D’Atra Hicks

Harlem-born vocalist D'Atra Hicks performed often in her grandfather's church choir as a child. She and her sister Miriam formed the Hicks Sisters duo as teens, and eventually cut a demo. The producers of the play Mama I Want to Sing were impressed enough to offer Hicks the lead role in what eventually became the most successful off-Broadway Black musical in theater history. Hicks inked a solo deal with Capitol in 1989, and her self-titled debut release, D'Atra Hicks, included production from Narada Michael Walden and Nick Martinelli. ~ Ron Wynn