Kierra "Kiki" Sheard
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| Kierra "KiKi" Sheard | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kierra Valencia Sheard |
| Also known as | "Kiki" or "Juliet" |
| Born | June 20, 1987 |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan |
| Genre(s) | Urban gospel, R&B, neo soul |
| Occupation(s) | singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | vocals |
| Years active | 1997-present |
| Label(s) | EMI Gospel |
| Associated acts | Karen Clark Sheard J Moss The Clark Sisters |
| Website | KierraKiKiSheard.com |
Kierra "Kiki" Sheard (born Kierra Juliet Sheard) is an American Gospel recording artist. She is the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard (member of the Gospel singing group The Clark Sisters) and the granddaughter of Gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark.
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[edit] Biography
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Sheard spent her formative years surrounded by the strong 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, pastored by her father Superintendent 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 melismas, 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).
Sheard made her stage debut at the age of 10 duetting with her mother on the Bishop Richard White-penned "The Will Of God", the standout closing track from her mother's debut solo album Finally Karen in 1997. The song won a Stellar Award for Best Children's Performance the following year. In the years following, she honed her skills as a performer accompanying her mother on stage. By 2003, EMI Gospel won a bidding war between several record companies to sign Kierra to her first recording contract.
Her debut album I Owe You was released September 7, 2004. The 11-track set included production and songwriting from such notable music luminaries as Rodney Jerkins, Warryn Campbell, Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary, J Moss, and Tonéx. 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".[1] 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.[2]
Shortly after graduating high school, Sheard readied her second album This Is Me. Repeating the same spectacular feat from her first release, this album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Gospel charts when it was released June 27, 2006.[3] A midtempo fan favorite, the Fred Jerkins III-produced "Why Me?" was chosen as the lead single for the album. Sheard's shot her first music videos for two subsequent singles from the album, "Yes" and "This Is Me". This Is Me was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel album in December 2006.[4]
Kierra is currently a sophomore at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan where she is studying entertainment law. Though originally a criminal justice major, the decision to switch to entertainment law was definitely influenced by her growing career in the gospel music industry.[5] 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.
In addition to performing "Why Me?" at the 2007 Stellar Awards, Sheard appeared on BET's Celebration of Gospel standing in for a pregnant Faith Evans for a performance of the Clark Sisters' classic "Endow Me" with Coko, Lil' Mo, and Fantasia. Sheard also sang with her mother for A Tribute to Aretha Franklin.
Sheard confirmed on her MySpace blog that she began recording a third album on July 11, 2007. Sheard announced at a May 2008 concert date that the album is due to release in November 2008.
[edit] Discography
See also Category:Kierra "Kiki" Sheard albums
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Hot Gospel | US R&B | Top Gospel | |||
| 2004 | I Owe You
|
115 | - | 29 | 1 | Certifications: Gold (US) |
| 2005 | Just Until |
- | - | 82 | 10 | Certifications: Sales:TBA |
| 2006 | This Is Me |
90 | - | 16 | 1 | Certifications: Sales:Gold (US) |
| 2008 | TBA
|
TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | Certifications: Sales: TBA |
[edit] Other releases
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | HS | UK | |||
| 2005 | Let Go
|
- | - | - | - | Certifications: - |
| 2006 | This Is Me- EP |
- | - | - | - | Certifications: - |
| 2006 | This Is Me (Special Edition) |
- | - | - | - | Certifications: Gold |
| 2006 | This Is Me (Japanese Import) |
- | - | - | - | Certifications: Gold |
| 2006 | Double Take
|
- | - | - | - | Certifications: - |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Singles | Chart Positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | US Gospel | Hot Gospel | |||
| 2004 | "You Don't Know" | - | 84 | - | - | I Owe You |
| 2004 | "Closer" | - | - | - | - | |
| 2004 | "That Thing" | - | - | - | 30 | |
| 2005 | "Let Go" | - | - | - | - | Just Until |
| 2006 | "Why Me?" | - | - | - | 6 | This Is Me |
| 2006 | "Yes" | - | - | - | - | |
| 2007 | "You" | - | - | - | - | |
| 2007 | "Change" | - | - | - | - | |
| 2008 | "Love Him Like I Do" (featuring Mary Mary, Ruben Studdard, and Deitrick Haddon) | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | Gotta Have Gospel 5 (VA) |
[edit] Other
- Tye Tribbett & G.A. feat. Kierra "Kiki" Sheard: "Look Up" Stand Out (album) (Columbia)
- J. Moss feat. Kierra "Kiki" Sheard & 21:03: "Jump, Jump" V2 (GospoCentric)
- Kierra "KiKi" Sheard & Marcus Cole: "This Christmas" Christmas To Remember (EMI Gospel)
- Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "The Will Of God" Finally Karen (Island)
- Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "Sacrifice" 2nd Chance (Elektra)
- Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "You Loved Me" The Heavens Are Telling (Elektra)
- Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "Don't Change" The Heavens Are Telling (Elektra)
- Ramiyah f/ Kierra Sheard, Dorinda Clark Cole, Karen Clark Sheard: "Don't Nobody Know" Ramiyah (Columbia)
- 21:03 f/ Kierra "KiKi" Sheard, PDA & J Moss: "One Love" Twenty One O Three (Verity)
- Kierra "Kiki" Sheard: "Nearer My God To Thee" Music Inspired By the Motion Picture Amazing Grace (Sparrow)
[edit] Videography
Kierra filmed her first two videos for "This Is Me" and "Yes" simultaneously. Both songs are culled from her 2006 second studio release This Is Me.
- "This Is Me" premiered on September 16, 2006. The video is for the Antonio Neal-produced "live session" version of the song, not to be confused with the Darkchild-produced studio version. The scenes alternate from Kiki driving a Ford Fusion, Kiki singing in a small gig, and Kiki singing in a curtained room.
- "Yes" consists of alternating scenes of Kiki Sheard in an old-fashioned General Motors vehicle and a party scene on top of a roof. The video premiered on The Gospel Music Channel and BET.
For further reference, Kierra Sheard has made video appearances on the DVD release Dorinda Clark Cole LIVE, singing background for Clark Cole throughout the set and being featured in a standout solo on "You Can't Hurry God". Also available is Karen Clark Sheard's Finally Karen Live (VHS only). This video features the now-classic 1997 Karen & Kierra duet performance that earned both artists Stellar awards in their respective fields.
More recently, Sheard made a cameo appearance in J Moss' music video Operator.
- "Love Him Like I Do" premiered on Sheard's myspace page. Guest appearances are made by Mary Mary, Ruben Studdard, and Deitrick.
[edit] Controversy
There was a rumor going around that prior to signing with EMI Gospel, Sheard considered singing with a well known mainstream R&B label. While this was seemingly minor, it stirred up Sheard's conservative fan base. In an interview, Sheard claimed that she had not ever considered signing with a secular label.[6]
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- Kierra's song "Have What You Want" plays in gospel duo Mary Mary's recent music video "Yesterday". The vamp is heard as the two exit their vehicle, presumably from their car.
- Sheard's favorite musical artist is Mary J. Blige [7]
[edit] References
- ^ Kierra "KiKi" Sheard to be Kellogg’s Gospel Sing Off Spokesperson & Judge. GospelCity.com (May 5, 2005).
- ^ Justin Camacho (January 5, 2006). 'Kiki' Sheard Tops Japanese Radio, Receives 3 Stellar Nominations. The Christian Times.
- ^ Kierra "Kiki" Sheard's ‘This Is Me’ debuts at #1. GospelCity.com (July 10, 2006).
- ^ 49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List. Grammy.com.
- ^ Jones, Steven. Kierra Kiki Sheard Interview. GospelFlava.com.
- ^ Heron, Christopher. BlackGospel.com Interview With Kierra Kiki Sheard. BlackGospel.com.
- ^ Jones, Steven. Kierra Kiki Sheard Insider Interview. GospelFlava.com.
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Kierra "Kiki" Sheard's MySpace page
- This Is KiKi Dot Net fansite
- Kierra "Kiki" Sheard's "This Is Me" Music Video
- Kierra "Kiki" Sheard's "Yes" Music Video
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