Kierra Sheard
Encyclopedia
Kierra "Kiki" Sheard is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....

 recording artist. She is the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard
Karen Clark Sheard
Karen Clark-Sheard is an American gospel four-time Grammy Award winning singer, musician, and songwriter. The youngest daughter of pioneering gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark, Sheard began her career as a member of the Grammy-Award winning, gospel legendary female group, The Clark Sisters...

 (member of gospel singing group The Clark Sisters
The Clark Sisters
The Clark Sisters are an American gospel vocal group consisting of four sisters:Jacky Clark Chisholm, Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. A fifth sister, Denise Clark Bradford, no longer performs with the group. The Clark Sisters are the daughters of legendary...

) and the granddaughter of gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark
Mattie Moss Clark
Dr. Mattie Moss-Clark was an American gospel choir director and the mother of The Clark Sisters, a world-renowned gospel vocal group...

.

Early life

Born in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...

 and raised in the suburb of West Bloomfield, Sheard spent her formative years surrounded by the influences of her family, their faith, and their music. At age 6, she began singing in the choir at Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ
Church of God in Christ
The Church of God in Christ is a Pentecostal Holiness Christian denomination with a predominantly African-American membership. With nearly five million members in the United States and 12,000 congregations, it is the largest Pentecostal church and the fifth largest Christian church in the U.S....

, pastored by her father Bishop J. Drew Sheard. Even at a young age, Sheard had a preternatural grip on the signature "Clark sound" pioneered by her mother and aunts, executing high and fast melisma
Melisma
Melisma, in music, is the singing of a single syllable of text while moving between several different notes in succession. Music sung in this style is referred to as melismatic, as opposed to syllabic, where each syllable of text is matched to a single note.-History:Music of ancient cultures used...

s, riffs, runs, and deep, throaty growls sometimes referred to as "squalls" (the latter is prominently displayed on "Done Did It", a traditional gospel leaning track from her album I Owe You).

1997-2003: Early Career

Sheard made her professional stage debut at the age of 10 performing on two tracks on her mother's debut solo album Finally Karen
Finally Karen
Finally Karen is the debut album of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard, released on November 4, 1997. The live portion of the album was recorded at Bailey Cathedral in Detroit, Michigan. The album was Grammy-nominated for Best Soul Gospel Album in 1998...

 in 1997. One of those songs was "The Will Of God", penned by Evangelist Richard "Mr. Clean" White as the standout closing track. The song won a Stellar Award for Best Children's Performance the following year. In the years following, she honed and matured her skills as a performer and vocalist. Kierra started singing as a background vocalist for her mother, her aunt Dorinda Clark-Cole, and The Clark Sisters. In 2002, Kierra was featured on her aunt Dorinda's self-titled debut album
Dorinda Clark-Cole (album)
Dorinda Clark-Cole is the debut album of Gospel singer Dorinda Clark-Cole, which was released on June 25, 2002.Dorinda won two Stellar Awards and a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best Female Gospel Artist from the album....

. The following year, she performed two tracks again on her mothers' third album, The Heavens Are Telling
The Heavens Are Telling
The Heavens Are Telling is an album by multiple Grammy- and Stellar- award winning gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard, released on November 4, 2003...

. On The Heavens Are Telling, she was featured with her mother on a popular cover of Jill Scott
Jill Scott
Jill Scott is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter, poet, and actress. In 2007, Scott made her cinematic debut in the films Hounddog and in Tyler Perry's feature film, Why Did I Get Married? That year, her third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, was released on...

's He Loves Me (Lyzel In E Flat)
He Loves Me (Lyzel In E Flat)
"He Loves Me "He Loves Me "He Loves Me (Lyzel In E Flat" was the fourth single released by American R&B/Soul singer Jill Scott and from her debut, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1. The song was released as a single in support of Scott's live album, Experience: Jill Scott 826+. A music...

. In 2003, EMI Gospel won a bidding war between several record companies to sign Kierra to her first recording contract.

2004–2005: I Owe You

Her debut album I Owe You was released on September 7, 2004. The 11-track set included production and songwriting from such notable music luminaries as Rodney Jerkins
Rodney Jerkins
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. Jerkins received two Grammy nominations in 2011.-Biography:...

, Warryn Campbell
Warryn Campbell
Warryn Campbell is an American record producer. He specializes in gospel music and R&B.-Career:His work includes production and songwriting credits for Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Xzibit, Yolanda Adams, Dayna Caddell, Mos Def, Missy Elliott, Kierra Sheard, Brandy, Dave Hollister, Men of Standard,...

, Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary
Mary Mary
Mary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell . The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz...

, J Moss
J Moss
J. Moss , Detroit, Michigan is an American singer-songwriter, composer, arranger, and producer.-Early years:...

, and Tonéx
Tonéx
Anthony Charles Williams II , better known by his former stage name Tonéx , and most recently as B.Slade, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, dancer, producer, preacher, and activist. He has gone by various names and aliases, but his primary stage name of choice...

. The album also functioned as the production debut for her brother J Drew.

The following year, EMI commissioned a collection of remixes entitled Just Until... on August 2, 2005. The title of the stopgap release was abbreviated from its working title "Just Until The Next Record". The album had a surprise international hit in The Godson Concept remix of "Let Go". The upbeat gospel single, released only in Japan, raced to the top of mainstream R&B charts and remained there for several weeks.

2006–2007: This is Me

Shortly after graduating high school, Sheard readied her second album This Is Me. It debuted at #1 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...

's Top Gospel Albums chart when it was released June 27, 2006. A midtempo fan favorite, the Fred Jerkins III
Fred Jerkins III
Fred Jerkins III is an American songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with his brother Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Jerkins has co-written several hit songs with Rodney Jerkins and LaShawn Daniels, among them "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy and Monica, "Say My Name" and "Lose My...

-produced "Why Me?" was chosen as the lead single for the album. Sheard shot her first music videos for two subsequent singles from the album, "Yes" and "This Is Me". The album was Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...

-nominated for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album in December 2006.

In addition to performing at the 2007 Stellar Awards
Stellar Awards
The Stellar Awards is the first Gospel Music Awards show in the country, honoring Gospel Music Artists, writers, and industry professionals for their contributions to the Gospel Music Industry. The Stellar Awards ranks high in status as the only Gospel Music television awards program syndicated in...

 ("Why Me?"), Sheard appeared on BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...

's Celebration of Gospel standing in for pregnant Faith Evans
Faith Evans
Faith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B...

 in "Endow Me" (as popularized by Sheard's aunts) along with Coko
Coko
Cheryl Elizabeth "Coko" Clemons is an American gospel and R&B singer, and lead singer of R&B group Sisters With Voices .-Musical career:...

, Lil' Mo
Lil' Mo
Cynthia Loving , also known by her stage name Lil' Mo, is an American R&B singer, Washington, D.C. radio personality, songwriter & record producer. She is best known for collaborating with artists such as Ja Rule, Angie Martinez, Sacario, Missy Elliott, Ol' Dirty Bastard and Fabolous, and for her...

, and Fantasia
Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia Monique Barrino commonly known as Fantasia, is an American R&B singer, Broadway and television actress who rose to fame as the winner of the third season of the reality television series American Idol in 2004. Following her victory, she released her debut single, "I Believe", which...

. Sheard also sang with her mother for A Tribute to Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...

.

2008–2009: Bold Right Life

In October 2008, Sheard released her third album, Bold Right Life
Bold Right Life
Bold Right Life is the third studio album from American contemporary gospel singer Kierra Sheard. It was released 27 October 2008 by EMI Gospel.- Reviews :Critics reviewed the album favorably...

. The album spawned the two lead singles "Praise Him Now" and "Won't Hold Back". Sheard was also featured on what would be the biggest single of her career to date, "God In Me
God In Me
"God in Me" is the second single released for Grammy Award-winning contemporary gospel group Mary Mary's fourth studio album The Sound, and featured Kierra Sheard. The single was written and produced by both Mary Mary and producer Warryn Campbell, husband of member Erica Campbell...

", from Mary Mary
Mary Mary
Mary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell . The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz...

's The Sound
The Sound (Mary Mary album)
The Sound is the fifth studio album by R&B/gospel duo Mary Mary. It was released on October 21, 2008 in the U.S.. In the UK, The Sounds release had been delayed to September, then it had since been delayed again till October...

 album.

In January 2009, Sheard appeared at the BMI Trailblazers performing "Jesus Is a Love Song" as a salute to her aunt, Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark.

Sheard released a greatest hits EP entitled KiKi's Mixtape
KiKi's Mixtape
KiKi's Mixtape is a compilation album by American Gospel singer Kierra Sheard. It was released on September 23, 2009. The album features 3 new songs, 2 remixes, 2 singles from her 1st and 2nd albums, and a bonus song "This Christmas" featuring labelmate Marcus Cole.-Tracklisting:# I Want Back 3:22#...

 on September 22, 2009. The EP included 3 new unreleased songs, 2 remixes, singles from previous albums and "This Christmas" with Marcus Cole.

2010–Present: Free

Kierra had a role in Preacher's Kid
Preacher's Kid (film)
Preacher's Kid is a 2010 Christian film directed by Stan Foster, loosely based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Original songs and score are composed by recording artist and music producer Tim Miner. The film was written and directed by Stan Foster, and stars LeToya Luckett, Gregory Alan...

(starring platinum-selling R&B artist LeToya Luckett
LeToya Luckett
LeToya Nicole Luckett , known professionally as LeToya, is an American R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She was a member of the R&B group Destiny's Child, with whom she won two Grammy Awards and released many successful commercial recordings.After signing a record deal with Capitol Records, she's...

, Durrell Babbs
Tank (singer)
Tank is an American R&B singer, songwriter and producer.-Career:Tank was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved with his family as a child to the Washington, D.C. suburb of Clinton, Maryland. He was a multi-sport athlete at Crossland High School and was offered the opportunity to play college...

, Clifton Powell
Clifton Powell
-Movie career:Powell is known for playing the role of Pinky in the 2000 comedy film, Next Friday and its 2002 sequel, Friday After Next. Powell stars also in the Indie thriller Chain Letter.In 2009 he played "Bowman" in the film Just Another Day...

, Gregory Alan Williams
Gregory Alan Williams
Gregory Alan Williams is an American actor and author. Williams is best known for portraying Garner Ellerbee in the syndicated series Baywatch.-Early life and acting career:...

, Sharif Atkins
Sharif Atkins
Sharif Atkins is an American television actor. He's best known for his role as Dr. Michael Gallant on ER.- Career :He gained fame for his role as Dr. Michael Gallant, a character that debuted in the eighth season of the NBC Universal Television medical drama ER. He left ER after the 2003-2004...

) which was released in theaters across the U.S. on January 29, 2010 and was released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....

 and Blu-ray disc on May 4, 2010.

Kierra Sheard's fourth album, titled Free, will be released on October 18, 2011. This will be Kierra's 1st album on her family's gospel label, Karew Records . Originally scheduled for a July 2011 release, the album was leaked and subsequently pushed back and reformatted with a different tracklisting. The album will feature Kierra's BRL (Bold Right Life) Choir.

Personal life

Kierra Sheard is a graduate of Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...

 in Detroit, Michigan where she received her bachelors degree in English with a minor in Psychology. Though her touring schedule has been curbed to accommodate her academic goals, Sheard did embark on a Japanese tour with her mother Karen Clark-Sheard in August 2006.

Albums

  • 2004: I Owe You
  • 2006: This Is Me
  • 2008: Bold Right Life
    Bold Right Life
    Bold Right Life is the third studio album from American contemporary gospel singer Kierra Sheard. It was released 27 October 2008 by EMI Gospel.- Reviews :Critics reviewed the album favorably...

  • 2011: Free

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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