N'dambi

N'Dambi (born June 16, 1969) is an American soul/jazz singer from Dallas, Texas.

Early life N'Dambi is the ninth of eleven children born to a Baptist minister and missionary. Her name, "N'Dambi" means "most beautiful". Her father was a minister and singer in a quartet group. She got her professional start singing with Gaye Arbuckle, a local gospel singer, touring with Arbuckle for two years (from the ages of 18 to 20). Shortly thereafter she sang as background singer and collaborator with Erykah Badu. In the liner notes for Badu's debut studio album, Baduizm (1997), she thanked N’Dambi for her backing vocals on "Certainly (Flipped It)", calling her by her nickname, "Butterfly".

Career Little Lost Girls Blues N'Dambi debut soul album Little Lost Girls Blues was recorded in 1996 in Oak Cliff, a community in Dallas. It was independently released in 1999 and went on to receive critical acclaim throughout the world. It sound scanned over 20,000 units and sold over 70,000 units worldwide. The album was primarily marketed via word of mouth lifestyle marketing, press and college radio.

Tunin' Up & Co-Siginin This two disc set contains live recordings from Little Lost Girls Blues and new recordings. The album was recorded in Dallas with a group of local musicians. It featured Ode 2 Nina, was a tribute song to Nina Simone.

A Weird Kind of Wonderful This album was released independently and recorded with a live band in Los Angeles, California. It has a more funk, rock, soul vibe with more influences of Mother's Finest and Tina Turner.

Pink Elephant Pink Elephant was recorded in Santa Monica, California with producer Leon Sylvers III. N'dambi insisted the record have a modern sheen yet adhere to the sturdy influence of classic R&B and soul artists like Slave, Heatwave, Michael Jackson, Betty Davis, Isaac Hayes, Smokey Robinson, Earth, Wind & Fire, and The Sylvers. On December 2, 2010, Pink Elephant was nominated for a 2011 Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album.

Discography Albums:Little Lost Girls Blues First studio album Released: September 7, 1999 Cheeky-I ProductionsTunin' Up & Cosignin' Two-Disc Set Released: August 14, 2001 Cheeky-I ProductionsA Weird Kind of Wonderful Released in Japan Released: November 16, 2005 Village Again/Coco Red MusicPink Elephant Released: October 6, 2009 Stax Records Single: "Can't Hardly Wait"Dream Junkie Released: September 17, 2024 Released independently through Bandcamp Single: "Follow Me" Remixes/Singles:"Call Me" (Yam Who reworks) Release 2003 label: Yam Who 12" Vinyl, Unofficial Release"Can't Change Me" (Ron Trent Remix) Release 2007 label: R2Records 12" Vinyl"If We Were Alone" with Keite Young (AaronCarl Mix) Release 2008 label Wallshaker Music 12" Vinyl