The following letter was submitted to Little Village by a service member who wishes to remain anonymous. Their identity has been verified by LV editors. As a service member with […]

Full Name: Whitney Elizabeth Houston Stage Names: Whitney Houston Birth Date: August 9, 1963 Death Date: February 11, 2012 Origin: Newark, New Jersey, U.S. Background: Whitney Houston, born into a musically gifted family, was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston and cousin to renowned vocalist Dionne Warwick. Immersed in gospel music from a young age, she began singing in the church choir at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark.

Full Name: Prince Rogers Nelson Stage Names: Prince, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, Love Symbol Birth Date: June 7, 1958 Death Date: April 21, 2016 Origin: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA Background: Prince Rogers Nelson was born to John L. Nelson, a jazz pianist and songwriter, and Mattie Della Shaw, a jazz singer. Immersed in music from an early age, Prince taught himself to play multiple instruments, including the piano, guitar, and drums.

Full Name Stevland Hardaway Morris (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins) Stage Names Stevie Wonder, Little Stevie Wonder Birth Date May 13, 1950 Origin Saginaw, Michigan, USA Background Stevie Wonder, born prematurely, suffered complications leading to retinopathy of prematurity, which caused his blindness shortly after birth. Despite this challenge, he demonstrated exceptional musical talent from an early age, mastering instruments such as the piano, harmonica, and drums by the age of eight.

Full Name Darius Carlos Rucker Stage Names Darius Rucker Birth Date May 13, 1966 Origin Charleston, South Carolina, USA Background Darius Rucker is an iconic figure in both rock and country music. Born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, he grew up in a modest household, influenced by the gospel music sung by his mother and the rhythm of his Southern roots.

Full Name: Kendrick Lamar Duckworth Stage Names: Kendrick Lamar, K.Dot, King Kendrick, Kung Fu Kenny Birth Date: June 17, 1987 Origin: Compton, California, USA Background: Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, born in Compton, California, emerged from a city synonymous with the roots of West Coast hip-hop. His upbringing in a neighborhood rife with challenges deeply influenced his music, infusing it with narratives of resilience and social commentary.

Robert Glasper is a distinguished American pianist, record producer, songwriter, and musical arranger, renowned for seamlessly blending jazz with elements of hip-hop, R&B, and neo-soul. Full Name: Robert Andre Glasper Stage Names: Robert Glasper Birth Date: April 6, 1978 Origin: Houston, Texas, USA Background: Glasper's musical journey was profoundly influenced by his mother, Kim Yvette Glasper, a professional jazz and blues singer who also served as the music director at East Wind Baptist Church in Houston.

Fred Hammond is a renowned American gospel singer, bass guitarist, and record producer, celebrated for his dynamic contributions to contemporary gospel music. Full Name: Frederick William Hammond Stage Names: Fred Hammond Birth Date: December 27, 1960 Origin: Detroit, Michigan, USA Background: Born in Detroit, Michigan, Fred Hammond was introduced to music through his mother, Mildred Hammond, a choir director.

Full Name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty Stage Names: Rihanna Birth Date: February 20, 1988 Origin: Saint Michael, Barbados Background: Robyn Rihanna Fenty, known globally as Rihanna, was born in Saint Michael, Barbados, and raised in Bridgetown. Her childhood was marked by her Barbadian father's and Guyanese mother's diverse cultural influences. Rihanna's early life was challenging, with her parents' troubled marriage and her father's struggles with addiction.