Biography

Kathy Yolanda Rice was born and raised in the cosmopolitan city of Huntsville, Alabama, where her passion for music and art was recognized at an early age. Kathy writes her own lyrics and musical compositions. Most of her original tunes are based on real life experiences and emotions, from childhood throughout her adult years. Rice is also widely appreciated for her artistic talent and recognized for her African Art card line, known as "Kards by Kathy."  She creates mixed media paintings with a unique flair and credits her Father in Heaven for this gift. 

Kathy began piano lessons at age 6, but knew that she always wanted to focus on singing. She took formal voice training at age 12 and continued throughout college, graduating from Alabama A & M University with a major in Music. Kathy embarked on a recording project with Hit Record Producer, Kelvin Wooten, formerly of Toni! Tony! Tone! Kelvin and Kathy created the magic that made her music so classy and unique. Wooten has produced hit songs for Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and Kelly Price, to name a few.

Kathy is a gifted vocalist with a style of her own.  She captures the hearts of many with her precious voice and original compositions.  A special highlight in Kathy's music career was her duet of "Flesh of My Flesh" with celebrity actor/musician Philip Michael Thomas in May of 2013, released just in time to celebrate Philip's 64th birthday.  March of 2013 marked the release of a collaborative smooth jazz project with songwriter Gary Swann. The tune, Love is Like a Sunny Day, features Kelley O'Neal on Saxophone. Rice joined several other women musicians on the Bobby Pin Diaries movie soundtrack, which features her up-tempo tune, I've Gotta Find a Love for the February 2013 release.

August 2012 marked the release of a beautiful gospel project...the recording of the Walter Hawkins remake of Jesus Christ is the Way, by Nuove Mystique. Rice is the lyric soprano in the group. The jazzy rendition was released on Audio State 55 and is distributed by the Warner Music Group.

Through her networking with other women musicians, Rice was a featured artist on the Women in Jazz South Florida Volume III compilation CD, released in December 2012. Her classic jazz piece, Cloak and Dagger Affair, heads the lineup of this eclectic mix of jazzy tunes. In 2011, Rice performed her mellow vocals on Marc Lacy's Narcoleptic CD on the track entitled, “Exodus.” In December 2010, Rice collaborated on a Soulful House project entitled, "Feeling the Heat" with world renown Dance/House music record producers Fabio Tosti and Francesco Tarantini on Music Plan Records out of Bari, Italy.

Kathy Yolanda Rice tells real-life stories of love, faith and hope in her musical compositions. Her debut CD, "After All These Years" released in 2004, is seasoned with a flavor of jazz and consists of 10 timeless contemporary tunes.


Chronology

2023 - Re-release of Feeling the Heat on Music Plan Records
2013 -Release of Flesh of My Flesh, duet with Philip Michael Thomas

          Release of Love is Like a Sunny Day, co-written with Gary Swa and featuring Kelley O'Neal 
          I've Gotta Find a Love featured on the Bobby Pin Diaries Soundtrack
2012 - Cloak and Dagger Affair on Women in Jazz South Florida (WIJSF) Compilation CD
          Release of "Jesus Christ is the Way" - Nuove Mystique, on AudioState 55 Label
2011 - Live Performances at Sports Vision Restaurant & others 
2010 - Role of Anrama in Dedra Muhammad’s original stage production, “If Angels are Men.”
Movie – “Stand” (Restaurant patron, Uncredited)
2009/2010 -Music Collaboration with Italian producers Alex Dimitiri and Francesca Tarantino
2009 – Live performances with the Devere Pride Trio and Friends at Casa Montego
Live Performance with Equinox 3
2006
August 23, 2006 - Role of Paulette in Mahone Productions' Award Winning Play, "When the Past Comes Back," by Mildred Dumas.
2005
Sister 2 Sister Magazine
March 2005 Issue
Janet Shields Scott’s Beauty Column


Movie – “Constellation” (Mourner, Uncredited)
2004
Local Singer realizes lifelong dream “After All These Years”
By Chris Welch
Huntsville Times Entertainment Writer
chrisw@htimes.com
Music Release-Debut Jazz CD
Kathy Yolanda Rice – After All These Years
Review by John D. Goodman, II
Speaking Out Debuts
1998
Her future is in the Kards ~Business Biography
By Marian Accardi
Huntsville Times Business Writer
1994
Cards with class
Ex-Huntsville woman finds greeting card success
By Maureen Drost
Huntsville Times Staff Writer