Conya Doss
Encyclopedia
Conya Doss is an American R&B
and soul
singer-songwriter
and record producer
. In 2001, Conya Doss started her own recording label Conya Doss Songs and began recording her first album. In 2002, Doss released her first singles "Good Good" and "Coffee" which were followed by the release of her album, entitled A Poem About Ms. Doss. The album also spawned the singles "Starship" and "You Really Hurt Me". Later that year, Doss began performing at several Midwest venues. In 2003, she returned to the studio to record her sophomore album. In 2004, Doss released the single "Missin' You". The single created a buzz for her upcoming album, Just Because which was released in November 2004.
In May 2008, Doss released her lead single "What I'd Do". The song received airplay from local radio stations, charted on Billboard and also received airplay from BET J's Soul Sessions. In April 2008, Doss released her fourth studio album, entitled Still. The album also spawned a second single "It's Over", which listed her for iTunes' "Best R&B Indie Track". In 2009, Doss released two more singles "Can't Stop" and "Message". In 2010, Doss was the given the honorary music title "Queen of Indie Soul". In August 2010, Doss released the lead single "All In You" from her upcoming album. In September 2010, Doss released her fifth album "Blu Transition". In March 2011, Doss released her second single "Wi-Fi".
, The Doobie Brothers
, Stevie Wonder
, Angela Winbush
, Nina Simone
, and Jane Child
. She attended Cleveland School of the Arts
along with Avant
and 71 North. She later received her teaching credential and has become a teacher of children with special needs in the Cleveland Public School system. She began using music in her classroom as a way to connect with her students and her debut album “A Poem About Ms. Doss” was inspired by a heartfelt letter from one of her students.
. For her debut album she received 3 Stars in USA Today where music critic Steve Jones said "No matter what twists and turns relationships may take, they never seem to make this honey-voiced newcomer from Cleveland lose heart. Doss stirs emotions on her inventive first single, “Coffee”, and takes a loving nod toward her soul/jazz roots with a cover of Norman Connors' Starship. Her poem is a smooth and sexy one worth more than just a cursory reading."
In 2009, Doss began promoting her third single "Can't Stop". She later performed the song in dedication of her late friend at local venues. In June 2009, Doss toured with Yahzarah
, Sy Smith
, Maya Azucena on the Soulsista Tour. Following the previous tour, she toured with Yahzarah
, Sy Smith
, and Ra-Re Valverde on the Soul Uprising Tour in July 2009.
style hair. Doss is an alto
with a soprano-like vocal range. Doss demonstrates her alto range in songs like "Something 2Nite", "It's Over", and "Starship", where as in songs like "Message", "Good Good", "I Miss You" is where she demonstrates her mezzo-soprano range. She cites Stevie Wonder
, Donnie Hathaway, Chaka Khan
, Prince
, Steely Dan
, Natalie Cole
, Sade
, Jodeci
, Rude Boys
, Lauryn Hill
, and D'Angelo
as her musical inspirations.
Singles
singer Conya Doss.
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. In 2001, Conya Doss started her own recording label Conya Doss Songs and began recording her first album. In 2002, Doss released her first singles "Good Good" and "Coffee" which were followed by the release of her album, entitled A Poem About Ms. Doss. The album also spawned the singles "Starship" and "You Really Hurt Me". Later that year, Doss began performing at several Midwest venues. In 2003, she returned to the studio to record her sophomore album. In 2004, Doss released the single "Missin' You". The single created a buzz for her upcoming album, Just Because which was released in November 2004.
In May 2008, Doss released her lead single "What I'd Do". The song received airplay from local radio stations, charted on Billboard and also received airplay from BET J's Soul Sessions. In April 2008, Doss released her fourth studio album, entitled Still. The album also spawned a second single "It's Over", which listed her for iTunes' "Best R&B Indie Track". In 2009, Doss released two more singles "Can't Stop" and "Message". In 2010, Doss was the given the honorary music title "Queen of Indie Soul". In August 2010, Doss released the lead single "All In You" from her upcoming album. In September 2010, Doss released her fifth album "Blu Transition". In March 2011, Doss released her second single "Wi-Fi".
Early life
Doss has been singing since she was five. She grew up listening to the likes of Bonnie RaittBonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Angela Winbush
Angela Winbush
Angela Winbush is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter who rose to fame first in the 1980s R&B duo René & Angela, also scoring hits as a solo artist.-Early life and career:...
, Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
, and Jane Child
Jane Child
Jane Child is a Canadian dance-pop singer, producer and musician.-Career:The daughter of Ricky Hyslop, Child joined Canadian Opera Company's children's chorus in her youth....
. She attended Cleveland School of the Arts
Cleveland School of the Arts
Cleveland School of the Arts is a public high school located in the University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. It is a magnet school and part of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.-External links:*...
along with Avant
Avant
Myron Avant , better known as Avant is an American R&B singer-songwriter. He is best known for hits such as "Separated" , "My First Love," which one version features KeKe Wyatt, and "Read Your Mind"...
and 71 North. She later received her teaching credential and has become a teacher of children with special needs in the Cleveland Public School system. She began using music in her classroom as a way to connect with her students and her debut album “A Poem About Ms. Doss” was inspired by a heartfelt letter from one of her students.
2001-2003: A Poem About Ms. Doss
In 2001, Conya Doss started her own recording label Conya Doss Songs and began recording her first album. In 2002, Doss released her first singles "Good Good" and "Coffee" which were followed by the release of her album, entitled A Poem About Ms. Doss. The album also spawned the singles "Starship" and "You Really Hurt Me". Doss later began performing at several Midwest venues. In February 2003, Doss performed at Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of FameRock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
. For her debut album she received 3 Stars in USA Today where music critic Steve Jones said "No matter what twists and turns relationships may take, they never seem to make this honey-voiced newcomer from Cleveland lose heart. Doss stirs emotions on her inventive first single, “Coffee”, and takes a loving nod toward her soul/jazz roots with a cover of Norman Connors' Starship. Her poem is a smooth and sexy one worth more than just a cursory reading."
2003-2005: Just Because
In 2003, Doss returned to the studio to begin recording for her second album. In 2004, Doss released the single "Missin' You". The single created a buzz for her upcoming album, Just Because which was released in November 2004.2005-2007: Love Rain Down
In 2005, Doss began recording sessions for her third album. After a two-year hiatus, she released her third album, Love Rain Down in October 2006. Shortly after the album's release, Doss began touring and performing at worldwide venues. In 2007, Doss performed the album's lead single "Tell Me Why" on BET J.2008-2009: Still
In May 2008, Doss released her lead single "What I'd Do". The song received airplay from local radio stations, charted on Billboard and also received airplay from BET J's Soul Sessions. The song earned Doss a nomination for "Best Underground Artist" at the BET J Virtual Awards alongside Eric Roberson, Vikter Duplaix and Rahsaan Patterson... In April 2008, Doss released her fourth studio album, entitled Still. The album also spawned a second single "It's Over", which listed her for iTunes' "Best R&B Indie Track". She later appeared on PBS and performed her singles "Tell Me Why", "Message", "It's Over".In 2009, Doss began promoting her third single "Can't Stop". She later performed the song in dedication of her late friend at local venues. In June 2009, Doss toured with Yahzarah
YahZarah
Dana Nicole Williams is an American singer. She is commonly known by her stage name, Yahzarah or Purple St. James.Yahzarah rose to fame when she became a back-up singer for Erykah Badu in 2000. In 2001, Yahzarah signed to Keo Music Records released her first album, Hear Me...
, Sy Smith
Sy Smith
Sy Olivia Smith is an American Emmy nominated singer-songwriter. Born in New York, New York, Smith rose to fame in the late 1990s when she signed a recording contract with Hollywood Records. Smith released her first studio album Psykosoul in 2000, which spawned the singles "Gladly" and "Good N...
, Maya Azucena on the Soulsista Tour. Following the previous tour, she toured with Yahzarah
YahZarah
Dana Nicole Williams is an American singer. She is commonly known by her stage name, Yahzarah or Purple St. James.Yahzarah rose to fame when she became a back-up singer for Erykah Badu in 2000. In 2001, Yahzarah signed to Keo Music Records released her first album, Hear Me...
, Sy Smith
Sy Smith
Sy Olivia Smith is an American Emmy nominated singer-songwriter. Born in New York, New York, Smith rose to fame in the late 1990s when she signed a recording contract with Hollywood Records. Smith released her first studio album Psykosoul in 2000, which spawned the singles "Gladly" and "Good N...
, and Ra-Re Valverde on the Soul Uprising Tour in July 2009.
2010-present: Blu Transition
In August 2010, Doss revealed the recording sessions for her fifth album entitled Blu Transition. In late August 2010, she released her buzz single "What We Gon Do" to Soultracks as the Free Choice Track Download. It became CD of the Month in September 2010 while the single received 4000 digital downloads in one month, setting a new record on Soultracks since Lalah Hathaway in 2008.Style
Doss' stage presence consists of her afroAfro
Afro, sometimes shortened to fro and also known as a "natural", is a hairstyle worn naturally by people with lengthy kinky hair texture or specifically styled in such a fashion by individuals with naturally curly or straight hair...
style hair. Doss is an alto
Alto
Alto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
with a soprano-like vocal range. Doss demonstrates her alto range in songs like "Something 2Nite", "It's Over", and "Starship", where as in songs like "Message", "Good Good", "I Miss You" is where she demonstrates her mezzo-soprano range. She cites Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Donnie Hathaway, Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
, Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
, Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
, Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole
Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
, Sade
Sade (band)
Sade is a British smooth jazz band that formed in 1983, named for Nigerian lead singer Sade Adu. Their music features elements of R&B, soul, jazz, and soft rock....
, Jodeci
Jodeci
Jodeci is an American band, whose repertoire includes R&B, soul music, and new jack swing. The group consists of two pairs of brothers from Hampton, Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina: Cedric & Joel Hailey and Donald & Dalvin DeGrate, all respectively known by their stage names: K-Ci & Jojo,...
, Rude Boys
Rude Boys
Rude Boys was a prominent Ultimate Frisbee team in Boston from the 1970s to the 1980s. They were 1982 UPA National Champion, and won the first ever Ultimate World Championship in 1983...
, Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress.Early in her career, she established her reputation as a member of the Fugees. In 1998, she launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of...
, and D'Angelo
D'Angelo
Michael Eugene Archer , better known by his stage name D'Angelo, is an American R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is known for his production and songwriting talents as much as for his vocal abilities, and often draws comparisons to his influences,...
as her musical inspirations.
Personal life
In 2010, Doss gave birth to her son named Landon Blu. She named her fifth album after him.Discography
Albums- 2002: A Poem About Ms. Doss
- 2004: Just Because
- 2006: Love Rain Down
- 2008: Still...
- 2010: Blu Transition
Singles
- 2002: Coffee
- 2002: Good Good
- 2002: Starship
- 2003: You Really Hurt Me
- 2004: Missin' You
- 2004: Damn That
- 2004: Sweet Love (I Don't Know)
- 2005: Ain't Giving Up
- 2005: Here We Go Again
- 2006: Tell Me Why
- 2006: Let You Know
- 2008: What I'd Do
- 2008: It's Over
- 2009: Can't Stop
- 2009: Message
- 2010: What We Gone Do
- 2010: All In You
- 2011: Wi-Fi
Tours
- 2003: Conya Doss Tour
- 2007: Love Rain Down Tour
- 2008: Still... Tour
- 2009: Soulsista Tour (with Sy SmithSy SmithSy Olivia Smith is an American Emmy nominated singer-songwriter. Born in New York, New York, Smith rose to fame in the late 1990s when she signed a recording contract with Hollywood Records. Smith released her first studio album Psykosoul in 2000, which spawned the singles "Gladly" and "Good N...
, YahzarahYahZarahDana Nicole Williams is an American singer. She is commonly known by her stage name, Yahzarah or Purple St. James.Yahzarah rose to fame when she became a back-up singer for Erykah Badu in 2000. In 2001, Yahzarah signed to Keo Music Records released her first album, Hear Me...
, and Maya AzucenaMaya AzucenaMaya Azucena is an American singer-songwriter and cultural ambassador from Brooklyn, NY. She attended the LaGuardia School of Performing Arts. She independently released her debut CD "Maya Who?!" at shows and from her website.-Solo Work:...
) - 2009: Soul Uprising Tour (with Sy SmithSy SmithSy Olivia Smith is an American Emmy nominated singer-songwriter. Born in New York, New York, Smith rose to fame in the late 1990s when she signed a recording contract with Hollywood Records. Smith released her first studio album Psykosoul in 2000, which spawned the singles "Gladly" and "Good N...
and YahzarahYahZarahDana Nicole Williams is an American singer. She is commonly known by her stage name, Yahzarah or Purple St. James.Yahzarah rose to fame when she became a back-up singer for Erykah Badu in 2000. In 2001, Yahzarah signed to Keo Music Records released her first album, Hear Me...
) - 2011: Blu Transition Tour
Awards and nominations
These are the awards won by American R&BRhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer Conya Doss.
| Year | Category | Nominated Work | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Hip Hop Awards | |||||
| 2007 | Best Female Vocalist | Won | |||
| Soultracks | |||||
| 2007 | Best Female Vocalist | Nominated | |||
| Soultracks | |||||
| 2008 | Female Vocalist of the Year | "Still" | Won | ||
| Centric/BET J Virtual Awards Bet Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory... |
|||||
| 2008 | Female Vocalist of the Year | "What I'd Do" | Nominated | ||
| iTunes Awards ITunes iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.... |
|||||
| 2008 | Best R&B Underground/Indie Artist | "Still" | Nominated | ||
| 2008 | Best R&B Indie Track | "It's Over" | Nominated | ||