Tanya Trotter

Tanya Trotter (née Blount) is an American actress, musician and author. She began her career as a teen actress, appearing in the film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, where she performed "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" in a duet with Lauryn Hill. She went on to release her debut album Natural Thing (1994), which featured the songs "Through the Rain" and "I'm Gonna Make You Mine". Blount is currently one half of the country music duo the War and Treaty.

Early life and education Blount was born to an Afro-Panamanian mother and African-American father. She attended Baptist services on Sundays and attended Catholic school, singing in choirs in both contexts. She was educated at Morgan State University, where she majored in psychology and sang in the university choir.

Career Blount first came to prominence in the film, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) in which she featured as the character "Tanya". Her performance of "His Eye is on the Sparrow" with Lauryn Hill was a particularly notable moment. MadameNoire commented, 'she and R&B/Hip-hop musician Lauryn Hill captivated audiences with a memorable performance'. Blount also appeared on the feature film's original soundtrack album.

Signed with Polydor Records during late 1993, her debut album, Natural Thing, was released in 1994 and peaked at number 58 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album's first single "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" peaked at number 57 on the USR&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. "Through the Rain" followed, peaking at number 27 on US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and became her first appearance on the US Hot 100 where it peaked at number 90. Third single, "Hold On" peaked at number 66 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In 1994, Blount released a holiday single titled "Remember Love". In February 2000, the Washington Post reported Blount was pursuing a release from her contract with Bad Boy Entertainment and negotiating a settlement.

Blount has had a consistent musical theatre career in productions including What Every Woman Wants, Sneaky, Preacher's Kids, Born to Sing! and Christmas in Washington. In 2008, Blount's song "Right Here", was featured in the 2008 Tyler Perry film, The Family That Preys. The duo also released the single "Hi Ho" that year as the War and Treaty. "Hi Ho" was described by Paste writer Chris Estey as "the break out soul hit". In 2017, the War and Treaty released the EP Down to the River, described as a mix of "blues, gospel, soul, bluegrass, country" and heralded by Estey as "a splendidly made immediate classic about conflict and redemption." In 2018, Rolling Stone reported that the War and Treaty's debut album Healing Tide was due for release on August 10, 2018, describing the lead single as a "joyfully relentless title track, reminiscent of classic Ike and Tina Turner rock-infused soul."

Released: 1994 Label: Polydor Format: CD, cassette

Released: 2016 Format: Digital download

Released: August 10, 2018 Label: Strong World Entertainment (marketed and distributed by Thirty Tigers) Format: LP, CD, Digital download

Released: September 25, 2020 Label: The War and Treaty Corporation(under exclusive license to Rounder Records and distributed by Concord Music Group) Format: LP, CD, Digital download

Released: March 10, 2023 Label: UMG Nashville Format: LP, CD, Digital download

Released: February 14, 2025 Label: UMG Nashville Format: LP, CD, Digital download

Live albums + List of extended plays Title Album details Live at Blue House (as The War and Treaty)Released: January 21, 2015 Format: CD, Digital download

Extended plays + List of extended plays Title Album details Live on WMNF 88.5 with Amy Snider (as The War and Treaty)Released: 2016 Format: Digital download Down to the River (as The War and Treaty)Released: 2017 Label: Strong World Entertainment Format: Digital download

Singles as lead artist + List of singles as a lead artist, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Year Chart positions Album US USR&B/HH USAdult R&B UK "I'm Gonna Make You Mine"1994 — 57 34 85 Natural Thing "Through the Rain" 90 27 21 — "Hold On" — 66 — — "Remember Love" — — — — Special Gift "I Love Him" (featuring Mase) 2000 — — — —

as featured artist + List of singles as a featured artist, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Year Chart positions Album US USR&B/HH USAdult R&B UK "Hi Ho" 2016 — Down to the River "Healing Tide" 2018 — Healing Tide "Are You Ready to Love Me?" — "Jealousy / Hustlin'" 2020 — Hearts Town "We Are One" — "Five More Minutes" 22

Album appearances Title Year Artist(s) Album "Remember Love" 1998 Tanya Blount Nothin' But The Hotness In '98 (Compilation by Bad Boy Entertainment) "The Last Time We Made Love" 1999 Tanya Blount Bad Boy Entertainment Presents: Emotional(Compilation EP by Bad Boy Entertainment) "Been Changed" 2007 7 Sons of Soul(feat. Tanya Blount) Witness

Soundtrack appearances Title Year Artist(s) Album "Oh Happy Day" 1993 St. Francis Choir Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit: The Motion Picture Soundtrack "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" 2008 Tanya Blount The Family That Preys

Writing credits

2019: winner, Americana Music Award for Emerging Artist of the Year (with The War and Treaty)