Second Cup Café: Tamia

Canadian-born Tamia is a Grammy-nominated R&B singer who recently released her fourth studio album, "Between Friends." She visits Second Cup Café to sing songs from the album.

Born in Windsor, Ontario, Tamia began studying voice, piano and acting at the age of 10. She performed in community theater productions and sang in local choral groups and her church choir.

Tamia first single, "You Put A Move On My Heart" is from Quincy Jones' 1995 "Q's Jook Joint" album. The song earned her a Grammy nomination for best female R&B vocal performance.

Her second Grammy nod was for the single "Slow Jams" with Babyface, which was nominated for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal. She also received a nomination for best pop collaboration with vocals for "Missing You" from the "Set It Off" soundtrack with Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan.

All three nominations came before she had even released her own album.

In 1998, Tamia spread her wings as a solo recording artist, and released her self-titled debut album. The album featured the singles "Imagination" and "So Into You," which reached No. 12 and No. 7 respectively on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop singles and tracks chart.

Her second album, 2000's "A Nu Day" featured the track "Stranger In My House" which was her first Top 10 single and was a hit on the R&B/hip-hop and dance charts as well.

That same year she received a fourth Grammy nomination for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals for "Spend My Life With You" with Eric Benet.

"Officially Missing You" from her 2004 third album "More" also reached No. 1 on the Billboard dance charts.

Her most recent album, "Between Friends," was released on November 14, 2006.

2In 1999, the 31-year-old singer wed basketball star Grant Hill, 34. The Hills met while he was playing for the Detroit Pistons, across the river from Tamia's hometown. Detroit-based singer Anita Baker was the matchmaker, introducing them after she invited Tamia to judge a singing contest there.

"Anita Baker kind of hooked it up," Hill said. "Kind of a blind date. But we kind of knew who each other was, so it wasn't that blind of a date."

Tamia is involved with several charities, including the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. She was diagnosed with the disease in 2003.

The couple reside in Orlando where Hill is a forward with the Orlando Magic. They have a four-year-old daughter, Myla Grace.