Táta Vega

Táta Vega (born Carmen Rosa Vega; October 7, 1951) is an American vocalist whose career spans theater, film, and a variety of musical genres.

Early life Vega was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York and raised between New York, Chicago, Texas, Panama and Puerto Rico. She is of Afro-Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Spanish descent. Her parents are Luis Alfredo De La Vega, who served in the United States Air Force, and Rosaura Maltés. As a result of her father's work, the family moved frequently. Before she was even a teenager, the family lived in Panama, Puerto Rico, San Antonio, Texas, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her father nicknamed her Táta, because that was the first word she uttered as a child. At the age of 17, she had her name legally changed.

Career Vega began her professional singing career in 1963. In California (1969–70) she was cast in the Los Angeles, California production of the Broadway musical, Hair. In 1994, she recorded two Spanish versions of the song "Circle of Life" from Disney's The Lion King, one for Latin America ("Ciclo Sin Fin") and the other one for Spain ("El ciclo de la vida"). In 1998, she signed with Quincy Jones' Qwest Records and released a gospel album, Now I See, which was nominated for a Stellar Award.

In 2006, Vega signed with Do Rite Records, releasing a gospel album entitled This Joy on October 27, 2009.

In 2010 Tata joined Elton John's band as a full-time backing vocalist along with Rose Stone, Lisa Stone and Jean Johnson Witherspoon.

In 2011, her first two solo albums, Full Speed Ahead and Totally Táta (1977), were reissued on CD by soulmusic.com records.

On February 18, 2014, in the wake of 20 Feet from Stardom'''s success, her solo albums at Motown were released digitally.

Táta’s music has been sampled by Daft Punk and rappers such as Eminem, Drake and Jim Jones. Teena Marie credited both Táta and Iris Gordy for publishing one of her first songs on Táta’s debut album in 1976. Teena and Táta reconnected through her longtime manager, Lee Cadena, in the late 2000s and were in talks of forming a supergroup with Shirley Murdock shortly before Teena’s death.

In 2026, Táta Vega voiced both Grandma and Mrs. Dung Beetle in the hit Netflix and Skydance Animation film Swapped, starring Michael B. Jordan and Juno Temple.

Personal life In 1975, while departing from a gas station in West Adams, Los Angeles, en route to a writing session with Carmen Twilie, Vega was shot in the back of the head by a young sniper on a shooting spree positioned atop a nearby building. Following the incident, Vega remarkably walked to a hospital located adjacent to the gas station.

Vega has two daughters, Angelica, Chloé and step son, Jeffrey. Vega was married to fellow musician Jeffery Vanderplate, whom she met at Andraé Crouch’s home. Vanderplate died in 2004 from small cell lung cancer.

Discography As group member 1971: Pollution; Pollution (Prophesy Records) 1972: Pollution; Pollution II (Prophesy) 1972: Earthquire; Earthquire (Natural Resources/Motown)

Solo albums 1976: 1977: 1978: 1980: Givin' All My Love (Tamla Motown) 1988: Time's So Right1998: 2009: This Joy (Do Rite Records)

Appearances on other albums 1972: The Hot Rock OST, Quincy Jones 1979: Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants", Stevie Wonder 1979: "Pops We Love You"...The Album, Various artists; guest vocalist 1985: The Color Purple (movie soundtrack) 1985: Mathematics, Melissa Manchester; background vocals 1985: Medals, Russ Taff; background vocals 1985: No Time to Lose, Andraé Crouch; "Right Now", "Oh, It Is Jesus" 1986: Frontline, Koinonia 1986: Someone, El DeBarge 1986: Without Walls, Michael Sembello 1986: Howard the Duck (soundtrack), Thomas Dolby; "I'm On My Way" 1988: Back to Avalon, Kenny Loggins 1988: Non Stop, Julio Iglesias; background vocals 1988: The Real Me, Patti Austin; background vocals 1990: Love Is the Reason, Engelbert Humperdinck 1991: Give in to the Rhythm, Arthur Baker; "Let There Be Love", "Inspiration" 1991: The Comfort Zone, Vanessa Williams; background vocals 1991: Turn It Up, Oaktown's 357; guest vocalist 1992: Live!, Patti LaBelle; background vocals 1993: My World, Ray Charles; background vocals 1994: The Gate To The Mind's Eye (soundtrack), Thomas Dolby; "Armageddon" 1994: A To a Higher Place, Tramaine Hawkins; background vocals 1994: El Rey León [Banda Sonora Original] [Spain], Hans Zimmer; "El ciclo de la vida" 1994: El Rey León [Música Original de la Película] [Latin America], Hans Zimmer; "Ciclo Sin Fin" 1994: Is There Anybody Out There?, Gloria Loring; background vocals 1994: Mercy, Andraé Crouch; background vocals 1994: Reach, Patti Austin; background vocals 1995: Sisters: The Story Goes On, various artists; "You Don't Have to Know Why" 1995: Am I Still in Your Heart, Chuck Negron; background vocals 1995: Gary Oliver Gary Oliver; background vocals 1986: Wildcats [Motion Picture Soundtrack]; "Love Lives Alone" 1997: Pray, Andraé Crouch 1998: The Gift of Christmas, Andraé Crouch 1999: Tropico/Seven the Hard Way, Pat Benatar 2001: If We Pray Anointed; background vocals 2001: Joy to the World, Chuck Negron 2001: Songs from the West Coast, Elton John; background vocals 2002: Life and Love, Philip Bailey; background vocals 2002: Night of Your Return, Fernando Ortega 2002: Real, Israel & New Breed 2002: The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter 2, Kirk Whalum; "El Todopoderoso" 2005: Mighty Wind, Andraé Crouch; "I Was Glad" 2006: The Lord's Prayer: A Musical Tribute; "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" (with Sheila E.) 2006: Unbreakable Bond, GB5; "You Who Reigns" 2011: Low Country Blues, Gregg Allman; background vocals 2011: The Journey, Andraé Crouch; "Somebody Told Me About Jesus", "He Has a Plan For Me" 2013: Live in Los Angeles, Andraé Crouch; background vocals 2013: 20 Feet from Stardom'' soundtrack; featured vocalist and background vocals

Filmography

YearFilmRole201320 Feet from StardomHerself 2026 Swapped Ollie's grandmother/Mrs Dung Beetle (Voice)