User:MC Houston

Wakeelah Shabazz (Born March 8, 1976 at St. Francis hospital) is a native of Charleston South Carolina. Wakeelah is an R&B singer/songwriter and former vocalist for the ensemble “Speechless” with her sister Jamillah Shabazz. As a solo artist Wakeelah Shabazz has been the opening act for greats like Rueben Studdard, Bobby Velentino, Cue of 112, Allyson Williams, Jeff Floyd and she blew Steve Harvey away on his morning show after winning the Tuesday Morning Talent segment. Influenced by soloists Patti Labelle, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Anita Baker and songwriters such as Diane Warren, Bryan McKnight, Kenneth “Baby Face” Edmonds and Neyo, Shabazz started singing at the age of 5 and wrote her first song when she was 15 years old. Having being a survivor of domestic violence Shabazz is an advocate for battered women. She dedicates her time and talents to help up lift woman who are enduring, trying to escape and are survivors of any form of violence.

Early Years

Raised in Charleston South Carolina she grew up in the Islam faith and sang in the Masque as a little girl. Later she choose to follow the teachings of Christ and converted and began to sing on the choir at Royal Missionary Baptist Church under the honorable Reverend Isaac J. Holt. Shabazz grew up in a musically inclined family of seven. Interestingly enough, she was trained by her mother, Burriyyah Shabazz, who is not a singer but a divinely guided vocal coach that cultivated the gifts within her children. Extremely supportive, her mother was always putting her in talent shows for dancing and singing. Reared in a creative arts elementary school for dance is where music first infused her heart and connected to her soul. Shabazz continued by pursuing musical theater classes in high school. Later, she became a member of “Art Forms and Theater Concepts” (An acting company in Charleston). Shabazz has performed in stage plays and musicals like “Aint Nothing But The Blues and Auntie Mame." She is also a registered BMI member.