Vanessa Bell Armstrong ( Bell; born October 2, 1953) is an American

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...

singer who released her debut album '' Peace Be Still'' in 1983. Armstrong is an 7x

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...

Nominee, Stellar Award Winner, and a

Soul Train Award The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show which previously aired in national broadcast syndication, and honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the makers of ''Soul Train'', the pro ...

winner. She has worked with many in the industry such as,

Mattie Moss Clark Mattie Moss Clark (born Mattie Juliet Moss; March 26, 1925 – September 22, 1994) was an American gospel choir director and the mother of The Clark Sisters, a gospel vocal group. She was the longest-serving International Minister of Music for th ...

, Darryl Coley,

The Clark Sisters The Clark Sisters are an American gospel vocal group consisting of five sisters: Jacky Clark Chisholm (born 1948), Denise "Niecy" Clark-Bradford (born 1953), Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark (born 1954), Dorinda Clark-Cole (born 1957), and Karen Cla ...

, Rance Allen,

James Cleveland James Edward Cleveland (December 5, 1931 – February 9, 1991) was an American gospel singer, musician, and composer. Known as the King of Gospel, Cleveland was a driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound by incorporating tra ...

, and a host of others. The Detroit Native also has an honorary doctorate degree in theology from Next Dimension University at the

West Angeles Cathedral West Angeles Church of God in Christ is a Pentecostal megachurch and a member of the Church of God in Christ denomination. Its main place of worship, the West Angeles Cathedral, is located in the West Adams Historic District of Los Angeles, Califo ...

in Los Angeles on Saturday, August 20, 2017.

Career

Armstrong made her solo debut on Onyx/Muscle Shoals Sound Records in 1983 with the album ''Peace Be Still''. The title track has since become one of Armstrong's signature songs. Armstrong's second album ''Chosen'' hit number one on the US Billboard

Top Gospel Albums The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in ''Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ''Billboard'' charts, pr ...

chart. Armstrong performed on the 1st Annual Soul Train Awards ceremony. Her 1986 album ''Following Jesus'' won a Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel Album – Solo in 1988. She is also a seven time

-nominee. Armstrong enjoyed a slice of mainstream success in the late 1980s. Her self-titled 1987 Jive Records debut yielded the Billboard-charting hit "You Bring Out The Best in Me," as well as the club favorite "Pressing On." The next year's follow-up album ''Wonderful One'' featured a cover of the

Labi Siffre Claudius Afolabi Siffre (born 25 June 1945) is a British singer, songwriter and poet. Siffre released six albums between 1970 and 1975, and four between 1988 and 1998. His best known compositions include " It Must Be Love" which reached number 1 ...

anti-

Apartheid Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...

anthem "Something Inside So Strong." The song was later remade in 1995 by Armstrong along with

Shirley Caesar Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams (born October 13, 1938), known professionally as Shirley Caesar, is an American gospel singer whose career has spanned seven decades. She has won 11 Grammys in addition to Dove Awards and Stellar Awards; Caesar is k ...

Fred Hammond Frederick William Hammond (born December 27, 1960) is an American gospel singer, bass guitar player, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most popular figures in contemporary gospel music. He is known for using a variety of differe ...

, Tramaine Hawkins,

Yolanda Adams Yolanda Yvette Adams (born August 27, 1961) is an American gospel singer, actress, and host of her own nationally syndicated morning gospel show. She is one of the best-selling gospel artists of all time, having sold over 10 million albums ...

, and a host of other gospel artists as a tribute to

Rosa Parks Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005) was an American activist in the civil rights movement best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. The United States Congress has honored her as "th ...

. The song was serviced to radio stations to play on the 40th anniversary of the civil rights icon's arrest. Armstrong appeared on Broadway in 1991 in a production of ''Don't Get God Started''. "Always," a Marvin Winans composition that anchors the play, also appears on Armstrong's 1987 self-titled album. Her Broadway role lead to a cameo appearance in the

Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954), or simply Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', b ...

TV special '' The Women of Brewster Place''. Armstrong was also chosen to record the theme to the popular 1980s NBC sitcom ''

Amen Amen ( he, אָמֵן, ; grc, ἀμήν, ; syc, ܐܡܝܢ, ; ar, آمين, ) is an Abrahamic declaration of affirmation which is first found in the Hebrew Bible, and subsequently found in the New Testament. It is used in Jewish, Christian, and ...

''. Armstrong took a three-year self-imposed hiatus from recording before releasing ''A Brand New Day'' under a new deal with Tommy Boy Gospel in 2001. She was presented with a lifetime achievement award during 2004's Gospel Superfest. Armstrong's 2007 album, ''Walking Miracle'', is her first release in 6 years, and blends traditional gospel fare like "So Good To Me" (produced by

Smokie Norful Rev. W.R. "Smokie" Norful, Jr. is an American gospel singer and pianist, best known for his 2002 album, '' I Need You Now'' and his 2004 release, ''Nothing Without You,'' which won a Grammy at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary ...

) with contemporary songs like "Til The Victory's Won" (produced by

Fred Jerkins III Fred Jerkins III, also known as Uncle Freddie, is an American songwriter and record producer who is best known for his work with his brother Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Jerkins has co-written several hit songs with Rodney Jerkins and LaShawn Dan ...

) and the title track (produced by

Rodney Jerkins Rodney Roy Jerkins (born July 29, 1977), also known by his stage name Darkchild, is an American record producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has collaborated with a broad range of popular artists. Jerkins has won multiple Grammy Awards. Among hi ...

). The latter song was inspired by Armstrong's son who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Discography

Albums

Compilations

Singles

Other works and collaborations

Armstrong recorded a stand out duet "Choose Ye" with gospel act

The Winans The Winans are an American gospel quartet from Detroit, Michigan consisting of brothers Marvin, Carvin, Michael and Ronald Winans. Members ''Please refer to the Winans family page for more detail on the individual members.'' About: Origins & Mu ...

on their major label debut ''Let My People Go'' for

Qwest Records Qwest Records is the American record label started by Quincy Jones in 1980 as a joint venture with Warner Bros. Records, and owned by Warner Music Group, although Jones was still under contract with A&M Records through 1981. George Benson's 198 ...

. She also sang the

theme song Theme music is a musical composition that is often written specifically for radio programming, television shows, video games, or films and is usually played during the title sequence, opening credits, closing credits, and in some instances at ...

for the 1980s

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

sitcom ''

''. Armstrong was a frequent musical guest of the early projects of John P. Kee & The New Life Community Choir, and lent her voice to several classics that include "We Walk By Faith", and "We Glorify".

Awards and honors

;Grammy Nominations * Best Soul Gospel Performance – Female for ''Peace Be Still'' (1983) * Best Soul Gospel Performance – Female for ''Chosen'' (1985) * Best Soul Gospel Performance – Duo, Group, Choir or Chorus for "Choose Ye" (1986) * Best Soul Gospel Performance – Female for "Pressing On" (1988) *Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album for ''The Truth About Christmas'' (1991) *Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album for ''Something On the Inside'' (1993) *Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album for ''The Experience'' (2009)

Personal life

Armstrong has five children.

References

External links

*
Official MySpace PageOfficial Vanessa Bell Armstrong site on EMI GospelFlashback Friday – Vanessa Bell Armstrong – Chosen
{{DEFAULTSORT:Armstrong, Vanessa Bell 1953 births Living people 20th-century African-American women singers American gospel singers Urban contemporary gospel musicians Singers from Detroit American Pentecostals 21st-century African-American women singers