Tamela Mann

Tamela Mann
Born Tamela Jean Johnson
June 9, 1966
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Residence Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Occupation Singer, actress
Years active 1992-present
Spouse(s) David Mann
Children 4
Website
www.tillymannmusic.com/welcome.html

Tamela J. Mann (born June 9, 1966) is an American gospel singer, and actress, known for her role as Cora and Myrtle in Tyler Perry's plays, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea's Family Reunion, Madea's Class Reunion, Meet the Browns, and What's Done in the Dark. Mann began her career as a singer with the gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family. Mann was a featured soloist on several tracks while with Franklin's group, including "Don't Take Your Joy Away", "Now Behold the Lamb", and "Lean on Me", the latter of which also included Mary J. Blige, Crystal Lewis, R. Kelly, and Bono. She released her own album, the Master Plan, in 2009.

Mann has also made appearances in movies such as Kingdom Come and Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Mann recorded some songs on the soundtrack for Diary of a Mad Black Woman, including participating in the song "Father (Can You Hear Me)". Mann is the wife of David Mann, who is known for his role as "Deacon Leroy Brown" in several of Perry's plays.

Early life

Mann was born Tamela Jean Johnson[1] in Fort Worth, Texas, and is the youngest of 14 children. Mann and her siblings grew up in a very spiritual home which was grounded in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). They were properly reared by their mother whom they called “Mother Eppe.” Mother Eppe believed in and exercised solid bible principles. Mother Eppe was a psalmist in her own right. By the age of 12, Mann was singing in the church’s adult choir and often selected to sing solos. Although she was bashful, she blossomed in the local church and high school choirs.[2]

Career

Kirk Franklin and the Family

Tamela’s musical career began when she joined up with the multi-grammy award winning and double platinum gospel phenomenon Kirk Franklin and the Family.[3] Mann has also enjoyed collaborating and performing with numerous artists such as Yolanda Adams, Mary J. Blige, Al Green, Celine Dion, Bono, R. Kelly and Fred Hammond. She went on to join the gospel musical cast of David E. Talbert as he directed the stage play He Say...She Say...But What Does God Say?

Mann began acting in 1999 when she was discovered by Tyler Perry. She debuted in the stage play I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Mann went on to play in Meet the Browns, Madea's Family Reunion, Madea's Class Reunion, Diary of a Mad Black Woman and What's Done in the Dark. Mann has appeared on television shows including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, BET Soundstage, 1999 Grammy Awards, Dove Awards, the United States of America World Olympics and Tyler Perry's House of Payne, as well as Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns, where she portrays Mr. Brown's (David Mann) daughter. Mann has appeared in movies, including the 2001 comedy Kingdom Come, Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Meet The Browns.[4] She also had a role in 2009's Tyler Perry movie Madea Goes to Jail. She is currently filming a new cooking show with her husband David, called "Hanging with the Mann's". Mann appeared in the upcoming 2012 film Sparkle, a remake of 1976 film of the same name, alongside Whitney Houston and American Idol winner and R&B singer Jordin Sparks, who made her film debut. The film was released on August 17, 2012.

Solo Musical Career

In 2005, Mann & her husband David Mann created their own label entitled Tillymann Music Group on which they have released several projects through. In 2005 her solo album titled “Gotta Keep Movin” was released. In 2007 she released her first live album “The Live Experience”. Mann’s explosive songs "Father Can You hear Me" and "Take It To Jesus" can be heard in the movie and on the soundtrack album of Diary of a Mad Black Woman.[5] In 2009 Mann's second Studio album "The Master Plan" was released and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Gospel Album Chart, as well as peaking at number 97 on the Billboard 200. Mann's third studio album "Best Days" was released on August 14, 2012. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart, as well as #14 on the Billboard 200. Tamela Mann won Stellar Award's "Best Female Gospel Artist of the year" in 2014, as well as Best Gospel Artist at the 2014 BET Awards.

Personal life

Tamela is the wife of actor David Mann, who is known for his role as “Deacon Leroy Brown” in some of Tyler Perry’s plays.In the Madea T.V. shows and movies, she plays as Mr. Brown's daughter, Cora.[6] They have always worked together professionally. David and Tamela renewed their 25th wedding vows in the spring of 2013. They raised four children together; three daughters and one son: David's daughters Porcia and Tiffany, from a previous relationship, their children together David Jr and Tia ; and Tamela's niece Sonya, that the couple raised as though she was their child. David and Tamela also have eight grandchildren.[7]

In January 2015 a reality show about their family entitled “It’s A Mann’s World” premiered on BET. David and Tamela are devout Christians. In “It’s A Mann’s World,” the Manns are able to show how they have a fun-loving, balanced family that is centered in Godly-principles and coping with real life obstacles.

Films

Television

Plays

Awards/nominations

Stellar Awards[8]
Nominations: 2006: gospel album of the year (gotta keep movin')

Dove awards nominations Traditional gospel record song of the year-the master plan Traditional gospel album of the year-the master plan: Winner

2013 NAACP image awards Gospel album of the year-the master plan

2013 Grammy Awards Nominations 2013 :Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance - "Take me to the king"

2014 Stellar Awards

Praise and Worship CD of the Year: Winner

Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year: Winner

CD of the Year: Winner

Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year: Winner

CD of the Year Award: Winner

2014 BET Awards

Best Gospel Artist: Winner

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
US
[9]		 US
Gospel
[10]		 US
Indie
[11]
Gotta Keep Movin' 57 3 26
  • US:
The Master Plan
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Released: November 3, 2009
 97 2 10
  • US:
Best Days
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Released: August 14, 2012
 14 1 3
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Live albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
US
[9]		 US
Gospel
[10]		 US
Indie
[11]
The Live Experience
  • Formats: DVD/CD
  • Released: May 8, 2007
 – 8 –
  • US:
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
  1. Diary of a Mad Black Woman
  2. Meet The Browns

Singles

  1. "Speak Lord" [2006] #4 Gospel Songs
  2. "The Master Plan" [2010] #13 Gospel Songs
  3. "Joy Of The Lord" [2010] #12 Gospel Songs
  4. "Step Aside" [2010] #30 Gospel Songs
  5. "Take Me to the King" [2012] #1 Gospel Songs, #125 US Bubbling Under

References

  1. ↑ According to the State of Texas. Texas Birth Index, 1926-1995. Searchable at http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/txbirths
  2. ↑ Official Website of Tamela Mann
  3. ↑ "The Leading Tamela Mann Site on the Net". tamelamann.com. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  4. ↑ US. "David & Tamela Mann | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's". Profile.myspace.com. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  5. ↑ http://www.tylerperry.org/shop/product_info2007.php?cPath=19&products_id=61&osCAdminsID=69d409961eb3ecc208d357889df8147d
  6. ↑ Christian, Margena. "Husband and wife, David and Tamela Mann, keep Madea on her toes in Meet the Browns." Jet Magazine. 118.2. August 27, 2007: 34.
  7. ↑ http://alwaysalist.com/tv/davidtamelamann/
  8. ↑ "The Official 23rd Annual Stellar Award WINNERS (2008) - brought to you by". Gospelflava.com. January 12, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Tamela Mann - Chart history (Billboard 200)". Billboard.com.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Tamela Mann - Chart history (Gospel Albums)". Billboard.com.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Tamela Mann - Chart history (Independent Albums)". Billboard.com.
  12. ↑ Arbet, DeVante (August 20, 2014). "News Smokie Norful’s ‘Forever Yours’ Hits #1 On Billboard". Retrieved August 22, 2014.

External links