Mississippi-born, Louisiana-raised, singer-songwriter and Soul artist Tonya Boyd-Cannon is no stranger to the music scene. This daughter of a preacher has been singing since she was a child. Although most of her musical training came by way of middle school and high school band directors, Boyd-Cannon is a classically trained vocalist with a Bachelors of Arts in Music from Tougaloo College.

Tonya Boyd-Cannon’s professional career started as a background vocalist for Jean Knight, who’s best known for her 1970’s hit single, “Mr. Big Stuff”. Tonya’s professional career also includes work as a vocal coach, educator and Minister of Music. Additionally, she is credited with creating the first, combined male and female mass choir in the Orleans Parish prison in New Orleans. Tonya’s fairly rare contralto voice, almost identical to that of a countertenor, pushes the envelope with amazing soulful arrangements and jazzy lyrical content.

Tonya’s career catapulted when she appeared on Season 8 of NBC’s “The Voice,” where she wowed the crowd, and her coach Adam Levine. Tonya ranked in the Top 20 finals, leaving the show with her powerful rendition of “Take Me to the Pilot” by Elton John. Tonya returned home to New Orleans excited to release her sophomore album “MUZIC Is Life” in 2016. The album landed in ten categories in the first round of “The GRAMMY’s. Her message of “MUZIC is Life,” continues to reach hearts and souls worldwide: “Music is life, music is love, you are golden!”