Desiree Coleman, also known as Kadesh, is an American vocalist and actress.

Early life

Coleman discovered her ability to sing at the age of six. Desiree's mother on hearing her daughter's voice encouraged her to join the St. Luke Baptist Church choir in

Queens Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...

, New York. During her growing years, she did several commercials and by age fourteen became a part of a community choir called the Soul Searchers of New York City.

Career

Coleman came on the scene replacing

Tisha Campbell Tisha Michelle Campbell (born October 13, 1968) is an American actress and singer. She made her screen debut appearing in the 1986 rock musical comedy film ''Little Shop of Horrors'', and later starred on the NBC musical comedy drama ''Rags to ...

in the longest running

off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

musical production of '' Mama, I Want to Sing!'', in 1983. She played the role of singer

Doris Troy Doris Troy (born Doris Elaine Higginsen; January 6, 1937 – February 16, 2004) was an American R&B singer and songwriter, known to her fans as "Mama Soul". Her biggest hit was " Just One Look", a top 10 hit in 1963. Life and career She was ...

in the musical, which is based on Troy's life. She then played in

Bob Fosse Robert Louis Fosse (; June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American choreographer, dancer, filmmaker, and stage director. Known for his work on stage and screen, he is arguably the most influential figure in the field of jazz dance in th ...

's Broadway show '' Big Deal''. Desiree Coleman released a self-titled album in 1988 through Motown. The ''Kansas City Star'' said of the album "This album isn't awful, but the next one, if all involved are challenged a little more, should better." She put out the single "Romance" in November 1988 and then the track "To Stay Together" was released as a single in early 1989. As one of four leads in the musical '' Born to Sing'', a sequel to ''Mama, I Want to Sing!'', the ''

Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...

'' reviewer wrote that Coleman "plays her brassy part to the hilt" in a 1997 performance. One of the performers at the 1997 edition of DIVAS Simply Singing, a concert fundraiser produced by

Sheryl Lee Ralph Sheryl Lee Ralph (born December 30, 1956) is an American actress and singer. Known for her performances on stage and screen, she earned acclaim for her role as Deena Jones in the Broadway musical ''Dreamgirls'' (1981), for which she was nomi ...

; ''

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'' wrote that her "vocal pyrotechnics very nearly tolethe entire show." In 2002, she toured for the

McDonald's Gospelfest The McDonald's Gospelfest is an annual gospel music festival, talent competition, and fundraiser in Newark, New Jersey. Background The event, inaugurated in 1983, and sponsored by McDonald's, takes place in spring and has been held at the Prud ...

with

Hezekiah Walker Hezekiah Xzavier Walker Jr. (born ) is an American gospel music artist and the pastor of Love Fellowship Tabernacle in Brooklyn, New York. Walker has released several albums on Benson Records and Verity Records as Hezekiah Walker & The Love F ...

Vickie Winans Vickie Winans (born Viviane Bowman; October 18, 1953) is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, comedian, and actress. In 1987, she released her debut album ''Be Encouraged'' on Light Records. The album spawn the She departed from Light ...

Cissy Houston Emily Drinkard (September 30, 1933 – October 7, 2024), known professionally as Cissy Houston, was an American soul and gospel singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Houston began singing with three of her siblings in the family gospel group, T ...

, and the group

Virtue A virtue () is a trait of excellence, including traits that may be morality, moral, social, or intellectual. The cultivation and refinement of virtue is held to be the "good of humanity" and thus is Value (ethics), valued as an Telos, end purpos ...

. Coleman recorded a song with

WWE World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...

in 2006 titled "Holla", which later became the entrance music for

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Kelly Kelly Barbara Jean Blank Coba (née Blank; January 15, 1987), known professionally as Barbie Blank and by her ring name Kelly Kelly, is an American model and former professional wrestler. She is signed to WWE under a legends contract. Blank has a ...

Personal life

Coleman is the ex-wife of former professional basketball player and former head coach of the

Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Founded in 1946 i ...

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. As co-pastors, they founded the True Love Worship Center International, a nondenominational church for which they rented out a church in

Van Nuys Van Nuys ( ) is a neighborhood in the central San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Home to Van Nuys Airport and the Valley Municipal Building, it is the most populous neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. History In 1 ...

, Los Angeles.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Coleman, Desiree 1966 births Living people 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Queens, New York American sopranos Motown artists American soul singers American gospel singers Musicians from Queens, New York 21st-century American women singers 21st-century American singers