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** Booking Mya, R&B artist, Mya Harrison - book R&B Artists - Contemporary R&B, Urban - © Richard De La Font Agency, Inc. - For serious booking requests only, click here: For More Information It was dancing, not singing, which encouraged Mya to bloom. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, and grew up in Washington, DC, Mya (she says she was named for Maya Angelou) was two years old when her father stood her in the Reflecting Pool between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial – and she danced. She started ballet classes immediately, then tap and jazz, but lost interest when she was eight.
Though signed to a deal, she later enrolled in the University of Maryland in speech communications. But preparations for the album were taking too much of her time and she left after one semester. "I always had the feeling I'd be in the business. It's what I've always loved. It's not about being a star. I'd still be singing, dancing, writing songs, if this had never happened. Being around the entertainment business, I've learned not to say 'I'm all that.' You take your talent and do your best and give it to people. I just want to make people, and myself, happy. I never dreamed of a record deal, especially living in the DC area which is not big in the record business." Nor is nearby Baltimore. But little did Mya realize when she first met Baltimore natives Dru Hill at a GRAMMY party in New York in 1996, before their first album was released, that they'd be so instrumental in her career. "It's great being around them because they bring a really creative atmosphere. That gives me something to live up to." Most important to her for her debut album was, she says, "that I wanted to sound different musically and vocally. I want to be myself, not like anyone else. It was also important that the songs mean something, no bubblegum songs, but songs that relate and reach and bring people together. It's a people thing, not male or female, not one race, but what everyone can relate to. Mya is many things – singer, dancer, songwriter, choreographer (including her "It's All About Me" video), even clothes designer (the provocative red outfit she wears in the video is hers) and artist. "In school, I'd draw for people and get paid $5 for each one. But the most fun was just seeing their reactions to what I created for them. I love that." Mya admits that, among the many things she is, she's also a bit of a tomboy. "Guys will just go out and do something. Females will talk about it a lot. I don't care if I break a nail. You have to be aggressive to get the same respect as the guys." She's the girl you knew had the talent – if she would only step on the stage or behind a microphone. Now, Mya has. Her infectious debut CD, "Mya," scored three top 10 singles, "It's All About Me," "Movin' On" and "My First Night With You." The spotlight continued to shine on Mya when "Ghetto Supastar" (from the Bulworth soundtrack) became a huge hit, as did "Take Me There" from the Rugrats soundtrack. "Fear of Flying" found Mya moving towards a more mature sound. The album yielded the hits "Case of the Ex," "The Best of Me" and "Free." Mya supported the album with a rigorous touring schedule, bringing her dynamic fusion of dance with live vocals to audiences internationally. Mya's appeal isn't limited to music. She was featured in several ad campaigns and starred in a successful spot for Coke. Mya also takes time to give back, and in particular is outspoken about teen issues. She has served in past years on the advisory board of the Secret to Self Esteem program (an alliance between the Partnership of Women's Health and Secret antiperspirant), dedicated to helping girls become strong women. Hit songs include --
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