Oleta was the daughter of a preacher. She was raised in gospel music. Her family moved to Yakima in Washington when she was a teenager. Sometimes, this is shown as her birthplace. Oleta began her career in the 80s with two self-financed albums that had little success. Roland Orzabal, Curt Smith and their famous English pop band Tears for Fears, discovered Oleta while she was performing in a Kansas City bar. She was invited to sing in their next album, The Seeds of Love. The LP was released in 1989 and “Woman In Chains”, a duet sung by Adams and Orzabal, and featuring Phil Collins on drums, became her first hit. Oleta began her solo career in 1990 with Orzabal, who produced it. Her debut album Circle of One was well received by critics. She also scored her biggest hit in 1991 with her cover of Brenda Russell’s “Get Here”. Oleta also contributed to the Elton John/Bernie Taupin tribute, Two Rooms. On it, she sang John’s 1974 hit, “Don’t let the sun go down on me”. Her second album, Evolution, was also a commercial hit. Moving On, Oleta’s 1995 album, was a commercial success.
