Early life Vega was born in the borough of Queens, New York. Her parents are Luis Alfredo De La Vega, who served in the United States Air Force, and Rosaura Maltés. As a result of her father's work, the family moved frequently. Before she was even a teenager, the family lived in Panama, Puerto Rico, San Antonio, Texas, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her father nicknamed her Táta, because that was the first word she uttered as a child.[2] She was trying to say "Da-da", but "Ta-ta" came out instead. At the age of 17, she had her name legally changed.[3] Vega is of Puerto Rican, Taino/Arawak, Dominican, Italian, British, and African descent. Career Vega began her professional singing career in 1963. In California (1969–70) she was cast in the Los Angeles, California production of the Broadway musical "Hair".[2] From there went on to join the group Pollution (managed by Max Baer Jr.), led by Dobie Gray (who also appeared in the L.A. Cast of Hair). While performing in another group with vocalists Brie Brandt and Laurie Ann Bell at the Troubadour, Berry Gordy was in the audience and signed them on the spot. As Earthquire, the group released a self-titled album produced by Tom Wilson in 1972 on Motown's Natural Resources label. After the album failed to make a commercial impact, Motown dropped the group, but retained her.[3] After the demise of Earthquire, Vega continued to work steadily in Top 40 bands and occasionally with some former members of Pollution. After hearing her voice on a demo for Jobete, Motown's publishing wing, producer Winston Monseque and Motown executive Iris Gordy, were interested in managing her. At first they were concerned that she sounded too much like Chaka Khan and actually thought it was her singing on "Tell Me Something Good," the Rufus recording of the Stevie Wonder composition.[3] After getting past the concern about the similarities between her voice and that of Stevie Wonder and now, Chaka Khan, the next challenge was locating her. Finally, Monseque made a visit to her home and the two immediately hit it off. However, when Iris Gordy and Monseque informed Vega that her contract with Motown had been "shelved" and that they wanted to renegotiate her contract, at first she didn't believe them.[3] Vega went on to release four solo albums on the Tamla record label: Full Speed Ahead (1976), Totally Táta (1977), Try My Love (1978), and Givin' All My Love (1981). She has had an active career as a lead backing vocalist, working with Russ Taff, Stevie Wonder, Andraé Crouch, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Michael Jackson, Ray Charles and Madonna, singing duets with Lou Rawls, Jermaine Jackson, Peter Rivera with Rare Earth and Michael Sembello. Vega is featured on the 2010 Elton John and Leon Russell CD The Union. She also worked in film, performing the voice of Shug Avery in The Color Purple; she is featured on four songs on the 1986 soundtrack album, one of which, "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)", was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Song category. In 1985 Vega was nominated for Best Soul female Gospel Performance at the 27th annual Grammy Awards For her vocals on "Oh, It is Jesus", written by Andrae Crouch. In 1994, she recorded two Spanish versions of the song "Circle of Life" from Disney's The Lion King, one for Latin America ("El ciclo sin fin") and the other one for Spain ("El ciclo de la vida"). During 1995, she was featured in the Warren Chaney docudrama, America: A Call to Greatness.[4] In 1998, she signed with Quincy Jones' Qwest Records and released a gospel album, Now I See, which was nominated for a Stellar award. In 2006, Vega signed with Do Rite Records, releasing a gospel album entitled This Joy on October 27, 2009.[5] In 2010 Tata joined Elton John's band as a full-time backing vocalist along with Rose Stone, Lisa Stone and Jean Johnson Witherspoon. In 2011, her first two solo albums, Full Speed Ahead and Totally Táta (1977), were reissued on CD by soulmusic.com records.[3] On January 18, 2013, Vega, alongside Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer and Judith Hill, premiered 20 Feet from Stardom, a documentary about background singers, at Robert Redford's annual Sundance Film Festival.[6] As of late 2013, she toured with Elton John in the United States as "one of the girls" singing backup and counterpoint on his "The Diving Board" tour. On February 18, 2014, in the wake of 20 Feet from Stardom's success, her solo albums at Motown were released digitally.[7] Personal life Vega has two daughters, Angelica and Chloe (b. 1990)[8] Discography As group member 1971: Pollution; Pollution (Prophesy Records) 1972: Pollution; Pollution II (Prophesy) 1972: Earthquire; Earthquire (Natural Resources/Motown) Solo albums 1976: Full Speed Ahead, Hollywood, Calif.: (Tamla Motown), OCLC: 33057917 1977: Totally Táta (id =OCLC: 33057752 ed.), Hollywood, Calif.: (Tamla Motown) 1978: Try My Love, Hollywood, Calif.: (Tamla Motown), OCLC: 6634273 1980: Givin' All My Love (Tamla Motown) 1988: Time's So Right 1998: Now I See, Burbank, CA: (Qwest Records), OCLC: 40485132 2009: This Joy (Do Rite Records) Appearances on other albums 1979: Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants, Stevie Wonder 1985: The Color Purple (movie soundtrack) 1985: Mathematics, Melissa Manchester; background vocals 1985: Medals, Russ Taff; background vocals 1985: No Time to Lose, Andraé Crouch; "Right Now", "Oh, It Is Jesus" 1986: Frontline, Koinonia 1986: Without Walls, Michael Sembello 1988: Back to Avalon, Kenny Loggins 1988: Non Stop, Julio Iglesias; background vocals 1988: The Real Me, Patti Austin; background vocals 1990: Love Is the Reason, Engelbert Humperdinck 1991: Give in to the Rhythm, Arthur Baker; "Let There Be Love", "Inspiration" 1991: The Comfort Zone, Vanessa Williams; background vocals 1992: Live!, Patti LaBelle; background vocals 1993: My World, Ray Charles; background vocals 1994: The Gate To The Mind's Eye, Thomas Dolby; "Armageddon" 1994: A To a Higher Place, Tramaine Hawkins; background vocals 1994: El Rey Leon [Musica Original de la Pelicula], Hans Zimmer; "Ciclo Sin Fin" 1994: Is There Anybody Out There?, Gloria Loring; background vocals 1994: Mercy, Andraé Crouch; background vocals 1994: Reach, Patti Austin; background vocals 1994: The Gate to the Mind's Eye Thomas Dolby; background vocals 1995: Sisters: The Story Goes On, various artists; "You Don't Have to Know Why" 1995: Am I Still in Your Heart, Chuck Negron; background vocals 1995: Gary Oliver Gary Oliver; background vocals 1986: Wildcats [Motion Picture Soundtrack]; "Love Lives Alone" 1997: Pray, Andraé Crouch 1998: The Gift of Christmas, Andraé Crouch 1999: Tropico/Seven the Hard Way, Pat Benatar 2001: If We Pray Anointed; background vocals 2001: Joy to the World, Chuck Negron 2002: Life and Love, Philip Bailey; background vocals 2002: Night of Your Return, Fernando Ortega 2002: Real, Israel & New Breed 2002: The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter 2, Kirk Whalum; "El Todopoderoso" 2005: Mighty Wind, Andraé Crouch; "I Was Glad" 2006: The Lord's Prayer: A Musical Tribute; "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" (with Sheila E.) 2006: Unbreakable Bond, GB5; "You Who Reigns" 2011: Low Country Blues, Gregg Allman; background vocals 2011: The Journey, Andraé Crouch; "Somebody Told Me About Jesus", "He Has a Plan For Me" 2013: Live in Los Angeles, Andraé Crouch; background vocals 2013: 20 Feet from Stardom soundtrack; featured vocalist and background vocals |
About us|Jobs|Help|Disclaimer|Advertising services|Contact us|Sign in|Website map|Search|
GMT+8, 2015-9-11 20:17 , Processed in 0.132800 second(s), 16 queries .
