Lina | |
---|---|
Birth name | Shelina Wade |
Born | Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
Origin | Los Angeles, U.S. |
Genres | |
Occupations |
|
Instrument(s) | Vocals, piano |
Years active | 1999-present |
Labels | MoodStar, Hidden Beach, Atlantic/East West, Monarchy Records |
Website | Lina Music |
Shelina Wade (born in Denver, Colorado), commonly known as Lina, is an American R&B and soul singer and songwriter.
Lina was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in, Texas. Lina’s introduction to music started at the age of four when she began singing at church. After cultivating her gospel and jazz roots by touring with the church choir, performing with her mother and singing at social gatherings, Lina was signed to Atlantic first as a songwriter and then as a singer. Influenced by singers from Josephine Baker to Sarah Vaughan to Sade, Lina began developing a signature vocal style that could be described as a mixture of swing, r&b, and jazz meets modern day soul. [1]
In 1998, Lina got her first big break as a songwriter by penning a tune for Tyrese's self-titled debut album. Lina proved herself to also be a solid songwriter, penning "Ain't Nothing Like a Jones" for Tyrese.
Lina began her career in 2000 when she signed to Atlantic Records. Following her record deal, was the release of her first album, Stranger on Earth, which was introduced on August 21, 2001. Stranger on Earth was critically acclaimed for its blend of R&B with swing and vocal jazz. The title track was a cover version of a Dinah Washington track. [2] The album featured the singles "Playa No Mo", "It's Alright", "I'm Not The Enemy", and "Don't Say Nothin'". The first single "Playa No Mo" became a minor hit, reaching #46 in UK, while the album reached #89 on the Billboard R&B and hip-hop album chart. Stranger on Earth was placed among the Top 10 R&B Albums of the Year by Billboard Magazine. It was named the #1 R&B Album of the Year by Tower Records' "Pulse" magazine, and #1 album by cdnow.com. Nevertheless, Lina asked to be released from her contract and Atlantic granted her release; three months later she was signed to Hidden Beach.
In 2003, Lina signed to Hidden Beach Records and launched her own record label, Moodstar Recordings. [3] In 2004, she began recording her second album. Entitled The Inner Beauty Movement, it was released in June 2005 on the Hidden Beach Recordings record label. [4] The lead single Smooth received heavy airplay nationwide with the endorsement of Stevie Wonder and radio personality Michael Baisden "Smooth" became Lina's biggest record and is now known as a "Steppers" anthem. The jazz influenced "Leaving You" from the IBM album received airplay on jazz stations like "The Wave" and made Billboard jazz charts followed by the release of the single Come to Mamanow popular in the "Hip hop" community. Four songs from "The Inner Beauty Movement" were considered for Grammys in 2006 the titles were "Smooth", "Come To Mama" "Leaving You" and "Hope Wish and Pray". "Smooth" was nominated for a Soultrain Award that same year.
In 2007, Lina played a jazz singer performing "Santa Baby" in Sony pictures the movie "This Christmas" Starring Idris Elba and Chris Brown. Lina also returned to the studio to begin working on her third album, she recorded a total of 17 tracks for the album. Lina released her third album-to-date, Morning Star, by her own label, Mood Star Recordings.
Morning Star debuted on the market in February 2008. [5] The album spawn three singles "Feel The Love", "I'll Stick Around", and "Good Day". Lina continued to give her fans new music by introducing a special single titled "My Man".
Two tracks lifted from the Morning Star album featured on the Independent Soul Divas series on the UK label, Lola Waxx: "Feel The Love" (Volume 1 2008) and "Get It Right" (Volume 2 2009).
Many of Lina's songs are featured in movie such as "High Crimes" with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd, "Guess Who" starring Ashton Kutcher, Eddie Murphy's "Pluto Nash", John Travolta's "Lucky Numbers" and more including the Truth Hall film soundtrack released on November 12, 2009 on Utopia Recordings. The songs performed by Lina included "Breathe", "Dough", "Illuminating", and "On My Own". In 2010, she released her compilation album Vintage, which consisted of unreleased songs.
In September 2012, she released her fourth studio album The Love Chronicles of a Lady Songbird. In that same year, song "Said -N- Done" was featured in the urban farming documentary Urban Roots.
In January 2013 Lina Signed with Monarchy Records a division of Spectra Records, "The Love Chronicles of a Lady Songbird" officially released on Monarchy Records. In October 2014 the Motown inspired Ep the "Loveride" released on Soulside productions is currently making waves. The single "Dip" made UK's Soul Music Top 50 most played songs for 2014. Lina continues to give her fans the music and inspiration they love her for.
Single | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US R&B | US Adult | US Jazz | UK [8] | |||
"Playa No Mo" | 2001 | — | — | — | 46 | Stranger on Earth |
"It's Alright" | — | — | — | — | ||
"I'm Not the Enemy" | — | — | — | — | ||
"Don't Say Nothin'" | 2002 | — | — | — | — | |
"Smooth" | 2005 | 107 | 27 | — | — | The Inner Beauty Movement |
"Come to Mama" | — | — | — | — | ||
"Leaving You" | — | — | 28 | — | ||
"Feel The Love" | 2008 | 115 | — | — | — | Morning Star |
"I'll Stick Around" | — | — | — | — | ||
"Good Day" | — | — | — | — | ||
"I Won't Let My Baby Down (My Man)" | 2009 | — | — | — | — | The Love Chronicles of a Lady Songbird |
"Your Love" | 2014 | — | — | — | — | |
"Dip" | 2015 | — | — | — | — | Love Ride |
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American music band formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. Their music spans multiple genres, including jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.
Erica Abi Wright, known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer and songwriter. Influenced by R&B, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut album Baduizm (1997), placed her at the forefront of the neo soul movement, earning her the nickname "Queen of Neo Soul" by music critics.
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and entrepreneur. Often referred to as the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Awards, twelve NAACP Image Awards, and twelve Billboard Music Awards, including the Billboard Icon Award. She has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards, including one for her supporting role in the film Mudbound (2017) and another for its original song "Mighty River", becoming the first person nominated for acting and songwriting in the same year. In October of 2024 Blige was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a performer for her contributions to music.
June Deniece Williams is an American singer. She has been described as "one of the great soul voices" by the BBC.
Deborah Cox is a Canadian singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Toronto, she began performing on television commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows in her teenage years before becoming a professional backing vocalist for Celine Dion. In 1994, Cox relocated to the United States and was signed to Arista Records by Clive Davis, releasing her self-titled debut album the following year. Her second studio album, One Wish (1998), was certified platinum in the United States. It was marked by the commercial success of the pop crossover single "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here", which would become her most successful entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number two and remaining there for eight consecutive weeks. Cox signed with J Records for her third studio album The Morning After (2002), which saw moderate commercial success.
Shanice Lorraine Wilson-Knox is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress and dancer. She had the Billboard hit singles "I Love Your Smile" and "Silent Prayer" in 1991 and "Saving Forever for You" in 1993. In 1999, Shanice scored another hit song with "When I Close My Eyes", which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She is recognized for her coloratura soprano voice and her ability to sing in the whistle register.
Maurice White was an American musician, best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter and chief producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, also serving as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey.
Floetry were an English R&B duo comprising Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart. The group recorded two studio albums, one live album, and sold over 1,500,000 records worldwide. Formed in 1997, Floetry started on the performance poetry stage. They have worked with many US musicians and artists including: Jill Scott, Queen Latifah, Michael Jackson, Common, The Roots, Bilal, and more founders of neo soul.
Philip James Bailey is an American singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. Noted for his four-octave vocal range and distinctive falsetto register, Bailey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire. Bailey was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his work with the band.
Evelyn "Champagne" King is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She is best known for her hit disco single "Shame", which was released in 1977 during the height of disco's popularity. King had other hits from the early through the mid–1980s including; "I'm in Love" (1981), "Love Come Down" (1982) and "Your Personal Touch" (1985).
Cheryl Lynn is an American singer and songwriter. She is best known for her songs during the late 1970s through the mid-1980s, including the 1978 R&B/disco song "Got to Be Real".
Alicia Michelle "Miki" Howard is an American R&B singer who had top 10 hit songs in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, including "Baby, Be Mine" (1987), "Come Share My Love" (1986) and "Love Under New Management" (1990). "Ain't Nobody Like You" (1992) and "Ain't Nuthin' in the World" (1989) both peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B Singles chart.
Corinne Jacqueline Bailey Rae is an English singer and songwriter. She is best known for her 2006 single "Put Your Records On". Bailey Rae was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2006 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2006. She released her debut album, Corinne Bailey Rae, in February 2006, and became the fourth female British act in history to have her first album debut at number one. The album has sold over four million copies. In 2007, Bailey Rae was nominated for three Grammy Awards and three Brit Awards, and won two MOBO Awards. In 2008, she won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
"After the Love Has Gone" is a song by Earth, Wind & Fire, released in 1979 as the second single from their ninth studio album I Am on ARC/Columbia Records. The song reached No. 2 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, No. 3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. "After the Love Has Gone" was certified gold in the US by the RIAA and silver in the UK by the BPI.
Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers are New York–based songwriters and record producers. They have produced hits for Ruben Studdard, Wild Orchid, Christina Aguilera and Evelyn Champagne King and helped build the career of Rihanna. In addition to being principals of Rihanna's production company SRP Music Group, they have achieved more than twenty top 40 hits, twelve top 5 hits and six BMI Awards. Their songs have sold more than 60 million albums around the world.
The Promise is the fifth studio album by Canadian R&B singer Deborah Cox. It was released on November 11, 2008, worldwide and marked her debut with Image Entertainment and Deco Recording Group. While her 2007 album Destination Moon was a jazz tribute, this one marks her return to R&B music six years after The Morning After (2002). The album received a generally good critical reception.
Lost & Found is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Ledisi. It was released on August 28, 2007, by Verve Records.
Ralph Randolph Johnson is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer. Johnson is a member and percussionist of the funk/soul/disco band Earth, Wind & Fire.
Now, Then & Forever is the twentieth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on September 10, 2013, by Legacy Recordings/Sony Music. The album reached No. 11 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Leavin' is a studio album by American recording artist Natalie Cole, released on September 26, 2006, by Verve Records. The album consists of ten cover versions of various R&B and pop songs and two original songs: "5 Minutes Away" and "Don't Say Goodnight ". It was the second of Cole's albums to be released by Verve Records and her first album in four years, following Ask a Woman Who Knows (2002). Cole promoted the album as a return to her R&B roots, distancing herself from an identification as a jazz artist.