R&B Singer Tamia Set to Open the 11th Annual Urban Wheel Awards

Ask Patty will be at the Detroit Auto Show all next week and we will be bringing you ever star-studded reveal and after-show party we can. To start off the excitment for this year's show, we wanted to tell you about the 2007 Urban Wheel Awards, where Canadian R&B artist, Tamia, will be performing!

From her earliest days growing up in the Ontario, Canada projects, Tamia has always faced any adversity by soaring atop an unbelievable voice. Born to a 17-year-old single mother, she refused to be daunted by the odds against her. The Elektra recording artist has also worked with the likes of Babyface, Peter Lord, Jeff Smith, and Mario Winans. She is certain to wow the 2,500 guests as she opens with a ballad at this year’s Urban Wheel Awards.

Tamia began singing with her local church at six years old. She later entered talent contests and volunteered for local theatre productions. She outsourced every avenue awaiting her big break. By the early '90s she was winning prestigious Canadian music awards, which led to an offer to work with the legendary Quincy Jones.

Tamia has balanced the life as a singer, mother and wife of NBA Orlando Magic player Grant Hill. She has received four Grammy nominations including, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “You've Put A Move On My Heart”, Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group with Vocal for “Slow Jams” and duet with Eric Benet for the #1 smash hit “Spend My Life With You” and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for her work with Brandy, Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan on the single “Missing You” from the Set It Off movie soundtrack.

More than 40 national automotive, minority and general media have signed on as media partners to the event, including hundreds of media attendees who cover both the event and auto show. Proceeds from the awards benefit the Edward Davis Education Foundation, which provides scholarships, mentoring and internships to students who are pursuing careers in the auto industry.

The awards program begins Tuesday, January 9, 2007, at 7 p.m. in the Orchestra Hall at the  Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit. For more information about the 11th Annual Urban Wheel Awards, to obtain tickets, or to sponsor the event, check out On Wheels, Inc. or call (313) 963-2209.