Kendra Foster

Kendra Marie Foster (born January 29, 1978) is an American singer-songwriter, session singer and backup vocalist. A two-time Grammy Award-winner, she has performed with artists including George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic, Snoop Dogg and D'Angelo and The Vanguard.[1]

Early life

A woman of African American descent and a natural redhead, as a young girl in Tallahassee, Florida Foster began singing at her local Baptist church. She developed an interest in jazz in high school, and learned jazz standards performed by singers including Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Nancy Wilson, and Ella Fitzgerald. She attended Florida A&M University, where she became a member of Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theatre and took part in the Urban Bush Women Institute.[2]

Career

While in college Foster met George Clinton through a mutual friend who was working as an engineer at Clinton's recording studio. Foster recorded at the studio; after a year, Clinton noticed her and signed her to a production deal. She later toured as a member of Parliament-Funkadelic.[3][4]

Foster released her debut album, Myriadmorphonicbiocorpomelodicrealityshapeshifter, in 2003 via a production deal with Clinton. Her self-titled second album, Kendra Foster, was released in 2016.[5] Her songs "Step into the Light" and "Promise To Stay Here" (from her self-titled album) were featured on BET’s Being Mary Jane and STARZ’s Hightown series respectively.[6][4]

In 2016, in addition to singing, she co-wrote eight out of 12 songs on D'Angelo's critically-acclaimed album, Black Messiah.[1]

Collaborations

A credited songwriter on "A Warning for the Heart" on Sunshine Anderson's The Sun Shines Again and on Snoop Dogg's album Coolaid ("Side Piece"), Foster sang on Clinton's How Late Do U Have 2BB4UR Absent? album. ("U Can Depend On Me", "Bounce 2 This" and "Trust In Yourself"). She is featured on the song "Questions" by Domo Genesis on his self-titled debut studio album.[7]

Discography and contributions

With Bootsy Collins

Kendra Foster

  • Myriadmorphonicbiocorpomelodicrealityshapeshifter (2003)
  • Kendra Foster (2016)
  • Here (2023)

With George Clinton

With Various Artist

  • Funk N' R&B Box Set (2006)

With Da BackWudz

  • Wood Work (2006)

With Electrofunkadelica

  • e3+Funknth= Music for the Body, Mind & Soul (2006)

With Armin van Buuren

  • State of Trance: Year Mix 2007 (2007)
  • Armada Presents: Miami Tunes 2008 (2008)
  • Armada Trance, Vol. 3 (2008)

With D'Angelo

  • Yoda: The Monarch of Neo-Soul (2007)
  • Yoda II (2008)
  • James River (Album Prelude) (2010)

With D'Angelo and the Vanguard

With Crucial Conflict

With Blake Jarrell

  • Concentrate (2009)

With Lynwood Rose

  • Lynwood Rose (2010)

With Sunshine Anderson

With Various Artists

  • Crusin' Music, Vol. 2 (2012)

With Funkadelic

With Domo Genesis

With Snoop Dogg

With Chris Dave and the Drumhedz

With Parliament

With Michael Blume

  • Cynicism & Sincerity (2018)

With Ben Williams

  • I Am a Man (2020)

With YOUNG JIMMY

  • Rockett 88 (Deluxe) (2023)

References
  1. Bynum, Taylor Ho (2015-01-21). "An Inescapable Voice on "Black Messiah"". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  2. "She's Grammy-winner Kendra Foster now". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  3. "Singer Kendra Foster On Her Rise To Stardom". Essence. 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  4. Bartee, Richardine (2016-06-23). "Life After Black Messiah: Kendra Foster Steps Out On Her Own". Brooklyn Magazine. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  5. Harris, Keith (2016-06-27). "Kendra Foster 'Kendra Foster' Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  6. Platon, Adelle (April 5, 2016). "Singer Kendra Foster Debuts Funky Love Note 'Promise To Stay Here' (Premiere)".
  7. "Domo Genesis: Genesis". Pitchfork.
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