In the late 1990s, Doss formed a music duo called Lyrik. After the duo disbanded, she released her debut album A Poem About Ms. Doss (2002),[2] which featured the single "Coffee", which gained substantial airplay from the Cleveland area radio stations. In 2004, Doss formed her own independent record label Conya Doss Songs, Inc. and released her second album, Just Because.[3]
She released seven more albums on her own label including: Love Rain Down (2006), Still... (2008), Blü Transition (2010), A Pocketful of Purpose (2012), Seven: VII (2015), Clear (2018), and Through Rose-Colored Glasses (2021).[4]
Early life
Conya Doss was born on April 13, 1972, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Carolyn Pruitt (née Doss), a therapeutic program worker, and Ronald Pruitt. She also has two other siblings Devaughn Reed and Tamara Pruitt. Doss enrolled in the Cleveland School of the Arts where she graduated in 1990.[5] She received her teaching credential from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and became a teacher of special education.
Career
1995–2004: Career beginnings
In 1995, Doss performed background vocals on Elaine Richardson's song "The Whole Shebang". In the late 1990s, Doss formed a short-lived music duo called Lyrik with childhood friend and singer Stacy Richardson. In 2000, Doss worked with American girl group 3LW. She co-wrote the song "I Think You Should Know" and vocally arranged the song "Ocean" for their debut self-titled album in December 2000.[6] Doss released her debut album A Poem About Ms. Doss in August 2002 on Orpheus Records.[2] The album featured the single "Coffee", a minor local hit in the Cleveland area.
In November 2004, she released her second album Just Because on her own independent record label Conya Doss Songs, Inc.[3] The album spawned the singles "Missin' You" and "Damn That".[7]
2005–2013: Love Rain Down and career breakthrough
In August 2006, Doss released her third album Love Rain Down.[8] The album's lead single "Tell Me Why" received positive reviews from music critics.[9] In April 2008, she released her fourth album Still...[10] The album's lead single "What I'd Do" peaked at number 79 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[11] The song earned Doss a nomination for "Best Underground Artist" at the BETJ Virtual Awards.[12] In 2008, Doss won Female Vocalist of the Year at annual Soultracks Readers' Choice Awards.[13] In September 2010, she released her fifth album Blü Transition, which spawned the singles "What We Gone Do" and "All in You".[14] In April 2012, she released her sixth album A Pocketful of Purpose. The album's lead single "Don't Change" peaked at number 72 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[15]
2014–present: Current projects
In 2015, she released her seventh album Seven: VII, which spawned the single "Don't Change". She released her eighth album Clear in 2018, followed by her ninth album 'Through Rose-Colored Glasses in 2021.
Personal life
In 2010, Doss gave birth to her son named Landon Blu. She named her fifth album after him.[16]
Philanthropy
Conya Doss also mentors teen girls, tutors, and is an active philanthropist for breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, and mental health awareness. On March 8, at the House of Blues, in Chicago, she performed to benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.[17] She has been an ambassador for BET's Rap-It-UP campaign[18], and in 2013, joined Brandy Norwood and Civil Rights leader, Julian Bond for the "Keep The Promise" March & Rally in Ohio, U.S.[19]
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