Tamia
A Canadian R&B vocalist whose sophisticated, velvet tone has defined quiet storm radio for decades, earning Grammy nods from the start.
Born 1975 (age 51)·Canadian singer and songwriter·Birthday: May 9·Generation X
Biography
Tamia emerged from Windsor, Ontario, with a voice that seemed destined for soul classics. Her big break arrived not from a talent show, but from a phone call: Quincy Jones invited the then-teenager to feature on his 1995 album, a seal of approval that launched her with immediate Grammy nominations. Her self-titled debut album solidified her place in the late-90s R&B landscape, but it was the sleek, anthemic single "Stranger in My House" that became a signature hit, showcasing her ability to convey deep emotion with controlled power. Throughout her career, she has navigated the industry on her own terms, collaborating with greats like Babyface and releasing music that prioritizes artistry over trends. More than just a singer, Tamia’s enduring presence is that of a musician’s musician, respected for her impeccable phrasing and timeless sound.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Tamia was born in 1975, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tamia Was Born
The biggest hits of 1975
#1 Movie
Jaws
Best Picture
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Tamia's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1975Born
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1980Started school
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1988Became a teenager
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Could drive
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1993Could vote
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Turned 21
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2005Turned 30
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 40
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 50
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 51 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received two Grammy Award nominations for her featured work on Quincy Jones's 1995 album 'Q's Jook Joint'.
- Her single 'Stranger in My House' earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2000.
- Has released six studio albums, with several achieving gold status and producing enduring R&B radio hits.
- Co-wrote many of the songs on her albums, including the hit 'Officially Missing You'.
Did You Know?
She is married to retired NBA All-Star Grant Hill.
She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2003 and has been an advocate for awareness of the disease.
She performed the theme song 'Because You Loved Me' for the film 'The Preacher's Wife', in which her future husband Grant Hill's mother also acted.
“My voice is my instrument, and I treat every song with care.”
