Faith Evans is a renowned American R&B singer, songwriter, and actress born on June 10, 1973, in Lakeland, Florida.
She rose to fame as the first female artist signed to Bad Boy Records, releasing her debut album “Faith” in 1995.
Evans is known for her powerful voice and hit singles like You Used to Love Me and Love Like This.
She co-wrote the Grammy-winning tribute I’ll Be Missing You after her husband The Notorious B.I.G.’s death.
Evans has released eight studio albums and is also an advocate for autism awareness.
Parents
Faith was born on June 10, 1973, in Lakeland, Florida, to an African American mother, Helene Evans, who is a professional singer, and a Caucasian father, Richard Swain, a musician.
Her father left before she was born, and she has never met him.
Evans was raised by her mother’s cousins, Johnnie Mae and Orvelt Kennedy, whom she referred to as her grandparents.
Career
Evans’ career began when she signed with Bad Boy Records in 1994, becoming the label’s first female artist.
Her debut album, “Faith,” released in August 1995, was a critical success and peaked at number one on the Billboard R&B chart.
It featured the hit singles “You Used to Love Me” and “Soon as I Get Home.”
Evans gained widespread recognition for co-writing “I’ll Be Missing You,” a tribute to her late husband, The Notorious B.I.G., who was murdered in 1997.
The song, performed with Puff Daddy and 112, won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1998.
Her second album, “Keep the Faith,” released in October 1998, included hits like “Love Like This” and “All Night Long.”
It solidified her position as a leading R&B artist and further cemented her legacy in the music industry.
Her third album, “Faithfully,” released in November 2001, featured the hit single “I Love You.” This album marked a slight shift in her style, incorporating more contemporary R&B sounds.
After a brief hiatus, Evans returned with “The First Lady” in 2005, which included the singles “Again” and “Mesmerized.”
This was her first release under Capitol Records. In 2010, she released “Something About Faith,” which featured collaborations with artists like Snoop Dogg and Keyshia Cole. It marked a return to her soulful roots.
Reality TV
In 2012, Evans joined the reality TV show “R&B Divas: Atlanta,” which led to the creation of a collaborative album with her co-stars.
Her seventh studio album, “Incomparable,” released in 2014, included the singles “I Deserve It” and “Fragile.” It showcased her continued relevance in the R&B scene.
In 2017, Evans released a duets album with The Notorious B.I.G., titled “The King & I.” The album featured unreleased vocals from Biggie, blending their voices in new arrangements.