Melody Betts Home Church: South Shore Baptist Church (Chicago) College: Olivet College, Bachelor's in Vocal Music Mother of the cutest daughter in the world, D'jeniah Born in Washington, D.C., raised in Chicago, Illinois "The Funky Diva"

How did you come to know Christ?
My mother introduced Christ to me by decided to give her life to Him when I was a very young girl. My family has had Christ from my great grandmother on down, so He's kinda been passed down through the generations. I confessed and was baptized in 1987 in Chicago.

What musical training have you received?
A lifetime's worth! I sand with the All-City Choir of Chicago, majored in music at Lincoln Park High School, attended Merit Music Program of Chicago, and majored in Vocal Music at Olivet College. I have also been singing in church choirs since the '80s.

What are your musical influences?
Other vocalists have always been my influence . . . Rachelle Ferrell, Kim Burrell, Amel Larrieux, Ella Fitzgerald, Lady Day, and even the Neo-soul artists of the day, like India Arie and Jill Scott, to name a few. I do and will listen to everything there is, even the most unexpected. I think that Jazz has held my attention more than most music due to the fact that my grandfather exposed me to it as such a young age.  I was scatting at 4!

Who have you ministered/performed with?
Hmmmm . . . I have sung with a Chicago-based community choir call The Souls of Salvation, Ricky Dillard and the New Generation Chorale, Olivet Choir Gospel Choir (which I helped to found), an alternative hip hop band called Funktel, and Arrested Development.

What scriptures or books of the Bible have been most influential in your spiritual growth?
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, John and Job, to name a few. Can't forget Matthew. Oh - and James! Gotta say James - I can't leave that one out . . . not to mention Hebrews. That's a good one, too.

What has your experience with Joshua Jeneration been like?
Joshua is a different kind of group. I have been in a few choirs and this group has really taught me about true Christian fellowship and love. We grow together and encourage growth in one another. Christ is first in this group, whereas in others . . . it's quite the opposite. I don't know what I bring really.

What hobbies do you enjoy?
Oh well, I juswannasang!!!!