Janice Gaines

Background

Gaines was born, Janice Patrice Reddick, in Saint Louis, Missouri, on May 22, 1981, but raised in Memphis, Tennessee.

Education

Oberlin College.

Career

Her debut singles, "Wait On You" and "The Break-Up Song," were released as an extended play album on April 14, 2015. and debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. She grew up singing in church, where her father was a Methodist minister, Lawrence Lewis Reddick III, and her mother, a singer/songwriter/musician, Jacquelyn Reddick-Jones (née, Merriwether), and she has a brother, Jon. Gaines attended Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, during which time she sang background vocals for Rhythm & Blues singer Howard Hewett.

Following college, Gaines attended Ashland Theological Seminary, where she received a Masters of Divinity, before moving to New York City to teach seventh-grade math in the Bronx.

Following the 2012 release of her debut single, "One Day," Gaines caught the attention of Motown Gospel president Ken Pennell, who later signed her to a recording agreement. In 2015, Motown Gospel released two singles from Janice Gaines-- "Wait On You" and "The Break-Up Song".

"Wait On You" peaked at #21 on Billboard"s Hot Gospel Songs chart.

Achievements

• Her debut album, "Greatest Life Ever," was produced by GRAMMY Award-winning producer LaShawn Daniels. In December 2014, Janice Gaines was featured on the Motown Christmas album, singing a duet with GRAMMY Award-nominated Rhythm & Blues/soul singer Kem (singer) on the song "Bethlehem." Her debut album, Greatest Life Ever, produced by GRAMMY Award-winning producer LaShawn Daniels, was released on October 9, 2015 and debuted at #7 on Billboard"s Top Gospel Albums chart.

Membership

As a teenager, Gaines was the youngest member of the Memphis-based community choir O"Landa Draper & The Associates. In 2010, Janice Gaines began touring the nation as a member of the Worship Team for Women of Faith, a Christian-based live events organization.