Tami Chynn

All Music Guide:

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaican singer Tami Chynn titled her debut album Out of Many...One, and in doing so was referring not only to the motto of her homeland but also referencing her multicultural background. Chynn's mother is Caucasian and African-American while her father is Chinese and Cherokee -- both parents were musicians and very supportive of Tami and her sister Tessanne's interest in music. Tami was the first to turn this interest into something professional when she was hired as a dancer for reggae superstar Shaggy's 2001 world tour. Three years later she would become known for her voice with a live appearance at Jamaica's popular Reggae Sumfest festival plus collaborations in the studio with Sean Paul, Beenie Man, and Wayne Marshall, all of which occurred in 2004. By the end of 2005 she would be celebrating both her second Sumfest appearance and a worldwide record contract with the Universal label. Early in 2006 the "Hyperventilating" single -- co-written by Tami and Tessanne -- would announce the coming of her debut album. Out of Many...One would be released by the end of summer that year while its second single, "Looky Looky," was rising up the Jamaican singles chart.

Wikipedia:

Tami Chynn (born Tammar Anika Chin) is a Jamaican singer, songwriter and dancer.

Early years

Tami Chynn (born 14 June 1984) was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Her father, Richard Chin, is of Chinese descent with Cherokee ancestry and her mother, Christine Chin is Black-Jamaican and British. Her parents were in a band called The Carnations and her younger sister, Tessanne Chin, is also a reggae fusion singer and former member of the group 'Mile High'.

Tami grew up in the parish of St. Andrew and attended St. Peter and Paul Preparatory School. She later attended Campion College in St. Andrew, Jamaica. In 1998, at age 14, she moved to Leamington Spa, UK where she spent three years studying the performing arts and in 2001, at age 17, moved back to Jamaica where she worked on her music career and recorded her first single "Rock U".

Tami Chynn married fellow reggae/dancehall artist Wayne Marshall in 2009.

In 2010, Tami collaborates with Slovakian born Jamaica fashion designer Lubica Kucerova to create the Anuna and Anuna Goddess collections. The collection debuted at 2010 Fashion Art Toronto: Alternative Arts Fashion Week. Later that year, the duo would be nominated at The Jamaica Observer Style Awards and win the Designer of the Year Award.

Music career

2005-2007: Beginnings and Out of Many... One

Before pursuing music, she toured with fellow caniamaJ artist Shaggy as a backup dancer on his Caught Red Handed Tour. In early 2005 she travelled to Los Angeles, California, USA to perform for Universal Motown Records and in May she was signed to the major label,at age 24, for a four album deal. Before releasing her debut album in the US she appeared in recordings with international Reggae stars: Beenie Man, Lady Saw and Sean Paul on his album The Trinity for the track "All on Me".

In March 2006, she was nominated for Best New Entertainer Award at the International Reggae and World Music Awards, but lost the award to reggae artist Matisyahu. Leading up to the release of her debut album, Out of Many...One she toured clubs around the US for promotion.

Later in 2006 she released her first US single "Hyperventilating" which became a hit on the internet that summer but wasn't a mainstream success. During that summer she released her first album Out of Many...One which also failed to chart in the US but managed to peak at #41 on the Japanese Oricon charts. In 2007 her song "Over and Over" appeared on the compilations Biggest One Drop Anthems 2007 (released October 8, 2007 on the Greensleeves label) and Strictly The Best Vol. 38 (released November 20, 2007 through VP Records)

2008: New record label and Prima Donna

In 2008 Tami received notice by artist Akon who signed her up to his label Konvict Muzik and began production of her second album Prima Donna. Recording of the album began in January in Akon's Atlanta studios with Akon and RedOne executive producing the album. The lead single for the album, "Frozen" (featuring Akon), was released in August, 2008. In March she toured the UK and made an appearance on the BBC Radio show 1Xtra Live, on March 22, 2008 with Akon and performed Frozen.

In September 2008, she starred in a Pepsi commercial alongside Verne Troyer, T-Pain and Shaggy and made a cover of Kung Fu Fighting for the commercial which is based on Kung Fu. During October, 2008 she opened for New Kids on the Block on their New Kids on the Block Tour alongside Lady GaGa, Natasha Bedingfield and Colby O'Donis. She also appeared in the video "I'm So Paid" by Akon. After cutting ties with Universal, Prima Donna remains unreleased; however, Tami Chynn has stated she is currently at work on a third album that is to become a sophomore release.

In 2011, American singer-songwriter/actress Jennifer Lopez re-recorded 'Hypnotico', a song Chynn had written and recorded for her unreleased second album Prima Donna along side Lady Gaga and RedOne for Lopez's seventh studio album Love? released May 3, 2011 in the United States. Tami Chynn now plans to release the songs on Prima Donna to other artists to perform as their own songs.