armstrong - A Brand New Day". GospelCity.com. December 28, 2001. Archived from the original on September 14, 2005.
  7. ↑ Rosenthal, Phil (January 23, 2004). "What are you looking at?". Chicago Sun-Times.
  8. ↑ "Vanessa Bell Armstrong EMI Gospel Press Release". Archived from the original on 2007-10-08.
  9. ↑ North, Stan (November 6, 2001). "A Brand New Day Album Review". GospelFlava.com.
  10. ↑ "Vanessa Bell Armstrong Award Nominations". The Envelope (Los Angeles Times).
  11. ↑ Roberts, Roxanne (October 12, 2003). "For black sororities". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Other References
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