Tarralyn Ramsey

• Interviews
• February 26th

She’s been compared to arguably one of the best female voices of our time, Ms. Whitney Houston. And even with that comparison, Tarralyn Ramsey has still managed to carve a niche for herself as one of the most powerful and distinctive voices in music today.

But it wouldn’t be fair to call her a “DIVA” if she didn’t experience everything that comes along with the title such as scrutiny, speculation and criticism.

This interview was unequivocally my most interesting to date and one I won’t soon forget. I won’t go into details of why, but if I ever decide to write a book you can bet the bank this account will be in there!

How did you get discovered?

I was living in Melbourne, FL and I was singing in this talent show. A man came up to my parents afterwards saying he was a record executive who had connections to Jive Records. He was basically propositioning my parents to do a photo shoot and record a demo. So we went into the studio and recorded 2 songs. He took them to Jive and then Verity Records got a hold of the demo and that’s how I got signed. I was 14 at the time. “O Holy Night” was the first song I recorded signed to Verity Records, which Fred Hammond produced.

Were you excited to sign with a major label?

You would probably expect me to have these wonderful stories about signing my first major deal, but that wasn’t the case. I remember the contract coming in the mail and looking at the terms. It didn’t have specifications for years; it only had specifications for amount of albums. I remember thinking, ‘I hope this works out, because if it doesn’t I’m going to be 25 still locked into this agreement’. So, I wasn’t as happy as I should have been, but I ended up signing because I was living at home with my parents and my mom really wanted me to sign it. There was something in my spirit that just didn’t feel right about signing this contract.

Was it always the plan for you to be a Gospel artist?

Whatever my parents decided is what it was. Initially I was being groomed to be like a young Brandy, Whitney Houston type artist. My dad didn’t know anything about the music industry and he wasn’t comfortable with me singing Pop/R&B, so that’s how I ended up singing Gospel. He was afraid they were going to put me out on stage half naked.

How was the recording of your first solo album?

That whole record was made over a period of 6 or 7 years. I was signed with Verity from age fourteen until I was twenty one. I was twenty one when the album was finally released. By the time the album came out, I wasn’t the same person anymore. The excitement was gone and I was ready to move on to something new. It wasn’t fun anymore.

So what were you doing in between all those years?

I was sitting home, not making any money, waiting on my album to come out. Other record company’s and executives would approach me, but I couldn’t do anything because I was stuck in that contract with Verity. It was so frustrating to be signed that long and not having anything to show for it. To this day I’ve never received a check from that album, EVER. I did receive an advance when I signed my deal, but that’s it. They’ve made that money back 10 times over, I’m sure. You have people who are supposedly protecting your interests and when bad decisions are made, you are the one who takes the fall. Not to mention after I won the “Born to Diva” contest, Verity repackaged the CD and sold even more albums.

Were you angry at how Verity handled your project?

I was very resentful for a few years on how some things went down. Now that I’ve learned the business, I’ve let those feelings go. It was all a learning lesson. There were definitely times when I didn’t want to do it anymore. But this is my job, my ministry, so you can’t let it break you. But that’s why I entered the “Born to Diva” contest because I was tired of sitting around broke.

How exactly did you end up on VH1’s “Born to Diva” contest?

I got out of my contract with Verity, but I was at home depressed with how my career had stalled. So one night a commercial came on and it said if you think you have what it takes to share the stage with Whitney Houston and Beyoncé then come try out for this contest. It said you had the opportunity to perform on “Divas Live” at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.  So I drove to Atlanta and tried out.

Didn’t you think people would recognize you since you had a CD in stores?

My album was never released worldwide. It was only released in certain markets. I didn’t even know anyone knew who I was. Never ever in a million years did I think I would make it through the line. I didn’t think anyone would recognize me because I had gained so much weight sitting at home. I didn’t think I was what they were looking for because all the girls in line were skinny and had on these sexy outfits. I thought the contest was going to be based more on looks than talent. And it was a VH1 production. I never thought a black, churchy, overweight girl had a chance of winning. I really didn’t. I remember standing in line and being overwhelmed by all the talent I heard. I heard some girls whispering in line saying, “I think that’s Tarralyn Ramsey.” But again I had gained so much weight I didn’t expect anyone to recognize me. Even one of the judges asked if I was Tarralyn and I said no. I made sure I brought my paperwork to show I didn’t have a contract.

You had to know the Gospel community was going to have something to say about the possibility of you recording a secular album.

The competition was never about winning a record deal. A record deal wasn’t even on the table in the beginning. It was only to perform on stage live at “Divas.” It wasn’t until we got to New York for the next phase of the show that we found out about the record deal. They gave us a record management contract on Friday and we had to have it signed and back to them on Monday to be able to continue in the contest.

From the show it was easy to see that you were the front-runner. Did you think you were going to win?

I really didn’t. I was floored. Everybody knows I am a die hard Whitney Houston fan. When they called my name I blacked out. Whitney Houston came up to me and said, “Out of everyone that’s ever been compared to me, you really do sound like me”. That was such an honor.

How was it working with Tommy Mottola and being one of the first artists signed to his new label Casablanca Records?

Working with Tommy Mottola was not what I expected. After my single “Up Against All Odds” came out, my record went to the left. They basically told me what to sing and that’s what I did. I didn’t have a say in what I sang, how I sang it, who I worked with, what clothes I wore or even how my hair was. They paid me to sing and that’s what I did. In the end the CD just wasn’t me.

Did you make money from the album?

I made more money signing that deal than I had made in my whole career.

Why do you think everyone came down on you so hard for recording a “secular” CD?

I didn’t win Sunday Best, I won on a competition on VH1. I signed a contract and I had to fulfill my commitment to record a pop album. Ruben Studdard and I won 3 days apart, but I’m the one who was crucified. I don’t regret anything that has happened. I accept that as God’s will for me. You can be comfortable and at peace when you know your place. My road wasn’t Jennifer Hudson’s or Fantasia’s. I never misrepresented who I was.

Tell me about your new album “Beyond the Darkness.”

I started working on this project about 2 years ago. I stopped because I really didn’t want to hear everybody saying, “Oh she’s coming back to Gospel” after making a secular album. But I prayed about it and just let God take control of everything. I sang every lead and background vocal. I was in the studio 24 hours a day. To me it’s my best work yet. This album will answer ANY questions someone may have. It’s the real Tarralyn Ramsey.

If there is one thing you’ve learned up to this point, what would you say?

God is faithful!