Quincy Jones introduces singer Tamia on new album 'Q's Jook Joint.'

Jet, Nov 13, 1995

A CASUAL MEETING of music icon Quincy Jones and talented Tamia at a party for Luther Vandross, hosted by her manager Brenda Richie, has resulted in an opportunity of a lifetime for the Canadian-born singer--membership in Quincy's stable of stars.

A native of Windsor, Ontario, the 19-year-old singer who is simply known as Tamia, has a voice that "contains power, complexity and impassioned skill" that is unusual for her age.

When she accompanied Quincy for a luncheon recently in his honor hosted by JET at the Chicago headquarters of Johnson Publishing Co., Tamia gave an impromptu demonstration of her vocal at the nudging of her manager and a smiling approval of Quincy.

This introduction of the sensual singer proved that she possesses the vocal qualities that qualifies her to join the ranks of the music genius' proteges such as Patti Austin, James Ingram, Siedah Garrett and Tevin Campell.

In the world of music, it is known that "once Quincy Jones has put his stamp of approval on a vocalist, you can take it to the bank that a superstar has been christened."

The top musician/composer/producer/arranger/conductor conferred upon Tamia a special distinction "reserved for only the best of the best as the principal vocalist on his first single release, You Put A Moue On My Heart, from Q's Jook Joint, his first album in six years. To put this honor in its proper perspective, all you have to do is take a look at a sample of the 40 all-stars appearing on Q's Jook Joint: Chaka Khan, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Brandy, Babyface, Queen Latifah, Barry White, Coolio and many more.

To introduce Tamia to his legion of music lovers, Quincy selected You Put A Move On My Heart because, he says, the song is a strong, yet sensual vehicle that gives Tamia the chance to explore the range of emotion that the song (and Quincy Jones) demands.

Since it is Quincy's belief that you should select a song before you select a singer, many seasoned stars would have been overjoyed to record this song, but Quincy chose Tamia to deliver his musical message.

The events leading up to this musical coup started in 1994 when Tamia was a guest at a star-studded party her manager Brenda Richie gave in honor of the venerable Luther Vandross. Tamia recalls: "Quincy was one of the guests and we met casually as friends. A few months later, Quincy called my manager and told her that he had a song and asked if I would listen to it. I love it, and we went into the studio to record it."

Tamia admits that she was overwhelmed about the honor of singing on the first-released single on Quincy's album released by his Qwest Records. "I'm very, very flattered. As a new artist, I feel that it's so much to handle. Even being on an album with such people as Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder is an honor, and then to be on the first single out-it's amazing to me. I had so much fun and Quincy made me feel comfortable the whole time. He made me feel that he was as excited to work with me as I was to work with him."

It was a tribute to Quincy that he didn't intimidate her with his creative magic that spans four decades during which time the Chicago-born trumpeter/vocalist has become an impresario in the broader and most creative sense of the word. Quincy's career finds him successful in roles of composer, record producer, artist, film producer, arranger, conductor, instrumentalist, television producer, record company executive, magazine founder and multi-media entrepreneur.

His credentials contrast that of the Canadian teen-ager, but their career beginnings are similar. Tamia had an early start on stage. She has studied voice, acting and singing since, the age of ten, performing in numerous theater and choral productions in Canada and has gathered her fair share of distinctions along the way, including a performance before 75,000 at a retirement gala honoring Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulrooney.

With her new release reviewed favorably, Tamia says: "I'm feeling very blessed and I'm just trying to take it day by day."

As for Quincy's flow of creative juices, he says:

"I always say that you have to leave space for God to walk through your room."