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Gayla L. Butler

Butler performing at the 2009 IBOC Church in Dallas, TX Background information Birth name Gayla Lanette Butler Also known as Gayla [1] Born October 24, 1968 (age 41) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Genres Gospel, Urban Contemporary Gospel, R&B, Neo soul

Occupations Singer-songwriter Instruments Vocals, and Drums Years active 1981- present Labels Malaco, Savoy, One I Up Productions Website www.Gaylagirl.com

Gayla Lanette Butler (surname pronounced /ˈbut* ler /; born October 24, 1968, also known as Gayla, is an American singer, songwriter and philanthropist. Butler is a former member of the Legendary Group “The Truthettes” with TuTu, Tammy and Becky compiling and impressive list of billboard hits and selling millions of records worldwide. Contents [show] •

[edit] Early Life

Butler was born on October 24, 1968, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was born to parents Angela Perryman, and Mac Butler. Butler however was soon given up by her parents and taken in by her biological fathers parents Imo Jean and Marland Gay who raised her as their sixth child. Despite the unceremonious start to her young life, at the ripe old age of two, Gayla found coffee tables to be her stage. She began singing and dancing to the R&B classic “Clean Up Woman” by Betty Wright for family and anyone who would listen. Butler was not from a music family but as she grew so did her talent. When Butler was 8 years old her mother(Grandmother) told her the person she has known as her brother was really her father.

  Butler spent her early years in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  singing in school choirs, in talent shows and theatrical productions which helped to hone her talents . She also sang in a Baptist church.   Being the first to do anything was close to impossible with her three sisters and two brothers but just four years after learning of her father.  She at the age of twelve had the chance to become a professional singer and she took full advantage.

[edit] Career Butler and her former members of the Legendary Group “The Truthettes” with TuTu, Tammy and Becky still have a strong legion of fan and selling records worldwide today. Gayla's vocal range registers from alto to soprano, but mostly performs in the mezzo-soprano range. Gayla cites Patti LaBelle, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and The Clark Sisters as the most influential vocalists in her life.[2][3].

[edit] 1968 to 1981

At the age of 12, Butler had a first her star was about to take off. She was offered the opportunity to audition for this local group known as The Truthettes, who were at the time a mother and daughter group that began singing in the mid 70s. The group had been discovered by the late Willie Neal Johnson who immediately contacted the Gospel Director the late Frank Williams of Malaco Records. The group was introduced to Mr. Williams he listened and they later signed to Malaco Records. Immediately, the label began working on their first album "Child's Prayer" which was produced by Frank Williams. Butler caught a break the album “Child’s Prayer” had been completed and the Album art with former group member “?????” was printed. But “?????” could not complete her commitment they needed a replacement. Gayla had one chance in a room filled with girls to have her dream of becoming a professional singer. As you would imagine she did not disappoint she was chosen on spot. Although, she was not an original member of the group but her haven traveled and preformed all the song from the album she later became known as one. A “Child’s Prayer” became a very well received album around the country.

[edit] 1981 to 1982: Child’s Prayer

I [edit] 1983: Take It To The Lord In Prayer On April 22, 1997, Malaco Records [edit] 1984: Making A Way On August 17, 1999, fourth album,

[edit] 1987: The Friends

in September 2003

On August [edit] 2005–06: The B [edit] 2007–08: G In 1998, B

24. ^ http://www.gaylagirl.com/bio2/ [edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gayla L. Culp

• Official website • Gayla L. Culp at the Internet Movie Database • Gayla L. Culp at Allmusic • Gayla L. Culp at Discogs [hide]

Related articles Discography • Awards and nominations • Videography

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