Ashley Tamar Davis is a Grammy nominated Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Educator, Mentor, Entrepreneur and Music Supervisor. Growing up in Houston, Texas, she has been in the entertainment industry since her childhood. An early experience in the People's Choice Awards meant a chance meeting with Beyoncé, which led her into a very early incarnation of Destiny's Child. With her family's support she put her ambitions on pause briefly to go back to school and finish College. She is now a graduate of University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, with a Bachelor in Music Business. She first visited Prince's recording studios Paisley Park in her teens, before becoming part of his entourage as a singer songwriter in her early 20s, during the artist's 3121 era. She recorded and collaborated with Prince, who became a mentor to her - co-writing their Grammy-nominated duet "Beautiful, Loved, and Blessed." Tamar appeared onstage with him at the NAACP Awards, Saturday Night Live and The Brit Awards, before going on tour with him in the US, performing songs from her album Milk and Honey. After parting ways with Prince, she went on to star on Broadway, in “Motown, the Musical”, and has wowed audiences in recent years with jaw-dropping performances on NBC’s “The Voice”...also touring with Tyler Perry productions. She has performed for former Presidents and first Ladies, and also recently launched an interactive iPad, iPhone and Android Music app. In 2010, Tamar initiated and created Syren Music Group, LLC: a music entertainment company that specializes in the advancement of independent music and live entertainment. Through the creation of Syren Music Group, LLC Tamar launched her independent album "My Name is Tamar" (3.24.2011), which has garnered sales and media coverage globally. Tamar is also the co-founder of The Tamar Davis Project: an international, educational and artistic project designed for singers, artists, musicians, writers, painters, composers, choreographers, and dancers to benefit from opportunities that will become a catalyst to successfully launch their careers under the watchful eye of industry professionals turned mentors. She's also become a vibrant presence on social media, is passionate as an educator and is a vocal campaigner for artists rights.
INTRO - Just coming back in late from London, and Houston...
3mins - the elevator pitch on Tamar, '...how would you describe yourself?'
4mins30s - Finding your tribe online
5mins - Tamar's passion as an educator
7mins - Were your parents or your family musical? Where did you inherit your talent from?
8mins - The original line up for Destiny's Child...but guess how many members?
9mins - How did the group come together originally?
9min30s - Wrestling with contracts inside girl groups, who has the last say, and the lack of longevity...due to the focus on image.
10mins30s - Working with Prince after graduating from College in her early 20s...after being on tour with Lee Ritenour, Beyonce, Missy Elliot and Alicia Keys
12mins - Somewhere Over The Rainbow in the mid 90s: Morris Hayes listens to a demo...and Tamar is flown with her Mum to record at Paisley Park.
14mins - Reflections on being in the music and entertainment industries at such an early age...
15mins - "Everything is negotiable...", how Tamar feels now about the 'business mind'.
16mins - Learning from Prince - '...everything that's happening now, he taught me...'
19mins30s - What were the first projects you worked on with Prince? And how did it come about?
20mins30s - Walking into Burbank Studios, with Sheila E...'a big test' while rehearsing for the NAACP Image Awards
22mins - "I just never had time to recognise it...but one of the biggest legends of all time saw something in me..."