Tata Vega

Soulful American R&B and Gospel Singer

Táta Vega (born Carmen Rosa Vega on October 7, 1951, in Jamaica Queens,Long Island,New York) is a vocalist whose career spans theater, film, and a variety of musical genres. She began her professional singing career in 1969 in California as a cast member in the Los Angeles production of the musical Hair. She then joined the group Pollution, led by Dobie Gray (who also was appearing 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, Táta 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 feature a diverse range of genres, including classic Motown soul, country or southern soul, disco, jazz, funk, country, Latin, doo-wop, and gospel. She has had an active career as a back-up singer,and soloist, working with Stevie Wonder, Andraé Crouch, Lou Rawls, Chaka Kahn, Patti LaBelle, Michael Jackson, and Madonna. She also worked in film, performing the voice of Shug Avery in The Color Purple; And 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 1998, she signed with Quincy Jones’s Quest Records and released a gospel album, Now I See. Vega is also known for her song SEASONS, which is a cover of a song by Japanese superstar Ayumi Hamasaki.