TAMELA MANN

Tamela J. Mann (born June 9, 1966) is an American actress and gospel singer, known for her role as Cora in Tyler Perry's plays, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea's Family Reunion, Madea's Class Reunion, Meet the Browns, and What's Done in the Dark. Mann began her career as a singer with the gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family. Mann was a featured soloist on several tracks while with Franklin's group, including "Don't Take Your Joy Away", "Now Behold the Lamb", and "Lean on Me", the latter of which also included Mary J. Blige, Crystal Lewis, R. Kelly, and Bono. She released her own album, the Master Plan, in 2009. Mann has also made appearances in movies such as Kingdom Come and Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Mann recorded some songs on the soundtrack for Diary of a Mad Black Woman, including participating in the song "Father (Can You Hear Me)". Mann is the wife of David Mann, who is known for his role as "Deacon Leroy Brown" in several of Perry's plays. Tamela’s musical career began when she joined up with the multi-grammy award winning and double platinum gospel phenomenon Kirk Franklin and the Family.[3] Mann has also enjoyed collaborating and performing with numerous artists such as Yolanda Adams, Mary J. Blige, Al Green, Celine Dion, Bono, R. Kelly and Fred Hammond. She went on to join the gospel musical cast of David E. Talbert as he directed the stage play He Say…She Say…But What Does God Say? In 2005, mann & her husband David Mann created their own label entitled tillymann music which they have released several projects through in 2005,her solo album titled “Gotta Keep Movin” and in 2007 she released her first live album “The Live Experience.” Mann’s explosive songs "Father Can You hear Me" and "Take It To Jesus" can be heard in the movie and on the soundtrack album of Diary of a Mad Black Woman.[4] Mann began acting in 1999 when she was discovered by Tyler Perry. She debuted in the stage play, I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Mann went on to play in Meet the Browns, Madea's Family Reunion, Madea's Class Reunion, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, and What's Done in the Dark. Mann has appeared on television shows including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, BET Soundstage, 1999 Grammy Awards, Dove Awards, the United States of America World Olympics, and Tyler Perry's House of Payne, as well as Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns (Television Show), where she portrays Mr. Brown's (David Mann) daughter. Mann has appeared in movies, including the 2001 comedy, Kingdom Come, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, and Meet The Browns.[5] She also had a role in 2009's Tyler Perry movie Madea Goes to Jail. She is currently filming a new cooking show with her husband, David, called "Hanging with the Mann's".In 2009 Mann's 2nd Studio album "The Master Plan" was released and peaked at number 2 on the billboard Gospel Album Chart,as well as peaking at number 97 on the billboard 200. Mann will appear in the upcoming 2012 film Sparkle, a remake of 1976 film of the same name, alongside Whitney Houston and American Idol winner and R&B singer Jordin Sparks, who makes her film debut. The film is scheduled to be released on August 17, 2012.