Tata Vega

Career Ms. Vega began her professional singing career in 1963. In California (1969-70) she was cast in the Los Angeles production of the Broadway musical, Hair. From there went on to join the group Pollution, led by Dobie Gray (who also was also in Hair), and then became a member of the group Earthquire, which released an album in 1973 on Motown's Natural Resources label. With Motown Records, Vega released four solo albums on the Tamla label: Full Speed Ahead (1976), Totally Táta (1977), Try My Love (1978) and Givin' All My Love (1981). These albums featured a diverse range of genres, including classic Motown soul, country or southern soul, disco, jazz, funk, country, Latin, doo-wop, and gospel.[citation needed] She has had an active career as a backing vocalist, working with Stevie Wonder, Andraé Crouch, Lou Rawls, Rare Earth, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Michael Jackson, Ray Charles and Madonna. She also worked in film, performing the voice of Shug Avery in The Color Purple; she is featured on four songs on the 1986 soundtrack album, one of which, "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)", was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Song category. In 1994, she recorded the Spanish version of "The Circle Of Life" (El ciclo sin fin) for the Latin American dubbing of Disney's The Lion King. In 1998, she signed with Quincy Jones's Qwest Records and released a gospel album, Now I See. Táta Vega signed with Do Rite Records, who released a new Gospel album "This Joy" on October 27, 2009 <b>...</b>