Kayla Parker

Kayla Denise Parker-Tolbert (June 29, 1971 – April 21, 2007) was an American gospel and R&B singer and songwriter.

As a songwriter, producer and backing singer, she worked with a number of gospel and R&B musicians, including CeCe, BeBe and Vickie Winans, Brandy, Anthony Hamilton, Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child and Mark Kibble of Take 6. Her television appearances included Oprah, Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and her songs were performed on Good Morning America, CNN, BET and TBN among others.

She was born Kayla Denise Parker to Richard and Aseneth Parker on June 29, 1971 in Detroit, Michigan.

She showed an early interest in music, influenced by her father, a songwriter, producer and label executive who was discovered by Sam Cooke, and her mother, a jazz singer in nightclubs. After her parents' marriage broke up and they were divorced, Kayla's mother bought her a piano, on which she would learn songs by the likes of DeBarge, Michael Jackson, the Clark Sisters, the Winans and Stevie Wonder.

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