>> I am successful because I have an amazing amount of peace in my life.

And I'm clear about where I want to go in music.

And I didn't just get there.

It -- it took some time.

I have decided to or chosen to be married, have a family and be heavily involved in my community.

And to me, the fulfillment is what makes me successful and all of those things bring me so much fulfillment.

Working in the arts and healthcare and working in this space where I'm surrounded by artists all the time, this is really a dream life for me.

And I didn't think that before because I had all of these other thoughts about what I thought being a successful artist would be like and -- and look at this.

I'm living it.

[ Laughs ] ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Welcome to "DMV The Beat."

This is the story of Tamara Wellons, soulful vocalist whose artistry explores and delivers the healing essence of music.

>> Tamara has always been a very easygoing person.

I would say she's always been really sweet, really loving, always a creative.

She was really quiet in the early years and once she started talking, it really wasn't, you know, lots of words.

It was really kind of in song and verse.

And because we grew up in the church, you know, we were always in places where there was -- where there was song, usually hymns, a little bit of gospel here and there.

And we just heard this sweet little spirit in her voice.

And our family just started kind of putting her up, pushing her up to be in the front of the -- in the congregation very early.

It started in Sunday school.

I think she was 3 years old when she had her first -- her first solo appearance at our church.

And it just -- it hasn't stopped since then.

>> I can't remember a time that music wasn't a big part of my life.

For instance, I would -- I can recall, like, riding in the back of my car -- back of the car with my dad and listening to Stevie Wonder and seeing his head go like that.

And then I would just be feeling the music, and I remember listening to parts of the songs, like, I would hear a saxophone or a trumpet, the horns, I would hear drums, and all of those things really just spoke to me.

And I think it was just a part of the language in my life.

So music is just embedded in my soul.

There's a song by Brand New Heavies, "Never Stop," Never Giving Up, and I remember hearing the saxophone part in that song.

I was in high school about that time, but there are just certain moments when there were genres of music that really spoke to me in a different way.

I think my ears were just opening up to different sounds.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ So when I touch the ground ♪ ♪ And when I plant my feet ♪ ♪ And when I call their name ♪ ♪ I feel strong ♪ ♪ Just like my daddy ♪ ♪ And I recall ♪ ♪ The joy of being free ♪ ♪ We are a dance ♪ ♪ So we move our way through life ♪ ♪ And we love our way through life ♪ ♪ And we laugh our way through life ♪ ♪ From Africa to Virginia ♪ ♪ Hey Mama ♪ ♪ Thank you for this dance ♪ ♪ Hey Mama ♪ ♪ Thank you for this dance ♪ ♪ They are sweet ♪ ♪ So when I sing my song ♪ ♪ And when I make my tea ♪ ♪ And when I light my candle ♪ ♪ I feel proud ♪ ♪ And I feel at peace ♪ ♪ And I recall ♪ ♪ The joy of being free ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ >> ♪ Move our way through life ♪ >> ♪ I'm moving through life ♪ >> ♪ Move our way through life ♪ >> ♪ Our way ♪ >> ♪ Laugh our way through life ♪ >> ♪ From Africa to Virginia ♪ >> We grew up in rural Virginia and rural Virginia, Southampton County, is known for a lot of things.

Nat Turner being one of them, and a town that -- a county that was, I would say about 50% black, 50% white.

Tamara is a singer, creative, but she's also been an activist for a very long time.

But she was in the contest for Miss Southampton County, and when she was asked a question about what made her so proud of being from Southampton County, she told the story about Nat Turner's rebellion.

And while there was a deafening silence that came over the entire crowd, you know, her family was there saying, you know, "Yes, baby, well done."

She didn't win Miss Southampton County.

She was the first runner-up.

But in our hearts and minds, she was certainly the winner.

>> My Sunday-school teacher -- God bless her, Miss Lane.

She -- I challenged her one day in Sunday school and I said, "There are no -- I don't see any black characters in this literature for Sunday school."

Where are the black people in the Bible?"

And I would not let it rest until I got an answer.

I didn't like that the books weren't representing who I was, and I was about 15 or 16 years old.

And I think what really got me is that my sister at the time, she was at North Carolina A&T, and during one of the homecomings, my dad took me to the -- We loved going to look at bookstores and just kind of going around town.

My dad took me to the Nile Bookstore in Greensboro, and I found this book that said "The Black Presence in the Bible."

And so I said, "I want this book."

I got me some incense.

I got all these tools I feel like that kind of have stayed with me till now.

That became, like, a passion for me.

The music that I write kind of speaks to that as well.

>> So as Tamara matured, went off to college, she went to Bowie State University, where she was not a music major.

She was actually an education major because teaching is her other love.

So I'll recall, when she was at Bowie State, she was always in the musicals.

She was a part of the gospel choir and had lead roles there.

And then I think her talent really began to shine on the university campus when she became Miss Bowie State University.

She was Miss Bowie State 1998-1999.

I also remember her first, like, gig in D.C. Oh, my gosh, we thought it was the -- Like, the best thing since sliced bread that she was gonna be performing in Washington, D.C. She was nervous, I remember, but once she got started, she just really leaned into her talent.

>> Someone came up to me at a club-music, house-music event, and they told me that the song that I wrote -- It's called "Oh, well" -- it healed them.

I was like, "What do you mean?"

But he told me that he was depressed.

He was ready to end his life.

And that song brought him out of that.

And he used that song in order to keep him -- keep him going.

When I wrote it, I didn't have that thought, "Oh, I'm gonna write this song to heal somebody."

I just wrote it because it was something actually that I was healing within myself.

So I know that I'm on the right track when I'm writing these songs, and they speak to me because they also will touch somebody else in that way.

♪ But there's nowhere else on earth ♪ ♪ That I would rather be ♪ ♪ Let the time go by ♪ ♪ I don't mind if I ♪ ♪ Can't be here on the street where you live ♪ [ Scatting ] ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Great.

>> I've never had anybody to sing to me during chemo, and that was really nice because she sang a song that I knew, and when she started singing, and it brought back great memories of the work that I did... as a wedding planner.

And that song was sang by one of my grooms to his precious bride as they sang -- as they danced their first dance.

>> "It's Time" ♪ If you've been blessed ♪ ♪ To see the day ♪ ♪ Won't you stand, mm-hmm ♪ ♪ Stand with me ♪ ♪ We are part of a place ♪ ♪ That was made before man ♪ ♪ Let this dream take you ♪ ♪ To where your heart is ♪ ♪ So let's love well ♪ >> ♪ Love well ♪ >> ♪ Treat everybody right ♪ ♪ We are one ♪ >> ♪ We are one ♪ >> ♪ In this life ♪ ♪ We are stronger together ♪ ♪ Better than ever ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Let your heart be full ♪ ♪ 'Cause you've seen another day ♪ ♪ Won't you stand ♪ ♪ Whoo ♪ ♪ Stand with me ♪ ♪ We are part of a place ♪ ♪ That's bigger than we can see ♪ ♪ Won't you stand ♪ ♪ Stand with me ♪ ♪ Me, yeah ♪ ♪ So let's love well ♪ >> ♪ Love well ♪ >> ♪ Treat everybody right ♪ ♪ We are one ♪ >> ♪ We are one ♪ >> ♪ In this life ♪ ♪ We are stronger together ♪ ♪ Better than ever ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ So let's love well ♪ >> ♪ Love well ♪ >> ♪ Treat everybody right ♪ ♪ We are one ♪ >> ♪ We are one ♪ >> ♪ In this life ♪ ♪ We are stronger together ♪ ♪ Better than ever ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪ Ohh ♪ I'm gonna take the time right now to introduce my wonderful, beautiful, amazing band.

To my left is my right.

My left and my right.

We have Troy Edler on supporting vocals.

To my left, we have Tashira Robinson, supporting vocals.

Sean Miles.

You may know him as Smiles, y'all.

Tim Still on the drums.

♪ Hey ♪ And the one and only, my love, Kinard Cherry on the bass.

♪♪ ♪ Hey, you ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Hmm ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪♪ I took a course -- a music-business course and a production course.

I wanted to know all the parts of it.

So if I did get with a music -- record label or something, then they -- I would understand what I'm signing.

I would know the ins and outs.

The way that my career went, I went the route of an independent artist, and I knew that I would need to understand publishing, I would need to understand royalties and all of these things.

And once I learned that, again, that's the teacher in me.

I wanted to make sure other people knew that as well.

And that has become my role now working with the Recording Academy, Washington, D.C. chapter.

I'm the president.

I think part of that role of me being the president is -- has came about because I genuinely like to listen and hear what these members and artists are interested in knowing more about.

>> First time I met her, she actually hired me for a show.

A mutual friend of ours said, "Hey, I've got a show with a dope artist and she needs a guitarist."

So I said, "Okay, I'll check it out."

And went to the first rehearsal and she introduced herself.

She was so bubbly.

I was in a different headspace, so I couldn't really see her.

And so we just did the show, actually went to rehearsal, did the show, had a good time, and then I noticed after the show, I was just kind of staring.

I was like, "Oh, wait, she's kind of cute."

And, you know, and again, I'm just observing, observing.

And just how she carried herself.

She just was really poised, just laidback and as just really sweet as well.

And we started communicating over G-Chat.

And that was back in, I would say, 2011.

And moving forward, we communicated.

I was on tour that summer in London.

And then when I got back, we started having another conversation on G-Chat around September and she said, "Hey, do you want to continue this conversation over dinner?"

And we went out on our first date in 2012.

>> And now we're married and we've joined our family together.

He had three kids, I had three children, and now we have a bunch.

So we are always -- Music is always a part of our world right now.

And so we've written about seven songs together now.

The last album I did, he co-produced it with me.

So I've just found my partner when I found Kinard.

[ Humming ] ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I fell into a kind of love ♪ ♪ So powerful it was until ♪ ♪ We started acting out love ♪ ♪ And I forgot that I liked you ♪ ♪ We took the long route home ♪ ♪ Going for the unknown ♪ ♪ Our yellow lights turned green ♪ ♪ We hung onto our song ♪ ♪ And no it's not perfect ♪ ♪ The time or the season ♪ ♪ But it's so perfect ♪ ♪ You gave me the reason ♪ ♪ And I'm following you, love ♪ ♪ I'll wait for you, love ♪ ♪ No mistake about you, love ♪ ♪ I learned from you, love ♪ ♪ I like ♪ ♪ The way ♪ ♪ You are ♪ ♪ You are ♪ ♪ I like ♪ ♪ The way ♪ ♪ You are ♪ ♪ You are ♪ ♪ Take it slow, take it slow, take it slow ♪ ♪ Let it grow, let it grow, let us grow ♪ ♪ We have nowhere to go ♪ ♪ Just know that no one ♪ ♪ Could ever give me what you gave me ♪ ♪ That connection gave ♪ ♪ Complete satisfaction, yeah ♪ ♪ It saved me ♪ ♪ It saved me, yeah ♪ ♪ You are the reason I see ♪ ♪ I gave my heart ♪ ♪ Fire and dreams ♪ ♪ My soul's revival ♪ ♪ Forever you'll be in my mind ♪ ♪ And I'm following you, love ♪ >> ♪ You love, you love ♪ >> ♪ I'll wait for you, love ♪ ♪ No mistake about you, love ♪ ♪ I learned from you, love ♪ ♪ Ohh, ohh, ohh ♪ >> ♪ Yeah ♪ >> ♪ You are ♪ >> ♪ You are ♪ >> ♪ You are ♪ >> ♪ You, you, you, you ♪ ♪ I like ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ >> ♪ Are ♪ >> ♪ You are ♪ ♪ You are ♪ ♪ You are, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ I, I, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ What's next for me is the music is always there.

It's always there.

I want to write a blues album, a jazz album, a gospel album.

Like, I have so much I want to do.

>> I really believe the sky is the limit.

I think she's operating now in her zone of genius, where she's able to work professionally in the performing-arts space.

She's helping to cultivate arts in healthcare and arts and education.

It really is, I think, a unique moment in time for her, because all of the things that she loves so much and cares about so much, she's able to do both professionally and personally.

>> She's gonna put out that book.

Being an author, that's next for her as far as what I see.

As far as music, the world hasn't even experienced her yet, so she has a lot of albums left to make.

And also with her role in arts and now humanities, that's gonna go even further.

Tamara is like every other breath for me.

That's -- that's my heartbeat right there.

Beyond best friend.

We can talk about anything.

She's always asking, you know, "How are you feeling today?

What's going on with you?"

Sometimes I don't know, but she does.

And she would say -- Sometimes she would actually just make space.

So it's like just having someone that has your back totally in a way where even if we have a disagreement, it's one of those things she's like, "Look, we can disagree, but I'm with you and I'm gonna make sure that you get the best result out of what you're doing and get the best performance out of yourself in every aspect."

So for her, I know she's she's my crown jewel, so... >> I would like to -- to say to people... ...um, don't stop dreaming.

Um... hold on to your dream.

Hold on to your vision.

Let it speak to you.

Let it guide you.

Investigate.

Be an investigator of your own dreams.

Be curious about why you are even -- Why something might move you or anger you.

Why -- Like, asking that question, "Why?"

to your own thoughts and dreams.

♪ Imagine wherever you go ♪ ♪ This love's always surrounding you ♪ ♪ Carry you through hurt and pain ♪ ♪ But constantly astounding you ♪ ♪ Nothing like this I've ever seen ♪ ♪ I only hear sweet lullabies ♪ ♪ Whenever you are in my view ♪ ♪ I'll play in your fantasy ♪ ♪ And never wake up feeling blue ♪ ♪ I'm just ready to ♪ ♪ Surrender to you ♪ ♪ It's all love ♪ ♪ Strange and rare ♪ ♪ Far and wide ♪ ♪ Always there ♪ ♪ Breathing life ♪ ♪ On me ♪ ♪ It's all love ♪ ♪ Strange and rare ♪ ♪ Far and wide ♪ ♪ Always there ♪ ♪ Breathing life ♪ ♪ On me ♪ ♪ Calling on you now ♪ ♪ Hey Mama ♪ ♪♪ Ay yi yi yo!

>> And "The Beat" goes on.

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