One of the first things you notice about Tarralyn Ramsey upon meeting her is the fact that she is so small. Barely 5’1 Ramsey’s diminutive size belies her strong voice. I mean you wonder…how does that big sounding voice come out of that “little bitty” body. However once you begin to talk to her you quickly realize that there is a bigness inside of her that is tough, powerful and full of strength. Yeah Tarralyn Ramsey is indeed big and a force to be reckon with…from the powerful vocals to the strength of character she is real and true and that makes her bigger than the average gospel singer.
In case you are not aware of Ramsey let me give you a little history course on this wonder. In 2000 Ramsey began a singing career at Verity/Warner where she released her Stellar award-nominated self-titled project. She later won VH1's "Born To Diva” contest and released her much anticipated CD Tarralyn on Tommy Motola’s Casablanca/Universal label in 2004.
During this time fans was left in limbo waiting to hear more about her record but it wasn’t promoted like expected. “Well at the time Mr. Motola also was working the Usher album,” states Ramsey. “So my album was pretty much left on the back burner.” She adds. “I wasn’t mad about it or anything because I learned early that business is business and Usher’s album was more of a priority for the label”
When asked about her Gospel days at Verity, Ramsey states that she received her first contract as a teenager and really didn’t receive the money she should have for her project. “I wasn’t able to sign any contract that was left up to my parents and really there were things that was signed that should not have been signed you know. So what I will say about that is I got tired of having a Stellar nominated album and ain’t seen one check. People read and know your contract…that’s all I got to say about that time period.”
Well now after a much needed break from the business Ramsey is back and set to return to the gospel scene in full force. She will release her new gospel CD Beyond The Darkness on her own label this month. She is in charge of her destiny and states she has learned the business side of things and expects a better outcome this time. “This album is one of my most personal projects. It deals with a lot of the struggles I have been through and how my faith has kept me,” adds Ramsey.
On the single Faultless the pretty soprano voice that often had her compared to Whitney Houston, is up front and on display in all its beauty. Ramsey sings of wanting to be faultless before God with such magnificence that it’s hard to believe that she has not attained the same type of fame that Houston enjoyed back in the day. Maybe this project will finally shine an everlasting light on this wonderful talented lady, Lord knows she truly deserves it.
