Born Kimberly Jean Burrell on August 26, 1972, in Houston, Texas,[2] Burrell was one of four children born to Julius Burrell Jr., a pastor, and Helen Ruth Graham, an evangelist singer in The Church of God in Christ.[1] As a youth, Burrell began performing with Reverend James Cleveland's GMWA Youth Mass Choir (also known as Rev. James Cleveland's Kids)
In 2004, Burrell was a guest performer along with Kelly Price on R. Kelly's "3-Way Phone Call" playing the part of Price's "prayer partner" in the soap opera-like song.[7] She appeared in George Clinton's original song "Mathematics of Love" on Clinton's 2008 album of covers, George Clinton and Some Gangsters of Love.[8] Burrell released her first studio album in 11 years, No Ways Tired, on April 7, 2009, through Shanachie Records.[9] The album features covers of classic gospel songs like "My Faith Looks Up To Thee," "What A Friend We Have In Jesus," "O Lamb Of God" and "I Surrender All," as well as the classic James Cleveland song after which the album is named.[10][11] Burrell sang "I see a Victory" with Pharrell Williams for the soundtrack to the feature film Hidden Figures (2016).[12]
In December 2016, a video surfaced showing Burrell preaching a sermon at the Love & Liberty Fellowship Church.[13][14] In that sermon, she called people who engage in homosexual acts "perverted" and said they had been deceived by the "homosexual spirit."[15][16] She also warned that people who "play with" homosexual sin would "die from it" in 2017.[17] In response to considerable criticism, Burrell said that she makes "no excuses or apologies" for the sermon, adding "I love you, and God loves you, but he hates the sin in you and me."[18] Shortly after the video of the sermon surfaced, The Ellen DeGeneres Show canceled Burrell's scheduled appearance,[19] as did the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music event, where she was removed as an honoree.[20] Her radio talk show, Bridging the Gap with Kim Burrell, was canceled by Texas Southern University.
Lattimore first developed his interest for music in the high school band program at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland. He often acknowledges Dr. Barbara Baker for setting him on his current path. Lattimore spoke at the 2005 Eleanor Roosevelt High School Graduation.[1] He is an alumnus of Howard University in Washington, D.C.
In 2003, Lattimore and his then-wife Chante Moore released a duet album titled Things That Lovers Do consisting of classic soul songs from the 1970s and 1980s plus two new original songs. The standout singles were the smooth and contemporary "Loveable (From Your Head to Your Toes)" and a cover of René & Angela's "You Don't Have To Cry". Lattimore and Moore continued promoting the album with a successful touring stage show.
Following Things That Lovers Do, Lattimore released another collaborative album with Moore. The duo released their second collaborative album titled Uncovered/Covered (2006).
