News
Yolanda Adams: The ‘How Sweet the Sound’ Interview
By Kam Williams
Special To The Skanner News
E
ver since her late-Eighties debut, “Just as I Am,”
Yolanda Adams has triumphantly carried the torch
for contemporary gospel and inspirational music via
a dozen glorious albums. Stunningly beautiful, exceptional-
ly educated, filled with the spirit and blessed with one of the
most powerful voices in any genre of music, this former
schoolteacher is a stately beacon of God’s light.
Born in Houston on Aug. 27, 1961, Yolanda has earned
numerous accolades for her shining efforts, including the
first American Music Award for Contemporary Gospel
Artist and four Gospel Music Association Dove Awards.
Among the highlights of her career was winning five
Grammy Awards which includes 1999′s Best Contemporary
Soul Gospel Album for “Mountain High…Valley Low” fea-
turing her crossover breakthrough hit “Open My Heart,”
and 2005′s Best Gospel Song, co-written by Ms. Adams
herself, “Be Blessed.”
Christened “The First Lady of Modern Gospel,” Yolan-
da’s pioneering blend of gospel with R&B infused with a
touch of jazz continues to inspire her fans and transform the
musical landscape. “The Yolanda Adams Morning Show”
can currently be heard on radio stations all across the coun-
try.
Faith, Love, Forgiveness, Protection and Praise! These
are just five of the ten gifts explored in Yolanda Adams new
power-filled inaugural book, “Points of Power.” Inspired by
the Points of Power segment from her morning show,
Page 8 The Portland Skanner October 24, 2012
Yolanda reveals her own personal experiences to show how
the Bible will enlighten readers and provide them with
insight and understanding to respond positively to life’s
challenges. “Points of Power” provides the tools, the wis-
dom and spiritual guidance for living a praise-filled, prayer-
ful, and joyful life.
Here, she talks about her life and career, and about host-
You have to understand that
everyone has a heart, and
when it hits, the emotion is
there.
ing Verizon’s “How Sweet the Sound,” the country’s most
prestigious gospel music celebration and competition. Now,
in its fifth year of celebrating the community and the power
of gospel music, “How Sweet the Sound’s” national finale
will be staged in New York on November 4th at the Bar-
clays Center in Brooklyn.
Kam Williams: Hi Yolanda, I’m honored to have this
opportunity to speak with you.
Yolanda Adams: It’s great to talk to you, Kam.
KW: What interested you in How Sweet the Sound?
YA: First of all, it gave me an opportunity to spend time
Yolanda Adams
with my great friends Donald Lawrence, CeCe Winans,
Erica Campbell, Fred Hammond and Hezekiah Walker.
Whenever we can hang out, it’s wonderful. Unless we’re on
tour together, we usually don’t have a lot of opportunities to
see each other, other than at something special like award
shows. So, I was excited to do this.
KW: What’s it been like judging How Sweet the Sound?
Is it similar to the job you do on BET’s Sunday Best?
YA: No, I actually co-hosted with Donald this year. So, I
didn’t have to face the difficult challenge of judging these
great choirs.
KW: Do you care to share which choir you think is going
to win?
YA: The crazy part is that the finalists are the top choirs
from all of the cities that we chose. So, there are no duds
left in this selection of choirs. These really are just the
cream of the crop, the best choirs in the U.S.
KW: How is picking the best Gospel group different from
picking the best singer from a show like American Idol or
The Voice?
YA: The only difference is whether you can feel the heart
of the song, the heart of what they’re trying to convey. You
still have to be professional. The choir’s moves still have to
in sync. So, you’re looking at the same criteria you’d find
on American Idol or Sunday Best.
KW: I told my readers I’d be interviewing you, so I’m
going to mix-in their questions with some of my own. Larry
Greenberg says, I just listened to “Victory” and I was truly
blown away and inspired. Do you mind if I listen to it every
time I start a new project?
YA: Not at all. Thank you so much, Larry. I appreciate it.
[Laughs]
KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: Which of your songs
has the most personal meaning for you?
YA: That’s like asking: Which of your children is the
most precious? When I write a song, it comes from the heart
and is based on a specific experience. You can’t really say
that one experience is greater than another, because all of
your experiences take you through life on this journey.
KW: Harriet also asks: Which one do you think has the
biggest emotional impact on your audience?
YA: Wow! I have no idea. Some days it may be “Just a
Prayer Away.” Some audiences want “Victory,” like Larry.
Others want “The Battle Is the Lord’s.” I have so many
songs that have impacted people in different ways. “Fragile
Heart” is one that really
took off years ago in South
Africa when I had 20,000
people singing along with
m
e
.
KW: Finally, Harriet asks:
Do you ever feel that the
spiritual essence of a Gospel
song’s message is trans-
Specializing in *short sales
formed when you sing in a
* bank owned properties
secular arena instead of a
* first time home buyers
church?
* investment properties
YA: No. No. Unh-uh. The
*
residential
& commercial
message is still the same.
The delivery is still the
same. You have to under-
stand that everyone has a
heart, and when it hits, the
emotion is there.
KW: Patricia would also
Torrey Nelson
like to know if you are inter-
C: 503-381-2107
ested in writing your autobi-
W: 503-208-3797
ography.
F: 503-536-6523
YA: Nah, not yet. I don’t
E: mrtnel@gmail.com
think it’s time yet. I still
www.dwellrealtypdx.com
have a few more things I
5625 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.
want to accomplish first.
Portland, OR 97211
Maybe in another ten years.