My mom always had me in some form of music. I started singing in the kids choir, and taking piano lessons. I remember having a piano teacher who was the music director at another church and she was really strict. She would crack my knuckles when my hand positions were incorrect, OUCH! Ha ha ha. I played the snare drum, I was super skinny and struggled everyday to get that drum home. Growing up in the Northside of Richmond V.A., my neighborhood was nothing nice. I would sometimes get chased home dragging that heavy snare drum, needless to say I quit the drums quickly! I played the Saxophone for years and also played in my high school concert band, but using my voice was my number #1 instrument of choice. I sung my first solo in a church full of people around the age of 10 or 11, I think it was “This Little Light of Mine”, I was so scared but I got so much positive feedback, moms was so proud. Moving into my teen years, My favorite group was Jodeci. I used to want to be and sing like K.C. So bad! The D boys and O.G’s in my hood would pay me to sing Jodeci songs and Nate Dogg hooks and lyrics. Once I found out that singing to girls made them like me more, it was over! Ha Ha! When I went to college down in the 757 of VA my creative side started to really blossom. This was the same time Timberland, Missy, The Neptune’s, and The Clips were blowing up. They made me so proud to be from V.A., and I wanted to do my part to represent my home creatively. So here I am! I hope you all enjoy my music! Mo Yates