Melinda Doolittle

Her debut album, Coming Back to You (2009), garnered rave reviews from critics, including The New York Times which hailed Melinda as one of the most 'phenomenally gifted' in years. The album recalls the magic and luster of R&B's classic artists and features production by Grammy-nominated producer Mike Mangini. Recorded with the highest caliber musicians from the musical epicenters of Nashville and New York City, Coming Back to You soars as a soul-baring tour de force with Melinda transforming lively soul, jazz, pop and R&B stylings into a definitive collection of songs that urge the listener to come back again and again.

Tone deaf as a child, Melinda's choir teacher would plead with her not to sing, but just silently move her mouth. Undaunted, her love of singing drove her to enter a talent show in the 7th grade, and after much practice and prayer, she stunned the audience with her miraculously spot-on vocals and beautiful voice. She never looked back.

Melinda went on to graduate with a music degree from Belmont University in Nashville, TN and hone her skills as a background singer with the Gospel group Anointed. She eventually carved out a niche in the Nashville music scene, singing background for musical legends such as Michael McDonald, Aretha Franklin, and Aaron Neville, before finishing third on the sixth season of American Idol.