GSICR with Miss Vanessa Bell Armstrong

MEET VANESSA BELL ARMSTRONG

Vanessa Bell was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 2, 1953. She was raised in the Church of God in Christ, a denomination that had nurtured other gospel greats such as BeBe and CeCe Winans, Andre Crouch, Edwin, Walter and Tramaine Hawkins, and others. In 1957, when she was four years old, Vanessa began traveling with her mother singing in various churches in the Detroit area. It was clear even at that young age that she had both remarkable stage presence & the vocal control of someone considerably older.  In 1966, when she was thirteen years old, Vanessa was discovered by Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. She began traveling with Clark, singing in her various choirs & sharing the stage with such gospel titans as Rev. James Cleveland, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, the Clark Sisters, and the Winans. Other early influences include Marion Williams, Mahalia Jackson, Inez Andrews, and Aretha Franklin. Armstrong's first recording experience was an appearance on Donald O'Connor's 1981 release, Bring Back Birdie. Her own recording career began in 1984 when, at the age of 31, she signed with the Onyx label and released Peace Be Still. In 1987 Armstrong's career took off . Lets welcome Vanessa Bella Armstrong to GSICR!