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

[edit] Early years

Tami Chynn (born 14 June 1984)^[1] was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Her father, Richard Chin, is of Chinese descent with Cherokee ancestry and her mother, Christine Chin is Afro-Jamaican and British.^[2]. Her parents were in a band called The Carnations^[3] and her younger sister, Tessanne Chin^[4], 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"^[5].

[edit] Music career

[edit] 2005-2007: Beginnings and Out of Many... One

Before pursuing music, she toured with fellow Jamaican artist Shaggy as a back up 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^[6]. 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".^[7].

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^[8]. Leading up to the release of her debut album Out of Many...One she toured clubs around the US for promotion^[8].

Later in 2006 she released her first US single "Hyperventilating" which became a hit on the internet that summer^[9] 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^[10] but managed to peak at #41 on the Japanese Oricon charts^[11][12]. In 2007 her song "Over and Over Again" appeared on the compilations Biggest One Drop Anthems 2007 (released October 8, 2007 on the Greensleeves label)^[13] and Strictly The Best Vol. 38 (released November 20, 2007 through VP Records)^[14]

[edit] 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 sophomore album Prima Donna^[15]. Recording of the album began in January in Akon's Atlanta studios with Akon and RedOne executive producing the album^[16]. The lead single for the album, "Frozen" (featuring Akon), was released in August, 2008^[17]. 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^[18].

In September 2008, she starred in a Pepsi commercial along side Verne Troyer, T-Pain and Shaggy^[19] and made a cover of Kung Fu Fighting for the commercial which is based on Kung Fu^[20]. During October, 2008 she opened for New Kids on the Block on their New Kids on the Block Tour along side Lady GaGa, Natasha Bedingfield and Colby O'Donis^[21]. She also appeared in the video "I'm So Paid" by Akon^[22]. After cutting ties with Universal, Prima Donna is unreleased.

[edit] 2009-2010

On December 9th, Tami Chynn premiered a new song via USTREAM called "Bluffin' Love". She said that she's planning to release a new album in 2010.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio Albums

• Out of Many...One (2006)
• Prima Donna (Unreleased)
• TBA (2010)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Site
• Official Japan Site
• Official MySpace
• Record Label Page
• Jamaicaobserver.com