“Absegami Graduate Barbara Sheree Took a Chance on Success The soul performer made the tough decision to pass up financial safety to pursue her dream. Absegami High School graduate Barbara Sheree had a choice. She could take the “safe path,” meaning she would graduate from Temple University with a degree in International Business and Marketing, virtually guaranteeing a steady and lucrative income for the duration of her life. Or she could throw caution to the wind and pursue the career she always wanted, singing and performing for the world, gambling on the unlikely chance that she would be one of the few to succeed at what she loves to do. To do so would mean Sheree would not only leave the business world in an unfulfilled future, but her first true long-term job would also be a thing of the past. Sheree chose to fulfill the dream most people only dream of, that of becoming a soul singer. “I used to sing in high school,” Sheree, 33, said. “I was in Absegami choirs and church choirs. I had no drive to sing (professionally) because I didn’t think I could.” However, while enrolling at Temple was supposed to further Sheree’s education in the business world, the act of moving to Philadelphia led her in another direction. “I would go to open mic nights and see artists like Jill Scott and Floetry, and during my sophomore year, I decided it was my time to make music,” Sheree said. “I began working on my first project.” Sheree has since produced three full albums, and is working on a fourth, and has performed all across America, as well as Morocco and Paris. She has a monthly event in Delaware, and will be performing at the Hard Rock Café on July 31. She also hopes to get to Spain by the end of the summer. “I’ve had my financial struggles, but the payoff has been worth it,” Sheree said. “I’ve had my ups and downs, but I’m doing something I love to do.” Sheree said that even when she wanted to go into the professional world, she couldn’t escape her calling. When she was thinking of starting her own law firm, the first thing she did was create a jingle for it. “I’ve always had the desire, but I was very discouraged,” Sheree said. “There were no girls that looked like me. There were no women of a certain size or look, and it was very discouraging. I didn’t believe in myself. “Those stereotypes were lifted for me when I began to see women of a full-sized figure, like Jill Scott and Marsha (Ambrosius) of Floetry. For them, it was all about the music and it clicked in me that there was a space for me in the industry.” She even received words of encouragement from Ambrosius, Patti LaBelle and Deanna Williams. “The best inspiration is by example,” Sheree said. “I saw Jill Scott be successful and that inspired me, even though I never spoke to her.” And although discouragement was everywhere for Sheree, none of it ever came from her family. Sheree was a straight A student before she reached high school, but while at Absegami, she admits her attention was “pulled into other areas.” “My family pulled me back on track,” Sheree said. “I had my academic troubles at the time, but my mother is very strict. If you have all your homework done, even if everything is right, if it’s not done neatly, she’ll make you do the whole thing all over again. She’s very strict, and I hope to pass that on to my children because it made me who I am today.” She added that her mother is also “the sweetest person on the planet,” wants to come out to every one of Sheree’s events. Her sister and her grandmother are also extremely supportive, and her father passed on to her the natural talent she needed to succeed. “My father is also a performer,” Sheree said. “I’ve always heard similarities between me and my father. He did soul and moved on to gospel, and I still do mainly soul, but our performances are very similar. “(My family’s) belief and support will never die. A lot of people in my situation would have people telling you you’re crazy, and not support you.” This is not the case for Sheree, who still needed to find that confidence within herself. Sheree did find that confidence, and was able to perform despite struggles with her weight. While many performers struggle to lose weight and live up to images set forth not just in the music world, but in the public life in general, Sheree overcame those stereotypes without shedding a pound, initially. “We are not all meant to be a size 4 and 100 pounds soaking wet,” said Sheree, who lost 140 pounds after undergoing gastric bypass surgery. “People come in different sizes, shapes and colors and we have to embrace that. I refuse to get caught up in the quest for size perfection.” For Sheree, losing weight was all about being healthy. “I’m happy with the way I look now,” Sheree said. “My goal is to be a healthy size and to feel good being me.” And now her music is available on iTunes and other digital websites, as stores in the Philadelphia area. Her music is available online because she says digital music is the more popular form of distribution at this time. She has performed on NBC’s “Clash of the Choirs” alongside LaBelle. She has performed at the Roots Picnic, which featured the Philadelphia-based hip-hop group, as well as Nas, among a whole host of groups. Videos of her performances are also available on her website, barbarashereemusic.com and on youtube. She has acted in musicals and hosts a weekly radio show. The self-professed “renaissance woman” is now also a professional artist in the sense that she sold her first painting last week. “It started as a hobby,” Sheree said. “I believe that everyone has multiple gifts, and you’re selling yourself short if you don’t pursue all of them.” She still has anxiety over her finances, something she could’ve possibly avoided had she kept to the “safe path.” “How am I going to get enough for the rent? Am I going to be able to perform enough to pay the bills?” are among Sheree’s questions. “I don’t ever doubt I made the right decision. “Even when your friends are telling you maybe you should do something else, you need to trust yourself, trust in God and keep pressing. … Any great entrepreneur has to take that great leap. I appreciate the journey.””
“Team LaBelle’ Kellam brings soulful sounds to Hard Rock On Sunday, July 31 at 9:00 p.m., 107.9 WRNB radio personalities Dyana Williams and MoShay LaRen will host a night of “pure soul” at the Hard Rock Café, 11th and Market streets, featuring Grammy-nominated duo Helen Bruner and Terry Jones. The evening, which benefits Autism Now, will also feature Billboard recording artist Barbara Sheree Kellam. If Kellam looks familiar, it’s because in 2007 she was the dynamic soloist for Team LaBelle in the NBC vocal competition “Clash of the Choirs.” Hand-picked by multiple Grammy winner Patti LaBelle, Kellam delivered a passionate rendition of Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama” in the final performance. While Team LaBelle finished second to Nick Lachey’s choir, Kellam demonstrated that she had both the vocal power and the stage presence that are synonymous with the name Patti LaBelle, and says that competing on “Clash of the Choirs” was a life-changing experience. “I knew that I wanted to sing before ‘Clash of the Choirs,’ because I had been singing,” Kellam said in a recent interview. “Before ‘Clash of the Choirs,’ I had opened up for Musiq Soulchild and Kem, and had done all these different tours, but I don’t think I believed in myself. I think what ‘Clash of the Choirs’ did was solidify that I had a voice that needed to be heard. To be recognized by somebody who I admire so much — Patti LaBelle — to be hand-picked by her and encouraged by her was all I needed. So ‘Clash of the Choirs’ was pretty much the seal of approval that, ‘This is your path.’ It was my certification.” Now confident in her calling and in her ability, the engaging and outgoing Kellam is excited about taking the stage of Hard Rock Café, accompanied by her band. She is also looking forward to working with Bruner and Jones. “We’re all very soulful artists, so it’s going to be a very energetic, soulful Sunday!” she said. Now making the most of every moment, Kellam is currently featured during MoShay LaRen’s “Mid-day Break Room” broadcast at 1:30 p.m. every Friday, presenting a segment titled “Beauty on a Budget with Barb.” She is also hard at work on an upcoming album titled “Inner Soul.” “All of the songs are pretty much a part of my personal journey and personal growth,” Kellam explained. As she pursues her passion, the spiritual Kellam has one goal in mind. “I just want to utilize every gift that God gave me to the fullest,” she said. “I am one of those people that walk on faith. I wholeheartedly believe that for you to achieve anything great in this life, you have got to take a risk and trust that God has your back. I think that’s what I want people to know about me — that I’m where I am only because He has brought me this far.” Contact entertainment reporter Kimberly C. Roberts at (215) 893-5753 ”
“ Barbara Sheree will not be categorized, part two "My goal is to connect through the music." . Barbara Sheree, February 2011 Upon meeting Barbara Sheree, you witness a bundle of unbridled enthusiasm coupled with old school wisdom. Below are some of her thoughts on singing, the City of Brotherly Love, and the music business. Barbara Sheree’s musical inspirations: Growing up, I always loved Diana Ross. I think every young black girl back in the day wanted to be Diana Ross. I would sing "Love Hangover". Cheesin' all in the mirror. [Barbara Sheree breaks into an unsolicited, a capella rendition over a smoothie in a Northern Liberties coffee shop. No Autotune. Golden.] I always loved Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams, Chaka Kahn, Phyllis Hyman, Stephanie Mills, and of course, Patti LaBelle. I love my generation of Philly artists including Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, and Bilal. As well as my peers who emerged in the 90’s like D'Angelo, Eryka Badu, and Angie Stone. Made in Philadelphia: I love Philly. I love the musical energy that I get here: that inspiration, that soul, that ability to get up in front of musicians and create off the top of my head and just let my spirit out. It’s an energy here that I can’t get anywhere else. I haven’t seen it in New York, and I haven’t seen it in Atlanta, DC, LA or anywhere else. You need that energy to keep you on your toes, to keep you innovative. Listening to new young talent keeps me current and inspired. I can go to a hood karaoke joint and hear somebody sing better than [name re-dacted]. I am so serious. Philly is a tough audience. If you can get love musically, then you are at the top of your game. Philly is not moved by your pretty face, none of that. I have seen plenty of beautiful women hit these stages, built beautifully wearing a Beyonce leotard, some fishnet stockings,and stilettos, but can’t sing. At the end of the performance, bruthas got their faces all turned up. [Barbara Sheree imitates a frowning cat from 8th & Diamond. Hilarious.] They (Philadelphia audiences) don’t play that. On the term “neo-soul”: I don’t like labels. Even with my management team, we were all trying to classify me in order to market me. I am soul incarnate, the embodiment of soul music. That can be gospel, R&B, or house music. It all comes from the same place. Words of advice to serious new artists: You can’t treat it like a hobby. I'm not telling you to "quit yo job", but there comes a time when you have to completely submerge yourself under the water to truly become successful. In the past three years, I can honestly say that God has blessed me beyond what I could have imagined. You know that it comes from Him when it exceeds anything you could have conceived yourself. Barbara Sheree will be performing at Warmdaddy’s “Tribute to Eric Roberson” on Monday, March 28 along with Vivian Green and Carol Riddick. // // <\/scr'+'ipt>'); // ]]> // ”
“ Barbara Sheree will not be categorized, part one March 6th, 2011 7:43 pm ET “You were the first person of the day to give me chills.” Patti LaBelle to Barbara Sheree “The Revolution Will not be Televised,” according to Gil Scott Heron's prophetic anthem released in 1974. Neither apparently will the nominees and award winners of the R&B categories at the Grammys which were broadcast on Sunday, February 13. CBS chose not to air any of the R&B categories including Best Female, Male, Vocal Duo Performance, Best R&B Song, or Album. While the televised broadcast had its share of pop, rap, and country live performances, most of the R&B-influenced songs and tributes to Aretha Franklin and Teddy Pendergrass were performed by non-Black artists. The Grammys will have a difficult time categorizing vocalist and music revolutionary Barbara Sheree. The South Jersey/Philadelphia native with ties to the R&B, dance, and gospel community is not deterred by the industry’s insistence on style over substance. A signature voice on the Top 50 dance charts with her hits "Together" and "Bring the Fire", her evolving career is a testament to "walking by faith and not by sight." Chosen by Patti Labelle to represent Philadelphia following her 2007 performance on NBC’s “Clash of the Choirs,” Barbara Sheree’s journey as an artist has been filled with peaks and valleys typical of singers trying to break into the very competitive Philly music world. The product of a musical family, she was always around singers at home and in church, although never classically trained. At one time the opening act for her contemporaries Musiq Soulchild and Kem, Barbara Sheree’s vocal gift now allows her to flow effortlessly from dance music embraced by NYC and European DJ’s to ministering the word through gospel music in a Muslim country. On Sunday, March 27, Barbara Sheree joins a bevy of Philadelphia’s finest female vocalists in Voices of Domestic Violence: Music and Monologues, an effort spearheaded by WRNB’s Mo’Shay LaRen and Sheryl Lee Ralph to bring awareness and healing to one of the community’s silent “dream-killers”. Vivian Green, Carol Riddick, Jean Baylor along with Barbara Sheree, will perform at The Painted Bride at 230 Vine Street in Philadelphia. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online. Proceeds generated from the event will support ongoing initiatives to prevent domestic violence and promote self-esteem building through workshops, mentoring, and community outreach. Hear from Barbara Sheree in Part Two of her Examiner.com interview. Stay tuned. The music revolution will not be televised.”