Chanté Moore

Chanté Torrane Moore (born February 17, 1967) is an award–winning American R&B and jazz singer, songwriter, and actress.

Biography

Born to Christian Evangelist parents, she grew up singing in the church and was heavily influenced by the music of George Duke and Lee Ritenour. She was a beauty pageant contestant and model when, at age twenty-two, she was discovered by MCA Records executive Louil Silas. Moore was signed to Silas' MCA-distributed imprint Silas Records. She had previously been signed to Warner Bros Records by Benny Medina at the age of 19, recording a whole album before being dropped.^[1]

Early career

Singer and songwriter Chanté Moore “I have been blessed and honored to do what I love for a living for as long as I have,”confides the dynamic songbird. “My fans who have continued with me on my journey have become a part of me and the music.” Moore’s genuine connection with her audience has been forged through her intimate and personal songwriting. Chanté’s effortless combination of R&B soaked in gospel roots, soul accents kissed with a touch of jazz, and grace with fire, coalesce on her Shanachie Entertainment debut, Moore Is More. “My heart is overwhelmed with excitement and joy in life and in my music! I have more to give my fans, more than meets the eye, more of the same, and more than what you expect.”

The daughter of a minister, Chanté counts iconic gospel figures Tramaine Hawkins and Andraé Crouch among her earliest influences. Her mother, also a singer, was, and is, a huge influence. Moore made her recording debut on Silas/MCA in 1992 with the release of the Gold-selling Precious (“Love's Taken Over” and “It’s Alright”). A Love Supreme (“Old School Lovin’”) came in 1994, followed by her Grammy nominated This Moment Is Mine (Gold-selling single “Chanté’s Got A Man,” written for then husband and actor Kadeem Hardison). In 2002 Moore had the distinction of winning a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single for the song “Contagious,” featuring The Isley Brothers and R. Kelly. In 2004, 20th Century Masters issued a greatest hits collection and Chanté was signed to Arista Records. She released the duet albums Things That Lovers Do and Covered/Uncovered (2006), both with ex-husband and singer Kenny Lattimore. Chanté also released a double-CD of gospel and R&B love songs. Her album Love The Woman came in 2008.

With seven albums, twenty charting singles and collaborations with everyone from Prince, R. Kelly, Boyz II Men and El Debarge to The Isley Brothers, Babyface and Raphael Saddiq, singer Chanté Moore was destined to sing. In fact, in French, her name literally means “to sing.” The Grammy nominated, American Music Award and NAACP Award-winning singer’s distinctive vocals have been featured in films like Waiting To Exhale, Beverly Hills Cop III, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Romeo Must Die and Big Momma’s House. No stranger to the silver screen or stage, Ms. Moore has starred in theatrical productions alongside such lauded talent as Loretta Divine and Tisha Campbell-Martin, as well as fellow vocal powerhouses Vickie Winans and Dave Hollister.

Moore is currently starring in the highly rated TV One reality show spin-off, R&B Diva’ L.A., which premiered on July 10, 2013 on TV One, breaking records for its high viewership. The first season follows the lives and careers of Moore as well as Kelly Price, Lil' Mo, Claudette Ortiz, Michel'le and Dawn Robinson. Season 2 replaces Kelly Price and Dawn Robinson with Lela James and Chrisette Michelle. Season 2 premiere aired July 2014 and Season 3 premiered February 2015 through May 2015.

In Summer 2014, Chanté Moore starred on the Las Vegas strip at Bally’s in the revamped showgirls show “Jubilee” directed by Frank Gatson.

Like fellow songbirds Minnie Riperton, Deniece Williams and Mariah Carey, chanteuse Chanté Moore shares the rare distinction of possessing a spectacularly soaring range(Vocal range D3-F#7). Shanachie Entertainment VP of A&R, Danny Weiss, says, “I'm super-enthusiastic about working with Chanté, not only because she is such a brilliant vocalist, but also because she is entering into an exciting new phase in her life both personally and artistically. Moore Is More will manifest that growth and excitement.”

Entertainment Manager, Cheryl Cobb Debrosse is happy to announce to the devout Chanté Moore fans, the five-year wait is finally over. “This album and book, WILL I MARRY ME, draws from many moments in the last ten years of her life." For Moore, this album "is filled with intimate details and subject matters I cannot 'talk' about...but I HAVE TO sing about. The book is all about the experiences of my life--Understanding MORE about who I am and MORE about what I want. I AM victorious! I choose to LIVE! And MAN am I GONNA LIVE!!! Love Is On The Way.”

With Kenny Lattimore

A year after marrying R&B singer Kenny Lattimore, the two signed as a duet act to Arista Records and released a duet cover album entitled Things That Lovers Do. The album was promoted with a stageplay named after the album and a music video for the single "You Don't Have to Cry" which shows a prominently pregnant Moore on screen with Lattimore. The album also included a remake of the Minnie Riperton and Peabo Bryson duet "Here We Go" on which Moore prominently shows off her whistle register in tribute to Riperton.

In fall 2006, Moore issued a follow-up to the success of Things That Lovers Do, another album of duets with her husband Kenny Lattimore. The duo beat the previous effort with a double-CD of gospel and R&B love songs entitled Uncovered/Covered. The set was led off by dual singles, the Bryan Michael Cox-produced "Figure It Out," and "Make Me Like the Moon," a gospel ballad co-written by Lattimore and Moore and produced by Fred Hammond. Uncovered/Covered was released October 10, 2006 on LaFace/Verity/Zomba Music Group.^[2]

Moore and Lattimore recorded a cover version of the Marvin Gaye-Tammi Terrell duet "You're All I Need to Get By". It serves as the theme song for the BET reality series The Family Crews.

In 2007, Moore starred in the stageplay By Any Means Necessary, along with Dave Hollister, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Shar Jackson, and Danielle Mone Truitt.

Recent activities

During the recording of her duet album with Lattimore, she signed a new solo recording contract with Peak Records, a subsidiary of Concord Music Group.^[3]

Moore released her fifth solo album Love the Woman on June 17, 2008.^[4][5] The album's lead single "Ain't Supposed to Be This Way" impacted radio on May 12, 2008.^[6]

In 2009, Moore set some dates for a Love the Woman tour, with performances in Los Angeles, and Atlanta, Georgia. Additionally, she starred with James Pickens, Jr. (of Grey's Anatomy), Vickie Winans, Loretta Devine, Reginald VelJohnson, Rocky Carroll and Kenny Lattimore in a live stage production of Otis Sallid's Gospel! Gospel! Gospel at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in May 2009.^[7]

In July 2011, it was announced that she would be the TV host for an upcoming women's fitness reality series sponsored by SportyGirl Fitness.^[8] The following year, Moore performed at the 2012 BET Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in a tribute to the late singer Donna Summer.

On January 1, 2013, Moore inked a new record deal with Shanachie Entertainment.^[9] She released her sixth studio solo album "Moore is More" on July 30, 2013^[10] which was preceded by the single "Talking In My Sleep."

In early 2013, it was announced that Moore had joined the cast of the Reality TV show "R&B Divas L.A." with Kelly Price, Dawn Robinson (of En Vogue), Michel'le, Lil' Mo & Claudette Ortiz.^[11] They filmed the series throughout the year, and it premiered/aired during the summer. A second season was ordered and is currently filming as of 2014.^[12]

In March 2014, it was announced that Moore would start a limited run in Vegas on March 24 in the Bally's Las Vegas legendary show Jubilee!, after Terry Ellis (of En Vogue) had completed her run. The show will be directed by Frank Gatson Jr. and also star Grammy-nominated singer Luke James.^[13]

The second season of "R&B Divas: Los Angeles" premiered in July 2014,^[14] and Chante released a digital single "I Know, Right?" later that month.^[15]

She released her self-help book "Will I Marry Me?" in August 2014.^[16] Chante's Manager, Cheryl Cobb Debrosse is producing an adaptation of her book "Will I Marry Me" into a one-woman show in 2015.

In 2015, she announced work on a new solo album which would include new material in addition to a few remakes of her songs, due to the experience of her one-woman show.^[17]

In 2016, she premiered a new track titled "Ghetto Love" featuring Kurupt on Donnie Simpson's radio show.^[18]

Later in July, she appeared on the radio show to premiere her new single "Put It On Fate" of which she filmed a music video on July 13th.^[19]

Personal life

In 1996, she had a daughter, named Sophia Hardison with actor Kadeem Hardison. They secretly married in 1997 and divorced in 2000.

She married singer Kenny Lattimore^[20] on New Year's Day in 2002 at a private ceremony in Jamaica. Their son Kenny, Jr. was born April 10, 2003. In a July 27, 2011 statement on her Facebook page, she announced she and Kenny Lattimore had divorced.

Her older brother Kelvin Gomillion (born January 25, 1961) died on August 18, 2013.^[21][22]

In her 2014 self-help autobiographical book "Will I Marry Me?" she made public her first marriage (and subsequent divorce) to a childhood friend whom she had dated in sixth grade and was her first kiss at the age of 13.^[23]

Discography

Albums

Compilations

Singles

Single appearances

Soundtracks and collaborations

• 1991 "Candlelight & You" (House Party 2 OST)
• 1992 "You Know What I Like" (In the Storm – El DeBarge)
• 1992 "Fame" (Snapshot – George Duke)
• 1994 "Satisfy You" (Straight to the Point – Damion Hall)
• 1995 "Illusions" (Illusions – George Duke)
• 1995 "Inside My Love" (New York Undercover OST)
• 1995 "Wey U" and "And I Gave My Love To You" (Waiting to Exhale OST)
• 1996 "Heal Our Land" (Place of Hope: Celebrating the New South Africa)
• 1996 "La, La, La Means I Love U" (Emancipation – Prince)
• 1998 "Your Home Is in My Heart (Stella's Love Theme)" (with Boyz II Men) (How Stella Got Her Groove Back OST)
• 1998 "Crusin'" (Blue Planet – Nils)
• 1998 "I Love You" (KW – Keith Washington)
• 1999 "Wall Around My Heart" (Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story soundtrack)
• 1999 "Can We Do That?" (The McCauley Sessions – Gerald McCauley)
• 1999 "Down on My Knees" (Summer Heat 1999, Vol. 1)
• 1999 "Christmas Morn" (My Christmas Album)
• 2000 "Save Some Love for Me" (Yes, Please! – Fourplay)
• 2000 "When You Need Me" (All the Man You Need – Will Downing)
• 2000 "This Is a Test" (Romeo Must Die OST)
• 2000 "Treated Like Her" (with LaTocha Scott) (Big Momma's House OST)
• 2001 "Contagious" (Eternal – The Isley Brothers)
• 2002 "Feeling the Way" (Just Chillin' – Norman Brown)
• 2002 "One More Time" (Paradise – Kenny G)
• 2003 "She's Amazing" (Cool – George Duke)
• 2005 "Till You Come Back to Me" (Wild Card – The Rippingtons)
• 2007 "Santa Baby" (Christmas Present – Boney James)
• 2013 "Where is the Love?" (Say Yes - Phil Perry)

Music videos

• "You Know What I Like" (El DeBarge featuring Chanté Moore)
• "Love's Taken Over"
• "It's Alright"
• "Old School Lovin'"
• "This Time"
• "Satisfy You" (with Damion Hall)
• "Satisfy You" (Remix) (with Damion Hall)
• "Chanté's Got a Man"
• "I See You in a Different Light"
• "Straight Up"
• "Bitter"
• "You Don't Have to Cry" (with Kenny Lattimore)
• "Contagious" (The Isley Brothers featuring R. Kelly & Chanté Moore)
• "Jesus, I Want You"

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• Official Site
• Chanté Moore at AllMusic
• Official Twitter
• Official Facebook
• Chanté Moore at the Internet Movie Database