Date: 2013-04-18
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. we have faced enormous tragedies this week with the horrific tragedy of Boston. and now today the tragedy of explosions in West. Texas. I rise today to salute Minister Yolanda Adams. who has taken her music to a step where she is ministering and giving comfort to those who need comfort. As reflected in her prayer and through her music. Yolanda Adams has taught us to embrace Gods grace and mercy. and for those who will listen. to stand in the sunlight of joy as one looks toward the hopefulness of their future or of their lives. Yolanda Adams is a nativeborn American. nativeborn Houstonian. and in fact someone who grew up in the public schools of Houston and began her life in music after she began her life as a teacher. She graduated from Sterling High School in 1979 and is the oldest of six siblings. After graduating from the University of California. Berkeley. she began a career as a schoolteacher. and then she began her career as a professional singer. But she wanted to do more and combined her singing with ministering. She is an American Grammy Awardwinning gospel singer. but she also has a heart for giving. and she provides every year in our community a health forum for women to make them healthier. to make them take care of themselves. to provide them with information. She has a wonderful album. "Songs from the Heart." with the wonderful song "Fragile Heart." In 1999. she was able to move her career beyond this local community. Her songs included "Yeah" and "Open My Heart." Many of you have heard her sing "Believe." "Never Give Up." and "Battle is the Lords." Yolanda Adams comes to us as a person who believes that her ministry can comfort. but she can also comfort in song. She never leaves anyone behind. She had the privilege and honor of giving to President Barack Obama and adding to the song. "Yes We Can: Voices of a Grass Roots Movement." She has sung the national anthem at the BCS national championship football game. as well as making a lot of other contributions to American music. She is a supporter of music education for our children. the mother of a daughter. and. yes. a prominent American. But I think what says the most about Yolanda Adams is that she never stops evangelizing and seeking to help those who are hopeless and in despair. She brings joy to those who seek it and believes that everyone is a child of God. Im grateful to know Yolanda Adams and to claim her as a constituent of the great city of Houston and the great State of Texas. But most of all. she is an American and a believer and understands the value of Americas freedom to be able to worship. She continues to soldier on to save souls. and were delighted to have been able to have her bless us this morning. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to celebrate a great American artist. I wish to first thank Ms. Adams for her thoughtful. and inspirational prayer. As the representative of the 18th District of Texas I am proud to say that she is a constituent and represents what is best about the State of Texas. As was reflected in her prayer. Yolanda Adams through her music. has taught us to embrace Gods grace and mercy. and for those who will listen. to stand in the sunlight of joy as one looks toward the hopefulness of the future. Yolanda Adams is an American Grammy and Doveaward winning Gospel music singer and radio show host. The oldest of six siblings. Yolanda Adams was raised in Houston. Texas. She graduated from Sterling High School in Houston in 1979. After graduating from University of California Berkeley. she began a career as a schoolteacher and parttime model in Houston. Texas. Eventually she gave up teaching to become a professional singer. Her enormous talent attracted the attention of Thomas Whitfield and Sound of Gospel Records which signed her recording contract and released her first album. Just As I Am in 1987. In 1990. she released her second album. Through The Storm. released by Tribune Records. Songs from the Heart. her album released through Verity Records. featured the inspirational "Only Believe." "Still I Rise." a song dedicated to Rosa Parks and inspired by Maya Angelous poem of the same name. "Fragile Heart." was dedicated to the memory of Yolandas long time road manager who died in 1998. Her album "Mountain High . . . Valley Low" in 1999 extended her popularity and appeal outside the urban contemporary gospel arena. The album went Platinum in 2000 and won her a Grammy Award. Notable singles from the album include "Yeah." "Fragile Heart." and "Open My Heart." In 2001. Yolanda Adams released a live album. The Experience. which won her a second Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. Believe. which included the hit "Never Give Up" was released in 2001. She would later go on to perform this song at "The Salute to Gospel Music" at the White House during President George W. Bushs administration. Believe was certified Gold in 2002. The Divas Of Gospel. with Albertina Walker. (Queen of Gospel). was also released in 2001. Yolanda Adams recorded the song for the 2003 hit film. Honey titled "I Believe" and was also a judge for the 2nd Annual Independent Music Awards. Yolanda Adams song "Hold On" is included in a compilation in support of Barack Obamas campaign entitled Yes We Can: Voices of a Grass Roots Movement. Yolanda Adams performed the National Anthem at the 2009 BCS National Championship football game at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. Florida. I want to thank Yolanda Adams for her bountiful contribution to American music. songs which have enriched our lives for a decade and cascade like the blessings from the heaven above. Mr. Speaker. Yolanda Adams has sold 4.5 million albums since 1991 according to Soundscan. Although she is proud of that achievement. she has said that her greatest treasure is being a child of God.