N'Dea Davenport
| N'Dea Davenport | |
|---|---|
Davenport in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 6, 1966 |
| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | The Brand New Heavies |
N'Dea Davenport (born May 6, 1966), is an American born recording artist, songwriter, dancer, performer and producer, best known for her work as lead vocalist to the UK acid jazz/funk band, The Brand New Heavies and for her pioneering contributions to the genre of acid jazz.
Her diverse projects include collaborations with music producers and artists, such as Mark Ronson, Roger Sanchez, Guru’s Jazzmatazz, Madonna, Natalie Merchant, Mos Def, Sly and Robbie, J Dilla, and Malcolm McLaren. Dance scholarships, acting and music were the core of her developments as an artist and entertainer. Immediately after finishing college, she left her then home of Atlanta, Georgia, en route to Los Angeles. There she engaged in theatrical productions and commercial music video and was embraced by artists in both art, music and popular culture. Her legacy as an artist began also with her involvement in the burgeoning Los Angeles underground club and rave scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Working simultaneously as a dance/performance artist and recording and commercial studio session singer, Davenport was soon connected with Fab Five Freddy, who recommended her to a DJ friend at new upstart label Delicious Vinyl. Eurythmics member/ producer Dave Stewart, offered Davenport a recording contract a year prior when introduced through a collaboration with Bootsy Collins and Malcolm McLaren, where she was featured on McLaren's Waltz Darling LP. She declined Stewart’s offer at the time due to his requirement for her to relocate to London, England. Later to ink a solo development deal with Delicious Vinyl, who made introductions to her future bandmates, The Brand New Heavies who at the time had no singer. With the core band members based in London, she decided to relocate there.
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