A voice of the time. A vibration you can feel. Sensual. Sweet. Freeing. Empowering. Awe inspiring. Akua Taylor is a young vessel of music. Raised with love, Akua was charged to be excellent early. When one is given wings, she is supposed to fly.
Akua means precious messenger, a name given to girls born on Wednesday in Ghana, West Africa. Born in Milwaukee, WI, Akua was raised in a culturally rich community of progressive people. An appropriate name for her company, Precious Messenger Productions houses all creations of the songwriter, composer, singer, dancer, actress, playwright and motivational speaker.
Ms. Taylor is the daughter of retired news anchorman Bill Taylor. Before reporting for almost 30 years at WTMJ4, Bill Taylor was a disk jockey. He had a basement full of classic soul records, a sound system to match and frequent get-togethers that were legendary. Bill instilled the love of music in his children; the fundamentals of which stuck with Akua.
Classically trained in piano and vocally rooted in choral music, Akua set her sites on Fisk University in Nashville, TN to be one of the world renowned Jubilee Singers. Not only did she sing with the group but she also reigned as Miss Fisk University 2004-2005.
Between classes, Akua wrote, recorded and produced her first album "Reach Higher," selling it out of her dorm room, bookstore and everywhere she traveled. She promoted independent music on her campus radio show and performed regularly with area bands. Upon graduating Magna cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Akua recorded her EP "Just Tryin' to Live," and moved to New York to pursue her music career full time.
It began at Food 4 Thought Café in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn. Akua sang at a "Liberation Friday" open mic night and was enthusiastically embraced by the community. She now performs regularly with rappers Jah-med and Chen Lo of Liberation Family Music Group and has opened for Emily King, Brand Nubian and M1 of Dead Prez.
Akua was recently featured with Jah-med on MTV's Lower East Side Takeover New Year's Eve Show 2007. She frequently graces the stage of Solomon's Porch Café in Brooklyn but can be seen at colleges and clubs in all boroughs of New York City.
Set to independently release her third project, Akua plans to be one of the only lady music moguls. With a voice as clear as a bell and the breath control of an athlete, her performances leave you wondering how so much can come from someone so petite. She is a breath of fresh air. Her eyes twinkle with a childlike excitement yet her words are wise beyond her years. Akua Taylor is worldwide bound.
