Four Tops and Kierra Sheard: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{nofootnotes|date=August 2008}}
| Name = Kierra "KiKi" Sheard
{{Infobox musical artist 2
|Img =
|Name = Four Tops
| Landscape =
|Background = group_or_band
| Background = solo_singer
|Img = FourTops1967.jpg
| Birth_name = Kierra Valencia Sheard
|Img_capt = The Four Tops in concert at New Rochelle (N.Y.) High School circa 1967
|Alias = Four Tops, The Four Aims, The Tops
| Alias = "Kiki" or "Juliet"
| Born = {{Birth date and age|1987|6|20|mf=y}}
|Origin = [[Detroit, Michigan]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| Died =
|Genre = [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]/[[pop music|pop]]/[[Soul music|soul]]
| Origin = Detroit, Michigan
|Years_active = 1954 - present
| Instrument = [[vocals]]
|Label = [[Red Top]]<br>[[Riverside Records|Riverside]]<br>[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]<br>[[Motown Records|Motown]]<br>[[ABC Records|ABC]]<br>[[Casablanca Records|Casablanca]]<br>[[Arista Records|Arista]]
| Genre = [[urban contemporary gospel|Urban gospel]], [[rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[neo soul]]
|Current_members = [[Abdul "Duke" Fakir]]*<br />Roquel Payton<br />[[Theo Peoples]]<br />[[Ronnie McNeir]]
| Occupation = [[singer]], [[songwriter]]
|Past_members = [[Levi Stubbs]]* (retired)<br />[[Renaldo "Obie" Benson]]* (deceased)<br />[[Lawrence Payton]]* (deceased)<br /> *Original Members <br />
| Years_active = 1997-present
| Label = [[EMI Gospel]]
| Associated_acts = [[Karen Clark Sheard]]<br> [[J Moss]]<br> [[The Clark Sisters]]
| URL = [http://www.kierrakikisheard.com/ KierraKiKiSheard.com]
| Current_members =
| Past_members =
| Notable_instruments =
}}
}}
The '''Four Tops''' are an [[United States|American]] vocal [[quartet]], whose repertoire has included [[doo-wop]], [[jazz]], [[soul music]], [[R&B]], [[disco]], [[adult contemporary]], and [[showtunes]]. Founded in [[Detroit, Michigan]] as '''The Four Aims''', lead singer [[Levi Stubbs]] (a cousin of [[Jackie Wilson]] and brother of [[The Falcons]]' Joe Stubbs), and groupmates [[Abdul "Duke" Fakir]], [[Renaldo "Obie" Benson]] and [[Lawrence Payton]] remained together for over four decades, finally forced to endure a lineup change when Payton died in 1997. At that time, [[Theo Peoples]] was added to the lineup; Peoples later replaced Stubbs, who fell ill from a stroke, and [[Ronnie McNeir]] assumed Peoples' spot. In July 2005, Benson died of [[lung cancer]] with Payton's son Roquel replacing him. As of 2006, Fakir, McNeir, Payton and Peoples still perform together as the Four Tops.


'''Kierra "Kiki" Sheard''' (born '''Kierra Valencia Sheard''') is a [[Grammy Award]]-nominated [[United States|American]] [[gospel music|gospel]] recording artist. She is the daughter of gospel singer [[Karen Clark Sheard]] (member of the seminal gospel singing group [[The Clark Sisters]]) and the granddaughter of legendary gospel choral director [[Mattie Moss Clark]].
Among a number of groups who helped define the [[Motown Sound]] of the 1960s, including [[The Miracles]], [[The Marvelettes]], [[Martha and the Vandellas]], [[The Temptations]], and [[The Supremes]], the Four Tops were notable for having Stubbs, a [[baritone]], as their lead singer; most groups of the time were fronted by a [[tenor]]. The group was the main male vocal group for the [[songwriter|songwriting]] and [[record producer|production]] team of [[Holland-Dozier-Holland]], who crafted for the group a stream of hit singles, including two [[Billboard Hot 100]] number-one hits: "[[I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)]]" and "[[Reach Out I'll Be There]]". After Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown in 1967, the Four Tops were assigned to a number of producers, primarily [[Frank Wilson (musician)|Frank Wilson]]. When Motown left Detroit in 1972 to move to [[Los Angeles, California]], the Tops stayed in Detroit and moved over to [[ABC Records]], where they continued to have charting singles into the late-1970s. Since the 1980s, the Four Tops have recorded for, at various times, Motown, [[Casablanca Records]] and [[Arista Records]]. Today, save for ''[[Indestructible]]'' (owned by [[Sony BMG]]), [[Universal Music Group]] controls the rights to their entire post-1963 catalog (through various mergers and acquisitions).


==History==
==Biography==
Born and raised in [[Detroit, Michigan]], Sheard spent her formative years surrounded by the strong influences of her family, their faith, and their music. At age 6, she began singing in the choir at Greater Emmanuel Institutional [[Church of God in Christ]], pastored by her father Superintendent J. Drew Sheard. Even at a young age, Sheard had a preternatural grip on the signature "Clark sound" pioneered by her mother and aunts, executing high and fast [[melisma]]s, riffs, runs, and deep, throaty growls sometimes referred to as "squalls" (the latter is prominently displayed on "Done Did It", a traditional gospel leaning track from her album ''I Owe You'').
===Early years===
All four members of the group began their careers together while they were high school students in [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]]. At the insistence of their friends, Pershing High students [[Levi Stubbs]] and [[Abdul "Duke" Fakir]] performed with [[Renaldo "Obie" Benson]] and [[Lawrence Payton]] from Northern High at a local [[party#Birthday party|birthday party]]. The quartet decided to remain together, and christened themselves ''The Four Aims''. With the help of Payton's [[songwriter]] cousin [[Roquel Billy Davis|Roquel Davis]], The Aims signed to [[Chess Records]] in 1956, changing their name to ''Four Tops'' to avoid confusion with [[The Ames Brothers]].
Over the next seven years, The Tops endured unsuccessful tenures at Chess, [[Red Top]], [[Riverside Records]] and [[Columbia Records]]. Without any hit records to their name, The Tops toured frequently, developing a polished stage presence and an experienced supper club act. In 1963, [[Berry Gordy, Jr.]], who had worked with Roquel Davis as a songwriter in the late-1950s, convinced The Tops to join the roster of his growing [[Motown]] record company.


Sheard made her stage debut at the age of 10 duetting with her mother on the [[Twinkie Clark]]-penned "The Will Of God", the standout closing track from her mother's debut solo album ''Finally Karen'' in [[1997]]. The song won a Stellar Award for Best Children's Performance the following year. In the years following, she honed her skills as a performer accompanying her mother on stage. By [[2003]], [[EMI Gospel]] won a bidding war between several record companies to sign Kierra to her first recording contract.
===Joining Motown===
During their early Motown years, the Four Tops recorded [[jazz]] standards for the company's Workshop label. In addition, they filled in time by singing backup on Motown singles such as [[The Supremes]]' "[[Run, Run, Run]]" and "[[When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes]]".


Her debut album ''I Owe You'' was released [[September 7]], [[2004]]. The 11-track set included production and songwriting from such notable music luminaries as [[Rodney Jerkins]], [[Warryn Campbell]], Erica and Tina Campbell of [[Mary Mary]], [[J Moss]], and [[Tonéx]]. The album also functioned as the production debut for her brother [[J Drew]].
In 1964, Motown's main songwriting/production team of [[Holland-Dozier-Holland]] created a complete instrumental track without any idea of what to do with it. They decided to craft the song as a more mainstream pop song for the Four Tops, and proceeded to create "[[Baby I Need Your Loving]]" from the lyric-less instrumental track. Upon its mid-1964 release, "Baby I Need Your Loving" made it to #11 on the [[United States]] Billboard pop charts. However, the song proved to be much more popular on trend-setting radio stations in key U.S. markets; Baby I Need Your Loving was a strong top 10 hit on both [[WMCA]] in New York, and [[WKNR]] in Detroit, stations that were watched by other radio people all over the country, because these stations broke new artists and songs. After the single's success, The Tops were pulled away from their jazz material and began recording more records in the vein of "Baby I Need Your Loving."


The following year, EMI commissioned a collection of remixes entitled ''Just Until...'' on [[August 2]], [[2005]]. The title of the stopgap release was abbreviated from its working title "Just Until The Next Record".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gospelcity.com/dynamic/news-articles/gospel_news/166|title=Kierra "KiKi" Sheard to be Kellogg’s Gospel Sing Off Spokesperson & Judge|date=[[May 5]], [[2005]]|publisher=GospelCity.com}}</ref> The album had a surprise international hit in The Godson Concept remix of "Let Go". The upbeat gospel single, released only in Japan, raced to the top of mainstream R&B charts and remained there for several weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20060105/5823.htm|title='Kiki' Sheard Tops Japanese Radio, Receives 3 Stellar Nominations|author=Justin Camacho|date=[[January 5]], [[2006]]|publisher=The Christian Times}}</ref>
The first follow-up single, "Without the One You Love (Life's Not Worth While)", missed both the pop and R&B Top 40 charts by only three positions. "Ask the Lonely", released early in 1965, was a Top 30 pop hit and a Top Ten R&B hit, and the from there, the Tops' fortunes began to improve.


Shortly after graduating high school, Sheard readied her second album ''This Is Me''. Repeating the same spectacular feat from her first release, this album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Gospel charts when it was released [[June 27]], [[2006]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gospelcity.com/dynamic/music-articles/new_music/288|publisher=GospelCity.com|date=July 10, 2006|title=Kierra "Kiki" Sheard's ‘This Is Me’ debuts at #1}}</ref> A midtempo fan favorite, the [[Fred Jerkins III]]-produced "Why Me?" was chosen as the lead single for the album. Sheard's shot her first music videos for two subsequent singles from the album, "Yes" and "This Is Me". ''This Is Me'' was nominated for a [[Grammy]] for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel album in December 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/49th_Show/list.aspx|title=49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List|publisher=Grammy.com}}</ref>
[[Image:Fourtops-reachout-album.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The cover to the 1967 LP ''Reach Out''.]]


Kierra is currently a freshman at [[Wayne State University]] in Detroit, Michigan where she is studying [[entertainment law]]. Though originally a [[criminal justice]] major, the decision to switch to entertainment law was definitely influenced by her growing career in the gospel music industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gospelflava.com/articles/kierrasheardinterview2006.html|title=Kierra Kiki Sheard Interview|author=Jones, Steven|publisher=GospelFlava.com}}</ref> Though her touring schedule has been curbed to accommodate her academic goals, Sheard did embark on a Japanese tour with her mother [[Karen Clark-Sheard]] in [[August 2006]].
===Success===
After scoring their first #1 hit, the often-recorded and revived "[[I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)]]", in April 1965, the Four Tops began a long series of successful hit singles. Among the first wave of these hits were the Top 10 "[[It's the Same Old Song]]", "Something About You", "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)", and "Loving You is Sweeter Than Ever". Four Tops records often represented the epitome of the Motown Sound: simple distinctive melodies and rhymes, call-and-response lyrics, and the musical contributions of [[The Funk Brothers]]. Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote most of Levi Stubbs' vocals in a tenor range, near the top of his range, in order to get a sense of strained urgency in his [[Gospel music|gospel]] [[preacher]]-inspired leads. In addition, H-D-H used additional background vocals from female background vocalists [[The Andantes]] on many of these songs, to add a high end to the low-voiced harmony of The Tops, with "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" being one of the few exceptions.


In addition to performing at the [[2007 Stellar Awards]], ("[[This Is Me (album)|Why Me?]]"), Sheard appeared on [[BET]]'s Celebration of Gospel standing in for [[Faith Evans]] (because she was pregnant) in "Endow Me" (as popularized by Sheard's aunts) along with [[Coko]], [[Lil' Mo]], and [[Fantasia]]. Sheard also sang with her mother for A Tribute to [[Aretha Franklin]].
August 1966 brought the release of the Four Tops' biggest hit, and one of the most popular Motown songs ever: "[[Reach Out I'll Be There]]", which hit #1 on the U.S. pop charts and soon became The Tops' signature song. It was almost immediately followed by the similar sounding "[[Standing in the Shadows of Love]]"; its depictions of heartbreak reflected the polar opposite of the optimism expressed in "Reach Out". It was another Top 10 hit for the Tops.


After much speculation, Sheard confirmed on her [[MySpace]] blog that she is in the studio recording a third album but did not state the release date. Recording in the studio began on [[July 11]], [[2007]].
The Top 10 U.S. hit "[[Bernadette (song)|Bernadette]]" centred around a man's complete obsession with his lover, continued the Four Tops' successful run in February 1967, followed by the Top 20 hits "[[7-Rooms of Gloom]]", and "You Keep Running Away". By now, The Tops were the most successful male Motown act in the [[United Kingdom]] (in the United States, they were second to [[The Temptations]]), and began experimenting with more mainstream pop hits. They scored hits with their versions of [[Tim Hardin]]'s "If I Were A Carpenter" in late 1967 and the [[Left Banke]]'s "Walk Away Renée" in early 1968. These singles and the original "I'm In a Different World" were their last hits produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland, who left Motown in 1967 after disputes with Berry Gordy over royalties and ownership of company shares.

[[Image:Four-tops-still-waters-run-deep.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The cover of the 1970 LP ''Still Waters Run Deep''.]]

===Late Motown period===
Without H-D-H, the quality of the Four Tops' output, like that of most of Motown, began to decline, and hits became less frequent. The group worked with a wide array of Motown producers during the late-1960s, including Ivy Hunter, [[Ashford & Simpson|Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson]], [[Norman Whitfield]], and Johnny Bristol, without significant chart success.

Their first major hit in a long time came in the form of 1970's "[[It's All in the Game]]", a pop Top 30/R&B Top Ten hit produced by [[Frank Wilson (musician)|Frank Wilson]]. Wilson and The Tops began working on a number of innovative tracks and albums together, echoing Whitfield's [[psychedelic soul]] work with The Temptations. Their 1970 album ''Still Waters Run Deep'' was an early ancestor to the [[concept album]]. It also served as an inspiration for [[Marvin Gaye]]'s 1971 classic album ''[[What's Going On]]'', the [[What's Going On (song)|title track of which]] was co-written by The Tops' Obie Benson.

In addition to their own albums, The Tops were paired with The Supremes, who had just replaced lead singer [[Diana Ross]] with [[Jean Terrell]], for a series of albums billed under the joint title "The Magnificent Seven": ''The Magnificent Seven'' in 1970, and ''The Return of the Magnificent Seven'' and ''Dynamite!'' in 1971. While the albums themselves did not do well on their charts, ''The Magnificent Seven'' featured a Top 20 version of [[Ike Turner|Ike]] & [[Tina Turner]]'s "[[River Deep - Mountain High]]", produced by [[Ashford & Simpson]].

The 1971 single "A Simple Game" featured backing vocals from members of [[The Moody Blues]]. The song did not fare well on the U.S. charts, but reached #3 on the UK charts.

[[Image:Four-tops-keeper-castle-lp.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The cover of the 1972 LP ''Keeper of the Castle''.]]

===ABC Records and Casablanca Records===
The Motown company began to change in a number of ways during the early 1970s. Older acts such as [[Martha Reeves & the Vandellas]] and [[The Marvelettes]] were being slowly placed aside to focus on newer acts such as [[Michael Jackson]] and [[The Jackson 5]], [[Rare Earth (band)|Rare Earth]], and the now-solo [[Diana Ross]]. In addition, the company was slowly moving many of its operations from Detroit to [[Los Angeles, California]], where Berry Gordy planned to break into the [[motion picture]] and [[television]] industries. In 1972, it was announced that the entire company would move to Los Angeles, and that all its artists had to move as well. Many of the older Motown acts, already neglected by the label, opted to stay in Detroit, including [[The Funk Brothers]] backing band, [[Martha Reeves]], and the Four Tops.

The Tops departed Motown for [[ABC-Dunhill]], where they were assigned to songwriter-producers Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, with The Tops' own Lawrence Payton also serving as a producer and arranger. "Keeper of the Castle" was their first pop Top 10 hit since "Bernadette" in 1967; follow-ups such as "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)",(another top 10 pop hit), the Top 20 "Are You Man Enough" (from the movie "Shaft In Africa"), "Sweet Understanding Love", "Midnight Flower", and "One Chain Don't Make No Prison" all hit the R&B Top Ten between 1972 and 1974. By the release of "Catfish" in 1976, the hits had dried up again, and the group disappeared into obscurity in the late-1970s. Scoring a deal with [[Casablanca Records]] in 1980, the Four Tops made a comeback in 1981 with the #1 R&B hit "[[When She Was My Girl]]", which just missed the Billboard Pop Top 10, peaking at # 11.

===Return to Motown===
By 1983, The Tops had rejoined Motown, and were featured on the company's [[television special]] ''[[Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever]]''. One of the highlights of the show was a battle-of-the-bands between The Tops and The Temptations, patterned after similar competitions Berry Gordy had staged during the 1960s. Levi Stubbs and Temptation [[Otis Williams]] decided the Temptations/Tops battle would be a good one to take on the road, and both groups began a semi-regular joint tour; as of 2007, the two groups continue to play dates together.

The first of The Tops' albums under their new Motown contract was ''Back Where I Belong''. A whole side of the album was produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland, including the R&B Top 40 single "I Just Can't Walk Away". Only two more Tops albums would be released by Motown, 1985's ''Magic'' and 1986's ''Hot Nights'', as the group and the label began to quarrel on matters of marketing and musical direction. In 1987, the Four Tops decided to leave Motown again, this time for [[Arista Records]], buying back the masters they had recorded for an in-progress album and bringing them with them. The result was 1988's ''Indestructible'', the title track of which was the group's final Top 40 hit. It was also featured in the 1988 Sci-Fi cop film, ''[[Alien Nation (film)|Alien Nation.]]''

In addition to their own recordings, the Four Tops also worked in the fields of [[television]] and [[motion pictures]]. The group as a whole performed a song for the 1982 film ''[[Grease 2]]'', and Levi Stubbs performed the [[voice actor|vocals]] for the man-eating plant [[Audrey II]] in the 1986 [[musical film]] ''[[Little Shop of Horrors (1986 film)|Little Shop of Horrors]]''; and the voice of the evil [[Metroid (series)|Mother Brain]] on the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Nintendo]]-based [[National Broadcasting Company|NBC]] [[Saturday morning cartoon]] ''[[Captain N: The Game Master]]'' from 1989 to 1991.

===Later years===
Since the late-1980s, the Four Tops have focused on touring and live performances, only recording one album, 1995's ''Christmas Here With You'', released on Motown. On [[June 20]], [[1997]], 59-year-old Lawrence Payton died as a result of liver cancer, after singing for forty-four years with the Four Tops, who, unlike many Motown groups, never had a single lineup change until then. At first, Levi Stubbs, Obie Benson, and Duke Fakir toured as a [[trio (music)|trio]] called ''The Tops''. In 1998 they recruited former Temptation [[Theo Peoples]] to join the act to restore the group to a quartet. By the turn of the century, Stubbs had become ill from [[cancer]]; Ronnie McNair was recruited to fill in the Lawrence Payton position, and Peoples stepped into Stubbs' shoes as lead singer.

The group was featured in several television specials during this time, including [[Motown 45]], and several by [[PBS]], including a 50th anniversary concert dedicated to the group. The concert turned out to be bittersweet; it featured a brief appearance of the wheelchair-bound Levi Stubbs, and a memorial to Lawrence Payton, announced by Obie Benson. Benson appeared on one more PBS special, and died on July 1, 2005, from [[lung cancer]]. The final PBS special, titled ''Motown: The Early Years'', featured a message of Benson's passing following the credits. Lawrence Payton's son Roquel (real name Lawrence Payton, Jr.) replaced Benson as new bass (Roquel could be seen in the pledge break interviews of ''Motown: The Early Years''). The group performed as part of the ''Eat to the Beat'' concert series at [[Epcot]] in [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida]] in October of 2006. At Epcot, The Four Tops set list featured "Baby I Need Your Loving," "When She Was My Girl," "Ask the Lonely," "Walk Away Renee," "Reach Out I'll Be There," "Bernadette," "Standing in the Shadows of Love," and "(Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) I Can't Help Myself."

The group was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1990, and into the [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]] in 1999. In 2004, [[Rolling Stone Magazine]] ranked them #79 on their list of the [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty/ 100 Greatest Artists of All Time].<ref>{{cite web| title = The Immortals: The First Fifty| work = Rolling Stone Issue 946| publisher = Rolling Stone| url =http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
===Albums===
''For a detailed listing of albums and singles, see [[Four Tops discography]]''.
''See also [[:Category:Kierra "Kiki" Sheard albums]]''
===Top Thirty US and UK singles===
The following singles reached the top thirty of the singles charts.


*''[[I Owe You (album)|I Owe You]]'' <small>(EMI Gospel, 2004)</small>
{| class="wikitable"
*''[[Just Until (album)|Just Until]]'' <small>(EMI Gospel, 2005)</small>
|- bgcolor=#FFFFFF#
*''[[This Is Me (album)|This Is Me]]'' '''<small>(EMI Gospel, 2006)</small>
!'''Year''' || '''Song title''' || '''US Top ''' || '''US RnB''' || '''US AC''' || '''UK Top'''
* ''Bold Right Life'' <small>(EMI Gospel, 2008)</small> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018Q7K26/|title=Kierra Sheard: Bold Right Life|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-10-10}}</ref>
|-
| [[1964 in music|1964]]:
|"[[Baby I Need Your Loving]]"
|align="center"|11
|align="center"|11
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1965 in music|1965]]:
|"[[Ask the Lonely]]"
|align="center"|24
|align="center"|9
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1965 in music|1965]]:
|"[[I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)]]"
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|10
|-
| [[1965 in music|1965]]:
|"[[It's the Same Old Song]]"
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|34
|-
| [[1965 in music|1965]]:
|"Something About You"
|align="center"|19
|align="center"|9
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1966 in music|1966]]:
|"[[Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)]]"
|align="center"|18
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1966 in music|1966]]:
|"[[Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever]]"
|align="center"|45
|align="center"|12
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|21
|-
| [[1966 in music|1966]]:
|"[[Reach Out I'll Be There]]"
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|1
|-
| [[1966 in music|1966]]:
|"[[Standing in the Shadows of Love]]"
|align="center"|6
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|6
|-
| [[1967 in music|1967]]:
|"[[Bernadette (song)|Bernadette]]"
|align="center"|4
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|8
|-
| [[1967 in music|1967]]:
|"7-Rooms of Gloom"
|align="center"|14
|align="center"|10
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|12
|-
| [[1967 in music|1967]]:
|"You Keep Running Away"
|align="center"|19
|align="center"|7
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|26
|-
| [[1967 in music|1967]]:
|"[[If I Were a Carpenter (song)|If I Were a Carpenter]]"
|align="center"|20
|align="center"|17
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|7
|-
| [[1968 in music|1968]]:
|"[[Walk Away Renée]]"
|align="center"|14
|align="center"|15
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|3
|-
| [[1968 in music|1968]]:
|"[[Yesterday's Dreams]]"
|align="center"|49
|align="center"|31
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|23
|-
| [[1968 in music|1968]]:
|"[[I'm In a Different World]]"
|align="center"|51
|align="center"|23
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|27
|-
| [[1969 in music|1969]]:
|"What is a Man"
|align="center"|53
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|16
|-
| [[1969 in music|1969]]:
|"Do What You Gotta Do"
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|11
|-
| [[1969 in music|1969]]:
|"[[Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me]]"
|align="center"|45
|align="center"|25
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1970 in music|1970]]:
|"Still Water (Love)"
|align="center"|11
|align="center"|4
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|10
|-
| [[1970 in music|1970]]:
|"[[It's All In The Game]]"
|align="center"|24
|align="center"|6
|align="center"|39
|align="center"|5
|-
| [[1971 in music|1971]]:
|"[[River Deep - Mountain High]]" <br><small>([[The Supremes]] & the Four Tops)</small>
|align="center"|14
|align="center"|7
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|6
|-
| [[1971 in music|1971]]:
|"[[Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life)]]"
|align="center"|40
|align="center"|9
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|36
|-
| [[1971 in music|1971]]:
|"[[You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart]]" <br><small>([[The Supremes]] & the Four Tops)</small>
|align="center"|55
|align="center"|41
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|25
|-
| [[1971 in music|1971]]:
|"In These Changing Times"
|align="center"|70
|align="center"|28
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1971 in music|1971]]:
|"MacArthur Park (part 2)"
|align="center"|38
|align="center"|27
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1972 in music|1972]]:
|"A Simple Game"
|align="center"|90
|align="center"|34
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|3
|-
| [[1972 in music|1972]]:
|"It's the Way Nature Planned It"
|align="center"|53
|align="center"|8
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1972 in music|1972]]:
|"Keeper of the Castle"
|align="center"|10
|align="center"|7
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|18
|-
| [[1973 in music|1973]]:
|"[[Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)]]"
|align="center"|4
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|14
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1973 in music|1973]]:
|"Are You Man Enough"
|align="center"|15
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1973 in music|1973]]:
|"Sweet Understanding Love"
|align="center"|33
|align="center"|10
|align="center"|41
|align="center"|29
|-
| [[1974 in music|1974]]:
|"I Just Can't Get You Out of My Mind"
|align="center"|62
|align="center"|18
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1974 in music|1974]]:
|"One Chain Don't Make No Prison"
|align="center"|41
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1974 in music|1974]]:
|"Midnight Flower"
|align="center"|55
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1975 in music|1975]]:
|"Seven Lonely Nights"
|align="center"|71
|align="center"|13
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1975 in music|1975]]:
|"We Gotta All Stick Together"
|align="center"|97
|align="center"|17
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1976 in music|1976]]:
|"Catfish"
|align="center"|71
|align="center"|7
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1977 in music|1977]]:
|"Feel Free"
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|29
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1981 in music|1981]]:
|"[[When She Was My Girl]]"
|align="center"|11
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|9
|align="center"|3
|-
| [[1981 in music|1981]]:
|"Don't Walk Away"
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|16
|-
| [[1983 in music|1983]]:
|"I Just Can't Walk Away"
|align="center"|71
|align="center"|36
|align="center"|18
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1985 in music|1985]]:
|"Sexy Ways"
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|21
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| [[1988 in music|1988]]:
|"[[Loco In Acapulco]]"
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|7
|-
| [[1988 in music|1988]]:
|"[[Indestructable]]"
|align="center"|35
|align="center"|57
|align="center"|20
|align="center"|30
|-
| [[1988 in music|1988]]:
|"[[If Ever a Love There Was]]" <br><small>([[Aretha Franklin]] & the Four Tops)</small>
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|31
|align="center"|26
|align="center"|-
|}


===Albums===
===Singles===
* "[[You Don't Know (Kierra Sheard song)|You Don't Know]]"
;[[Motown]] releases:
* "Let Go"
* 1964: ''The Four Tops'' (UK #2)
* "Why Me"
* 1965: ''The Four Tops' Second Album'' (US #20)
* "Yes"
* 1966: ''Four Tops Live!'' (US #17; UK #4)
* "This Is Me — The Live Session"
* 1966: ''Four Tops On Top'' (UK #9)
* "Won't Hold Back" <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D6NHG4/|title=Kierra Sheard: Won't Hold Back|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-10-10}}</ref>
* 1967: ''Four Tops' Hits'' (UK #1)
* "Praise Him Now" <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CKT1ES/|title=Kierra Sheard: Praise Him Now|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-10-10}}</ref>
* 1967: ''[[Reach Out (album)|Reach Out]]'' (US #14; UK #6)
* 1968: ''Yesterday's Dreams''
* 1968: ''Four Tops' Greatest Hits'' (UK #1)
* 1969: ''The Four Tops Now''
* 1969: ''Soul Spin''
* 1970: ''[[Still Waters Run Deep (Four Tops album)|Still Waters Run Deep]]'' (US #21)
* 1970: ''Changing Times''
* 1970: ''[[The Magnificent 7]]'' (with [[The Supremes]])
* 1971: ''[[The Return of the Magnificent 7]]'' (with The Supremes)
* 1971: ''[[Dynamite (Supremes and Four Tops album)|Dynamite!]]'' (with the Supremes)
* 1971: ''Mac Arthur Park''
* 1972: ''Nature Planned It''


===Other===
;[[ABC Records|ABC]] releases:
* J. Moss feat. Kierra "Kiki" Sheard & 21:03: "Jump, Jump" ''V2'' ([[GospoCentric]])
* 1972: ''[[Keeper of the Castle]]'' (US #33)
* Kierra "KiKi" Sheard & Marcus Cole: "This Christmas" ''Christmas To Remember'' (EMI Gospel)
* 1973: ''Main Street People''
* Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "The Will Of God" ''[[Finally Karen]]'' (Island)
* 1974: ''Meeting the Minds''
* Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "Sacrifice" ''[[2nd Chance]]'' (Elektra)
* 1974: ''Live & in Concert''
* Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "You Loved Me" ''[[The Heavens Are Telling]]'' (Elektra)
* 1975: ''Night Lights Harmony''
* Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "Don't Change" ''[[The Heavens Are Telling]]'' (Elektra)
* 1976: ''Catfish''
* Ramiyah f/ Kierra Sheard, Dorinda Clark Cole, Karen Clark Sheard: "Don't Nobody Know" ''Ramiyah'' (Columbia)
* 1977: ''The Show Must Go On''
* 21:03 f/ Kierra "KiKi" Sheard, PDA & J Moss: "One Love" ''Twenty One O Three'' (Verity)
* 1978: ''At The Top''
* Kierra "Kiki" Sheard: "Nearer My God To Thee" ''[[Music Inspired By the Motion Picture Amazing Grace]]'' (Sparrow)
* Tye Tribbett feat. Kierra Sheard: "Look Up" ''Stand Out'' (Columbia)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gospelflava.com/articles/tyetribbettliverecording2007.html |title=RECAP: Live Recording Tye Tribbett & Greater Anointing, Virginia Beach (2007) |last=Bonner |first=Gerard |publisher=GospelFlava.com |accessdate=2008-10-10}}</ref>


==Videography==
;[[Casablanca Records|Casablanca]] releases:
Kierra filmed her first two videos for "This Is Me" and "Yes" simultaneously. Both songs are culled from her [[2006]] second studio release ''This Is Me''.
* 1981: ''Tonight!'' (US #37)
*'''"This Is Me"''' premiered on [[September 16]], [[2006]]. The video is for the Antonio Neal-produced "live session" version of the song, not to be confused with the Darkchild-produced studio version. The scenes alternate from Kiki driving a [[Ford Fusion]], Kiki singing in a small gig, and Kiki singing in a curtained room.
* 1982: ''One More Mountain''
*'''"Yes"''' consists of alternating scenes of Kiki Sheard in an old-fashioned General Motors vehicle and a party scene on top of a roof. The video premiered on [[The Gospel Music Channel]] and [[BET]].
For further reference, Kierra Sheard has made video appearances on the DVD release ''Dorinda Clark Cole LIVE'', singing background for Clark Cole throughout the set and being featured in a standout solo on "You Can't Hurry God". Also available is [[Karen Clark Sheard]]'s ''Finally Karen Live'' (VHS only). This video features the now-classic 1997 Karen & Kierra duet performance that earned both artists Stellar awards in their respective fields.


More recently, Sheard made a cameo appearance in [[J Moss]]' music video ''Operator''.
;[[Motown]] releases:
* 1983: ''Back where I belong''
* 1985: ''Magic''
* 1986: ''Hot nights''
* 1999: ''Lost & Found: Breaking Through''


==Controversy==
;[[Arista Records|Arista]] releases:
There was a rumor going around that prior to signing with [[EMI Gospel]], Sheard considered singing with a well known mainstream [[R&B]] label. While this was seemingly minor, it stirred up Sheard's conservative fan base. In an interview, Sheard claimed that she had not ever considered signing with a secular label.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackgospel.com/interviews/kierrakikisheard.htm|title=BlackGospel.com Interview With Kierra Kiki Sheard|author=Heron, Christopher|publisher=BlackGospel.com}}</ref>
* 1988: ''Indestructible''


==See also==
==Trivia==
{{Trivia|date=October 2007}} <!--You may consider creating a section under "Musical Career" called "Collaborations" and a second section called "Musical influences" for this information. -->
*[[List of best-selling music artists]]
*Kierra's song "Have What You Want" plays in gospel duo [[Mary Mary]]'s recent music video "Yesterday". The vamp is heard as the two exit their vehicle, presumably from their car.
*Sheard's favorite musical artist is [[Mary J. Blige]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gospelflava.com/articles/insider-kierrasheard2006.html|title=Kierra Kiki Sheard Insider Interview|author=Jones, Steven|publisher=GospelFlava.com}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>
{{Refimprove|date=February 2008}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.kierrakikisheard.com Official website]
* [http://www.vocalgroup.org/inductees/the_four_tops.html Vocal Group Hall of Fame page on the Four Tops]
* [http://www.history-of-rock.com/four_tops.htm History of Rock article]
*[http://www.myspace.com/kierrakikisheard Kierra "Kiki" Sheard's [[MySpace]] page]

* {{MySpace|hitsentfourtops|The Four Tops}}
{{Kiki Sheard}}
* {{MusicBrainz artist|id=0d21b01f-21f2-419b-8d98-4158ba0c0aa4|name=The Four Tops}}
{{Moss-Clark-Sheard}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Four Tops, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheard, Kierra "Kiki"}}
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1954]]
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:Michigan musical groups]]
[[Category:American child singers]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues musical groups]]
[[Category:American gospel singers]]
[[Category:Soul musical groups]]
[[Category:Gospel artists from Detroit]]
[[Category:Motown Records artists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Doo-wop groups]]
[[Category:1950s music groups]]
[[Category:1960s music groups]]
[[Category:1970s music groups]]
[[Category:1980s music groups]]
[[Category:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees‎]]


[[ja:キエラ・キキ・シェアード]]
[[de:Four Tops]]
[[fr:The Four Tops]]
[[he:ארבע הפסגות]]
[[nl:The Four Tops]]
[[ja:フォー・トップス]]
[[pl:The Four Tops]]
[[pt:The Four Tops]]
[[ru:The Four Tops]]
[[sv:The Four Tops]]

Revision as of 19:00, 10 October 2008

Kierra Sheard

Kierra "Kiki" Sheard (born Kierra Valencia Sheard) is a Grammy Award-nominated American gospel recording artist. She is the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard (member of the seminal gospel singing group The Clark Sisters) and the granddaughter of legendary gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark.

Biography

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Sheard spent her formative years surrounded by the strong influences of her family, their faith, and their music. At age 6, she began singing in the choir at Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ, pastored by her father Superintendent J. Drew Sheard. Even at a young age, Sheard had a preternatural grip on the signature "Clark sound" pioneered by her mother and aunts, executing high and fast melismas, riffs, runs, and deep, throaty growls sometimes referred to as "squalls" (the latter is prominently displayed on "Done Did It", a traditional gospel leaning track from her album I Owe You).

Sheard made her stage debut at the age of 10 duetting with her mother on the Twinkie Clark-penned "The Will Of God", the standout closing track from her mother's debut solo album Finally Karen in 1997. The song won a Stellar Award for Best Children's Performance the following year. In the years following, she honed her skills as a performer accompanying her mother on stage. By 2003, EMI Gospel won a bidding war between several record companies to sign Kierra to her first recording contract.

Her debut album I Owe You was released September 7, 2004. The 11-track set included production and songwriting from such notable music luminaries as Rodney Jerkins, Warryn Campbell, Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary, J Moss, and Tonéx. The album also functioned as the production debut for her brother J Drew.

The following year, EMI commissioned a collection of remixes entitled Just Until... on August 2, 2005. The title of the stopgap release was abbreviated from its working title "Just Until The Next Record".[1] The album had a surprise international hit in The Godson Concept remix of "Let Go". The upbeat gospel single, released only in Japan, raced to the top of mainstream R&B charts and remained there for several weeks.[2]

Shortly after graduating high school, Sheard readied her second album This Is Me. Repeating the same spectacular feat from her first release, this album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Gospel charts when it was released June 27, 2006.[3] A midtempo fan favorite, the Fred Jerkins III-produced "Why Me?" was chosen as the lead single for the album. Sheard's shot her first music videos for two subsequent singles from the album, "Yes" and "This Is Me". This Is Me was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel album in December 2006.[4]

Kierra is currently a freshman at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan where she is studying entertainment law. Though originally a criminal justice major, the decision to switch to entertainment law was definitely influenced by her growing career in the gospel music industry.[5] Though her touring schedule has been curbed to accommodate her academic goals, Sheard did embark on a Japanese tour with her mother Karen Clark-Sheard in August 2006.

In addition to performing at the 2007 Stellar Awards, ("Why Me?"), Sheard appeared on BET's Celebration of Gospel standing in for Faith Evans (because she was pregnant) in "Endow Me" (as popularized by Sheard's aunts) along with Coko, Lil' Mo, and Fantasia. Sheard also sang with her mother for A Tribute to Aretha Franklin.

After much speculation, Sheard confirmed on her MySpace blog that she is in the studio recording a third album but did not state the release date. Recording in the studio began on July 11, 2007.

Discography

Albums

See also Category:Kierra "Kiki" Sheard albums

Singles

  • "You Don't Know"
  • "Let Go"
  • "Why Me"
  • "Yes"
  • "This Is Me — The Live Session"
  • "Won't Hold Back" [7]
  • "Praise Him Now" [8]

Other

  • J. Moss feat. Kierra "Kiki" Sheard & 21:03: "Jump, Jump" V2 (GospoCentric)
  • Kierra "KiKi" Sheard & Marcus Cole: "This Christmas" Christmas To Remember (EMI Gospel)
  • Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "The Will Of God" Finally Karen (Island)
  • Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "Sacrifice" 2nd Chance (Elektra)
  • Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "You Loved Me" The Heavens Are Telling (Elektra)
  • Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "Don't Change" The Heavens Are Telling (Elektra)
  • Ramiyah f/ Kierra Sheard, Dorinda Clark Cole, Karen Clark Sheard: "Don't Nobody Know" Ramiyah (Columbia)
  • 21:03 f/ Kierra "KiKi" Sheard, PDA & J Moss: "One Love" Twenty One O Three (Verity)
  • Kierra "Kiki" Sheard: "Nearer My God To Thee" Music Inspired By the Motion Picture Amazing Grace (Sparrow)
  • Tye Tribbett feat. Kierra Sheard: "Look Up" Stand Out (Columbia)[9]

Videography

Kierra filmed her first two videos for "This Is Me" and "Yes" simultaneously. Both songs are culled from her 2006 second studio release This Is Me.

  • "This Is Me" premiered on September 16, 2006. The video is for the Antonio Neal-produced "live session" version of the song, not to be confused with the Darkchild-produced studio version. The scenes alternate from Kiki driving a Ford Fusion, Kiki singing in a small gig, and Kiki singing in a curtained room.
  • "Yes" consists of alternating scenes of Kiki Sheard in an old-fashioned General Motors vehicle and a party scene on top of a roof. The video premiered on The Gospel Music Channel and BET.

For further reference, Kierra Sheard has made video appearances on the DVD release Dorinda Clark Cole LIVE, singing background for Clark Cole throughout the set and being featured in a standout solo on "You Can't Hurry God". Also available is Karen Clark Sheard's Finally Karen Live (VHS only). This video features the now-classic 1997 Karen & Kierra duet performance that earned both artists Stellar awards in their respective fields.

More recently, Sheard made a cameo appearance in J Moss' music video Operator.

Controversy

There was a rumor going around that prior to signing with EMI Gospel, Sheard considered singing with a well known mainstream R&B label. While this was seemingly minor, it stirred up Sheard's conservative fan base. In an interview, Sheard claimed that she had not ever considered signing with a secular label.[10]

Trivia

  • Kierra's song "Have What You Want" plays in gospel duo Mary Mary's recent music video "Yesterday". The vamp is heard as the two exit their vehicle, presumably from their car.
  • Sheard's favorite musical artist is Mary J. Blige [11]

References

  1. ^ "Kierra "KiKi" Sheard to be Kellogg's Gospel Sing Off Spokesperson & Judge". GospelCity.com. May 5, 2005. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Justin Camacho (January 5, 2006). "'Kiki' Sheard Tops Japanese Radio, Receives 3 Stellar Nominations". The Christian Times. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Kierra "Kiki" Sheard's 'This Is Me' debuts at #1". GospelCity.com. July 10, 2006.
  4. ^ "49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List". Grammy.com.
  5. ^ Jones, Steven. "Kierra Kiki Sheard Interview". GospelFlava.com.
  6. ^ "Kierra Sheard: Bold Right Life". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  7. ^ "Kierra Sheard: Won't Hold Back". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  8. ^ "Kierra Sheard: Praise Him Now". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  9. ^ Bonner, Gerard. "RECAP: Live Recording Tye Tribbett & Greater Anointing, Virginia Beach (2007)". GospelFlava.com. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  10. ^ Heron, Christopher. "BlackGospel.com Interview With Kierra Kiki Sheard". BlackGospel.com.
  11. ^ Jones, Steven. "Kierra Kiki Sheard Insider Interview". GospelFlava.com.

External links

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