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It all began in Kansas City, Mo.
It was 1985, before American soul artist Oleta Adams
performed with the likes of Phil Collins or Luther Vandross,
back when the four-time Grammynominated artist was
performing in hotel lounges, not yet Carnegie Hall, when
everything changed.
Oleta Adams
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave.,
Alexandria
Tickets: $45
More information: birchmere.com; 703-549-7500
While singing at a hotel bar, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith,
founding members of the English new wave band Tears for
Fears, heard something theyliked —Adams’ voice.
“I ended up recording with them on an album called ‘The
Seeds of Love’ and the big song there that introduced me to
the rest of the world was ‘Woman in Chains,’” Adams said. “I
ended up getting myown deal in Europe on the same
label as [Tears for Fears]. I felt so blessed to be a part of
it.”
Her success onlycontinued.
Under label Fontana Records, Adams released her debut
9-track CD titled “Circle of One,” an album that made its
wayto No. 4 in the U.K. in 1991.
“On that CD were hits,” she said. “The third single was
‘Get Here’ and it particularlybecame an incredible hit
because it was the song that brought Oprah ‘out of the
shower,’ as she put it when I appeared on her show. Later on, the record became platinum and since then, around the
world I have reallynice followings and once a year we’ve been fortunate enough to come to the D.C. area.”
Adams’ said her upcoming show at The Birchmere will feature herself on piano and vocals as well as a three-person
band, with John Pena on bass, James Harrah on guitar, and on drums, John Cushon, her husband of 20 years.
And for Cushon and Adams, its the love theyfeel for each other that inspires their music, she said.
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Soul vocalist Oleta Adams sings, swings in Alexandria
Grammy-nominated musician brings band back to Birchmere
ByImanSmith
Special ToThe Times
Photoby TheBirchmere
Soul vocalist OletaAdams will performat theBirchmereon
Saturday.
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“We started working together in the 80s in Kansas City—that’s how we met,” the Seattle, Wash., native, said. “The
music that we made together, me being a pianist and singer, and him being a drummer, it just worked so beautifully
together. We get a chance to be verycreative and it’s a wonderful working relationship.”
While working in the couple’s basement in-home studio in Kansas City, Adams said creating music is always
constant, where whether it’s 6 p.m. or 1 a.m., the lyricism and musicologycontinues to flow.
“I’ll write a song with a particular feel that I know he loves to play,” Adams said, “and then he’ll be playing that song all
dayfor days and days. It’s a good thing I’m a musician because a real drummer practices a lot and John is a real
drummer —he can practice up to five hours a dayand fortunatelyhe loves to cook because then it stops and we can
celebrate his creativity.”
Adams, who considers herself a self-taught performer, knew even at 11 years old music was her calling. Before
performing on stage around the world, the piano prodigyfirst demonstrated her vocal talents at her father’s church,
where she directed and accompanied four choirs.
“Myfather was a Southern Baptist minister in the Washington State area and music was veryimportant to me. I saw
how it affected the lives of an awful lot of people and I love doing it,” Adams said. “[In church], theyteach you if you’re to
sing a song —sing it or sit down!”
With the help of her Juilliard-versed tutor Lee Farrell, Adams’ voice prospered, and when it came time to decide
whether to pursue a college degree in music, she took an alternative route.
“I was given a scholarship to go to Pacific Lutheran University,” she said, “and I decided instead that the best school
you can go to is the one that teaches you how to be a performer. And that’s bydoing it. I decided to just work and I’ve
been fortunate to do that.”
Adams’ gospel-flavored voice laced with jazzand soul, along with her pianist background, categorizes her as a unique
performer —an aspect she’s proud of.
“The sound of myvoice —it’s not like anybodyelse’s,” she said. “There’s an importance where it’s not just about the
melody—it’s also about the emotion when you sing that one word and I love that. The idea is the words in music come
from your hands, your heart, your lips, your soul and then you aim them at the soul of all the people who are listening
and then it’s worth something.”
Lyricism is also important.
“I like to write about people who have experienced things and perhaps I’ll write as if I am their voice. [Mylyrics] ain’t no
Beyonce and Mariah Careykind of stuff,” she said.
For the show at The Birchmere, which will feature a mixture of familiar tunes as well as revamps, Adams said fans will
be in for a treat.
“We’re going to do something that we haven’t done there before and it’s our unplugged set, which has been so popular
this year,” she said. “We get a chance to get close to the audience and I think theyare going to enjoythis passionate
show.”
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