She’d later use her preference for soul music as a part of her high school gospel choir. Her dad, Syl, wasn’t inspiring, as his own lackluster success along with his craft led him to believe little of the music business. Along with that, Johnson suffered from vocal nodules and needed to undergo speech therapy. Despite these drawbacks, Johnson’s relationship with both her parents and her music stayed powerful: she given as a vocalist and songwriter on her dad’s 1994 album Back in the Game. After having nodes taken off her vocal cords, she took two years of speech therapy. She’s seven years of vocal training. The exact same year, Johnson started attending Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she worked in ancient and gospel choirs along with jazz ensembles. Initially a psychology major, success in a talent show convinced her that her strength had always experienced music. She changed into a music major and started recording her own tunes. In September 1997, Johnson met an assistant scout for Jive Records in a charity basketball game. That contact permitted her to send in a demo cassette, which had an immediate impact; days after, she got a callback from a Jive executive with the offer to get a deal. “That is a wonder”, Johnson afterwards noted. “Demo cassettes do not get heard like that.” The encounter rekindled her resolution.
Singer, Model, Songwriter, Singer-songwriter, Actor
Education
Thornridge High School in Dolton, Illinois, Drake University in Des Moines
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Kiwane Garris (m. 2007)
Children
Kiwane Garris, Jr., Kingston Garris, I Am Your Woman, Another Relationship, Baby I'm So Confused
Parents
Syl Johnson, Brenda Thompson
Siblings
Chad Ochocinco
Nicknames
Johnson, Syleena, Syleena Thompson
Awards
Chicago Music Award for Best Female Vocalist, Truth Award for Top Single for Hypnotic
Record Labels
Jive Records
Nominations
Best Adult Contemporary New Artist Clip of the Year, Billboard Music Video award for I Am Your Woman in 2001, MTV Video Music: Best Breakthrough Video, Best Female Video, Best New Artist
TV Shows
Iyanla: Fix My Life
Star Sign
Virgo
#
Fact
1
Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 34, a son Kingston Garris on February 6, 2010. Child's father is her 2nd husband, Kiwane Garris.
2
Gave birth to her 1st child at age 30, a son Kiwane L. Garris, Jr. on August 1, 2007. Child's father is her 2nd husband, Kiwane Garris.
$2 Million
