Kelly Price

Few female R&B singers of the new millennium can go toe to toe with Kelly Price, the powerhouse soulful diva who cut her chops singing background vocals for Mariah Carey (dating back to 1992), Trey Lorenz, and the Notorious B.I.G. before unleashing her solo debut, Soul Of A Woman, in 1998.

Price made a major impact in 1998 with her release “Friend Of Mine.” The emotional conversational R&B pick, known for its compelling vocal boxing match between Ronald “Mr. Biggs” Isley and R. Kelly, cemented the album’s platinum certification. It also secured her collaborations on subsequent albums from R. Kelly, Whitney Houston, and the soundtrack for Elton John’s Broadway play Aida.

For Price’s sophomore album, 2000’s Mirror Mirror, Price remade popular ’80s R&B ballad “As We Lay,” originally performed by one of her influences Shirley Murdock. And the album vacillated between pop leaning songs and her traditional soul tracks.

In 2001, Price showcased her vocal dexterity on her holiday album, One Family: A Christmas Album. On the record that included contributions from her family, Price tackled gospel (“In Love At Christmas” with Mary Mary), classical (“Ave Maria”), and even country (“Mary’s Song” with Wynonna Judd).

The following year marked her tenth wedding anniversary. So while Price was scheduled to release her fourth album, Priceless, that year, the record was placed on hold until 2003, while Price and her husband renewed their vows and had the wedding ceremony they never had.

Like One Family, Priceless displayed Price’s versatility. While she was primarily know as a balladeer, the album includes a number of upbeat, dance tracks, something Price said is reminiscent of her days singing background on rap songs such as the late Notorious B.I.G.’s “Mo Money, Mo Problems” in 1997.