06/28/2024
Have You Heard the News?
Lina Wade is doing a FREE "Live In Concert", at the Veretta and Jesse E. Rider Fine and Performing Arts Centre - 309 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tyler, Texas - This Sunday - June 30 at 5PM!
Lina is an American R&B and soul singer and songwriter.
Early life.
Lina was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in, Texas. Lina’s
introduction to music started at the age of four when she began
singing at church. After cultivating her gospel and jazz roots by
touring with the church choir, performing with her mother and
singing at social gatherings, Lina was signed to Atlantic first as a
songwriter and then as a singer. Lina began developing a
signature vocal style that could be described as a mixture of
swing, r&b, and jazz meets hip hop and modern day soul
Music career
In 1998, Lina got her first big break as a songwriter by penning a
tune for Tyrese's self-titled debut album. Lina proved herself to
also be a solid songwriter, penning " Ain't Nothing Like a Jones"
for Tyrese.
Lina began her career in 2001 when she signed to Atlantic
Records. After a worldwide tour Altlantic Records released her
first album, “Stranger on Earth”, which was introduced on August
21, 2001. “Stranger on Earth” was critically acclaimed for its blend
of R&B with swing and vocal jazz. The title track was a cover
version of a Dinah Washington track. The album featured the
singles "Playa No Mo", "It's Alright", "I'm Not The Enemy", and
"Don't Say Nothin'". The first single "Playa No Mo" became a
minor hit, reaching #46 in UK, while the album reached #89 on the
Billboard R&B and hip-hop album chart. Stranger on Earth was
placed among the Top 10 R&B Albums of the Year by Billboard
Magazine. It was named the #1 R&B Album of the Year by Tower
Records' "Pulse" magazine, and #1 album by cdnow.com.
In 2003, Lina signed to Hidden Beach Records and launched her
own record label, Moodstar Recordings.[ In 2004, she began
recording her second album. Entitled The Inner Beauty
Movement, it was released in June 2005 on the Hidden Beach
Recordings record label. The lead single Smooth received heavy
airplay nationwide with the endorsement of Stevie Wonder and
radio personality Michael Baisden "Smooth" peaked at #7 on
Billboard Charts and became Lina's biggest record and is now
known as a "Steppers" anthem. The jazz influenced "Leaving
You" from the IBM album received airplay on jazz stations like
"The Wave" and made Billboard jazz charts followed by the
release of the single Come to Mama now popular in the "Hip hop"
community. Four songs from "The Inner Beauty Movement" were
considered for Grammys in 2006 the titles were "Smooth", "Come
To Mama" "Leaving You" and "Hope Wish and Pray". "Smooth"
was nominated for a Soultrain Award that same year.
In 2007, Lina played a jazz singer performing "Santa Baby" in
Sony pictures the movie "This Christmas" Starring Idris Elba and
Chris Brown. Lina also returned to the studio to begin working on
her third album, she recorded a total of 17 tracks for the album.
Lina released her third album, “Morning Star”, through her own
label, Mood Star Recordings.
Morning Star debuted on the market in February 2008. The album
spawn three singles "Feel The Love", "I'll Stick Around", and
"Good Day". “Feel The Love” peaked at #15 on Billboard Charts
and gained recognition as an Indie Label founded by a young
African American female.
Many of Lina's songs are featured in movie scores such as "High
Crimes" with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd, "Guess Who"
starring Ashton Kutcher, Eddie Murphy's "Pluto Nash", John
Travolta's "Lucky Numbers" and more including the Truth Hall film
soundtrack released on November 12, 2009 on Utopia
Recordings. The songs performed by Lina included "Breathe",
"Dough", "Illuminating", and "On My Own". In 2010, she released
her compilation album Vintage, which consisted of unreleased
songs.
In September 2012, she released her fourth studio album The
Love Chronicles of a Lady Songbird. In that same year, song
"Said -N- Done" was featured in “Gun Hill” starring Lorenze Tate
In January 2013 Lina Signed with Monarchy Records a division of
Spectra Records, "The Love Chronicles of a Lady Songbird"
officially released on Monarchy Records.
In October 2014 the Motown inspired Ep the "Love Ride" was
released on Soulside productions. The single "Dip" made UK's
Soul Music Top 50 most played songs for 2014.
In 2019 Lina released the single “Best Friend” from her latest
project “Super Natural Love” TBD. The single “Best Friend”
peaked at #4 on the UK SOUL CHARTS and was #1 on the US
INDIE SOUL CHAR.
In January 2020 Netflix added the romantic comedy “Love
Jacked” starring Keith David and Mike Epps to their roster of great
movies. LINA wrote and performed the music for the film.
With modern technology most artist now days are producer
driven” says LINA. “The result of that is that tracks have become
the selling point versus the Lyrics and vocal performance. It can
be challenging for true or organic artistry so I strive to put the
same passion and intention into all three components to make a
great song.”
In 2022 LINA's music was sought after by Lee Daniel's
Entertainments, Fox Entertsinment; 20th Television's for multiple
song placement in films such as "Our Kind Of People" and "The
Spook Who Sat By The Door"
Lina's music can also be heard in the Hulu original series "Mike"
produced by Anthony Hemingway for 20th Television. Original
release August 25th
Lina continues to give her fans the music and inspiration they love
her for.
Discography Albums
• Stranger on Earth (2001) ( #89 US
• Save Your Soul, Vol. 1 (2005)
• The Inner Beauty Movement (2005)
• Morning Star (2008)
• Vintage (2010)
• The Love Chronicles of a Lady Songbird (2012)
• Love Ride (2015)
• Supernatural Love (TBD)
