Taja Sevelle

Taja Sevelle (born Nancy Richardson)[1] is an American singer and songwriter, best known for her 1987 single, "Love Is Contagious"[2] and for the non-profit organization Urban Farming, which she founded in 2005.

Taja Sevelle
Birth nameNancy Richardson
Born (1962-01-07) January 7, 1962
Minnesota, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1984–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websitetajasevelle.com

Biography

Sevelle signed a recording contract with Prince's Paisley Park Records in 1987.[3] She also released her self-titled debut album that year, and would go on to release two more studio albums on other labels, 1991's Fountains Free and 1997's Toys of Vanity. Only two of the songs she recorded were written or co-written by Prince: "Wouldn't You Love to Love Me?" and "If I Could Get Your Attention", both from her debut album.[4]

She was first featured on Prince and the Revolution's 1985 album Around the World in a Day, singing backing vocals on the song "The Ladder".

During the 1990s, Sevelle wrote several songs for Warner Music.[3]

Debut album

The eponymous album Taja Sevelle was produced by Minneapolis musician Chico Bennett. She mainly worked with Warner Bros. executives on the album. It failed to chart in the US, but reached number 48 in the UK and number 52 in the Netherlands.[5][6]

Urban Farming

In 2005, Taja founded the non-profit organization Urban Farming.[7] Its mission is "to create an abundance of food for people in need by supporting and encouraging the establishment of gardens on unused land and space while increasing diversity, raising awareness for health and wellness, and inspiring and educating youth, adults and seniors to create an economically sustainable system to uplift communities around the globe."[8]

The organization began by planting three gardens of free food in Detroit and there are now over 63,400 gardens in 61 countries around the world that are a part of the Urban Farming Global Food Chain.[9]

Discography

Studio albums
Year Album Peak chart positions
NLD
[6]		 UK
[5]
1987 Taja Sevelle 52 48
1991 Fountains Free — —
1997 Toys of Vanity — —

Extended plays
Year EP
2004 Good Times EP[10]

Singles
Year Song Peak chart positions
US
[11]		 US
R&B
[11]		 NLD 40
[12]		 NLD 100
[6]		 UK
[5]
1987 "Love Is Contagious" 62 58 8 20 7
1988 "Wouldn't You Love to Love Me?" — 61 — 78 59
"Popular" — — — — —
"Take Me for a Ride" — — — — —
1991 "Trouble Having You Near" — — — — —
1998 "A Lot Like You" — — — — —
"I & I" — — — — —
2000 "Never Givin' Up" — — — — —
2003 "Sympathy for the Devil" — — — — —
2014 "Little Diva" — — — — —

Music videos
Song # Ref
"Love Is Contagious" 2 [9]
"Wouldn't You Love to Love Me?" 1
"Popular"
"Trouble Having You Near"
"I & I"

References
  1. Smith, Christopher. "WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Taja Sevelle". Talk About Pop Music. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  2. Larry Flick. "550's Sevelle re-creates herself with 'Toys' set." Billboard 11 Oct. 1997: 7, 24. Platinum Periodicals. ProQuest. Accessed 18 Sep. 2007
  3. "Versatile Sevelle finding her niche", The Free Lance-Star, December 4, 1997 (p.23)
  4. Lane, Lynda. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  5. "Taja Sevelle - full Offical Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  6. "Discografie Taja Sevelle (in Dutch)". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  7. "Taja Sevelle: From Prince protege to urban farmer and back". NBC News. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  8. "Urban Farming: Urban Farming Press". Urbanfarming.org. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  9. "The Official Taja Sevelle Website - Biography". Archived from the original on September 9, 2012.
  10. "Good Times EP – Taja Sevelle". AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  11. "Taja Sevelle Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  12. "Taja Sevelle (in Dutch)". top40.nl. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
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