Damita

Damita Chandler (born Damita Dawn Bass on September 4, 1971)[1] is an American gospel singer.

Biography

Damita was born as Damita Dawn Bass on September 4, 1971 in a township of Detroit, Michigan, called Lincoln Park to parents Reverend Walter Bass and Minister Ruby Bass.

Damita was born an identical twin one minute after her sister Marguerita Bass (Howard). Damita was surrounded by music in her home and her church. Her father formed their singing group "The Bass Family" consisting of her parents, her and her twin sister. To prepare for the church musical, her family rearranged and performed their own version of "My Country 'Tis of Thee".

Damita's musical influences came from both her father and mother, who studied classical and choral music.

Damita became more serious in her teens, when she and her sister formed a female acappella group called Adoration N Prayze in the early 1990s. Her group was invited to sing at birthday party in Indiana for a record executive. Soon after, Damita and her group were asked to sign their first record deal with the gospel record label TM Records, run by Tim Harris and Tanya Harris out of Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 1991, Damita released[2] her first record and made her entrance into the gospel industry professionally with her group Adoration N Prayze. The record, entitled "Time Is Running Out", was produced by long time friend Aaron Lindsay and Arif Martin. The album went on to receive multiple Stellar Awards nominations.

Damita's first single received much recognition in industry. Entitled "He's Wonderful", it was written and arranged by her and the Adoration N Prayze project. This song caught the attention of famous music producer and director and artist Donald Lawrence, who recorded Damita's song again under the title "Great Things"[3] on his 1995 live project "Bible Stories", which was released from Detroit-based gospel label Crystal Rose.

Damita continued to work on music in the industry as well as behind the scenes. Damita became assistant Minister of Music at the Unity Cathedral of Faith church under the leadership of Bishop Clarence B. Haddon and Prophetess Joyce R. Haddon, the parents of gospel recording artist Deitrick Haddon.

Damita assisted, sang, co wrote, and arranged songs, directed the choir, and worked beside Haddon. Her vocal signature was a major part of the era of the Voices of Unity (VOU). "Come Into This House" was released by Tyscot Records on March 1, 1996. Three months after the recording, Damita and Haddon were married on June 29, 1996. Damita's lead and background vocals, writing, and producing were featured on every VOU project recorded and helped promote her sound and develop her as an artist and a minister.

Damita continued to faithfully serve in the ministry and was discovered in 2000 by Atlantic Records when the group was performing in Nashville, Tennessee, at an industry function. Afterward, she was asked to sign with the label. Shortly after signing, Damita's first solo project, Damita, was released in 2000. It was produced by R&B producer NoonTime, rock artist Jim Ed Norman from the Eagles, and Arif Mardin. Her second album, No Looking Back, was released in 2008 on Tyscot Records.

In 2011, Damita's mother died suddenly of a massive heart attack. Shortly after, Damita and Haddon's marriage came to an abrupt end in a messy divorce.[4]

In 2012, Damita released her third solo album and second Tyscot album, Anticipation.

Currently living in Atlanta Georgia, Damita has since remarried. On May 3, 2014, Damita married Reuben Chandler, a professional photographer. The event was officiated by Donnie McClurkin.[5] She continues to minister, encourage, and record.

Discography
  • Damita (Atlantic, 2000)
  • No Looking Back (Tyscot, 2008)
  • Anticipation (Tyscot, 2012)

Track listing
  • Damita (2000)
  1. "Why"
  2. "Truth"
  3. "Life"
  4. "Spirit Inside"
  5. "Calvary"
  6. "Hold On To Your Faith"
  7. "I Can Feel Him"
  8. "If Ever"
  9. "Won't Be Afraid"
  10. "Real Friend"
  11. "The Wedding Song"
  12. "Day Go By"
  13. "Holdin' On"
  • No Looking Back (2008)
  1. "Plain & Simple"
  2. "Say Yes"
  3. "Best Thing"
  4. "Midnite"
  5. "I Will Trust(Intro)"
  6. "I Will Trust"
  7. "Great God"
  8. "No Looking Back"
  9. "Crossing Over"
  10. "Don't Leave Me Lonely"
  11. "Torn Up"
  12. "I Won't Complain"
  13. "Pray"
  14. "No Looking Back (Pop Gospel Mix)"
  • Anticipation (2012)
  1. "Won't Turn Back"
  2. "Still Here"
  3. "Praise U Now"
  4. "Amazing God"
  5. "Be Revealed"
  6. "Elevate Me"
  7. "Don't Walk Away"
  8. "Anticipation (Waitin 4 U)"
  9. "TTLO (Turn The Lights On)"
  10. "I Love You"
  11. "Super She'ro" [6]

References
  1. Carpenter, Bil (2005). "Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia": 110–11. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Winter, Calvert J.; Duende, Damita (1944). "12 cuentos de juguetes". Books Abroad. 18 (4): 381. doi:10.2307/40084883. ISSN 0006-7431. JSTOR 40084883.
  3. Taylor, Bob. doi:10.1049/iet-tv.48.661. Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. CSP Music Group (February 5, 2016), CSP Music Group and Mason J Presents Damita Haddon (Chandler) Preview, retrieved May 10, 2016
  5. "Congratulations! Damita Haddon Ties The Knot And Donnie McClurkin Officiates". May 4, 2014.
  6. "Anticipation". July 24, 2012 – via Amazon.
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