• News
    • Research News
    • Faculty News
    • Alumni News
    • Student News
    • STEM News
  • Events
    • Spring 2018 Commencement
  • Publications
    • A&M Magazine
  • Media
    • Videos
      • Videos
      • FAMU Taught Me Series
      • Discover FAMU Series
    • Social Media
    • Student Media
    • Experts Guide
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Request Forms
    • Advertising Rate Sheet
  • FAMU.edu
  • Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • RSS
FAMU Forward
FAMU Forward

Tallahassee, Florida

May 26th, 2022
  • News
    • Research News
      FAMU To Host NOAA-Sponsored Science Conference

      FAMU To Host NOAA-Sponsored Science Conference

      FAMU Professor Awarded National Science Foundation Excellence in Research Grant

      FAMU Professor Awarded National Science Foundation Excellence in Research Grant

      FAMU’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative Announces Pensacola Community Forum

      FAMU’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative Announces Pensacola Community Forum

      FAMU College of Pharmacy Prints 3D Cornea Using Human Cells 

      FAMU College of Pharmacy Prints 3D Cornea Using Human Cells 

    • Faculty News
      FAMU Professor Named to Capitol Hill Ocean Week Advisory Committee 

      FAMU Professor Named to Capitol Hill Ocean Week Advisory Committee 

      FAMU CoPPS, IPH Receives $700K Grant to Increase Awareness and Participation of Minorities in COVID-19 Variant Clinical Research Trials

      FAMU CoPPS, IPH Receives $700K Grant to Increase Awareness and Participation of Minorities in COVID-19 Variant Clinical Research Trials

      FAMU Professor Secures $3.5M to Support Wellness of Florida’s First Responders

      FAMU Professor Secures $3.5M to Support Wellness of Florida’s First Responders

      FAMU Researchers Win NSSR Director Awards for STEM Scholars’ Success Article

      FAMU Researchers Win NSSR Director Awards for STEM Scholars’ Success Article

    • Alumni News
      FAMU National Alumni Association Annual Convention To Be Held in Tallahassee June 1-5

      FAMU National Alumni Association Annual Convention To Be Held in Tallahassee June 1-5

      FAMU Plaque Laying Ceremony Honors Rattlers in Arms Giving

      FAMU Plaque Laying Ceremony Honors Rattlers in Arms Giving

      St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, Disney Executive Sybil Crum Announced as FAMU Spring Commencement Speakers

      St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, Disney Executive Sybil Crum Announced as FAMU Spring Commencement Speakers

      FAMU Alum Daria Willis Named Next President of Howard Community (Md.) College

      FAMU Alum Daria Willis Named Next President of Howard Community (Md.) College

    • Student News
      <strong>Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer Invites FAMU College of Law Graduates To Stay Around and Shape the Community</strong>

      Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer Invites FAMU College of Law Graduates To Stay Around and Shape the Community

      FAMU Becomes First HBCU to Pilot Google’s Shape Co-Lab

      FAMU Becomes First HBCU to Pilot Google’s Shape Co-Lab

      FAMU Student’s Sweet Design Lands in Target Stores Nationwide

      FAMU Student’s Sweet Design Lands in Target Stores Nationwide

      Twelve FAMU Students To Participate in Goldman Sachs Market Madness Program

      Twelve FAMU Students To Participate in Goldman Sachs Market Madness Program

    • STEM News
      Keysight Technologies Extends Commitment to FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

      Keysight Technologies Extends Commitment to FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

      FAMU-FSU COE Researchers Find New Microwave Technique That Makes Fertilizer More Efficient, Environmentally Friendly

      FAMU-FSU COE Researchers Find New Microwave Technique That Makes Fertilizer More Efficient, Environmentally Friendly

      FAMU Physics Professor Awarded $350,000 National Science Foundation Grant

      FAMU Physics Professor Awarded $350,000 National Science Foundation Grant

      FAMU Chemical Engineering Student Gets Historic Doctorate, Gets Offer From Harvard

      FAMU Chemical Engineering Student Gets Historic Doctorate, Gets Offer From Harvard

  • Events
    • Spring 2018 Commencement
  • Publications
    • A&M Magazine
  • Media
    • Videos
      • Videos
      • FAMU Taught Me Series
      • Discover FAMU Series
    • Social Media
    • Student Media
    • Experts Guide
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Request Forms
    • Advertising Rate Sheet
  • FAMU.edu
  • Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • RSS
Home
Features
Alumni Spotlight

Grammy Award Winning Alumna Shares Journey to Success

May 11th, 2016 FAMU News Alumni Spotlight, News
Grammy Award Winning Alumna Shares Journey to Success

If projections are correct and “Promise to Stay Here” has been streamed almost a half a million times, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU, alumna Kendra Foster has arrived.

However, when the Grammy award-winning singer/ songwriter begins to speak, you know that you’re in the presence of someone who doesn’t take herself too seriously, no matter how far she’s come. She’s humble and seemingly surprised by her recent success.

“You never really think that your gift would feed out into the world coming from such a small town,” Foster said.

The Tallahassee native ventured off to New York some eight years ago and recently jumped at the opportunity to come back to the city and perform at Tallahassee Nights Live at the Moon Nightclub. Channeling her inner Prince with ease, Foster said music has always been a part of her life, though she only wrote her first song as a student on the “Hill.”

“The first song I wrote was called ‘This World,’ and was performed with a local group called Fish-N-Grits,” Foster explained. “I did ballet for 11 years, but I don’t think I would love dance as much without music! Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theater is what attracted me to FAMU, but music is my deepest passion.”

As a student Foster followed her bliss and switched her major from math/chemistry to jazz studies and commercial music. It was at funk legend George Clinton’s studio here in Tallahassee where Foster began to compose music with the passion that eventually landed her a songwriting gig with D’Angelo and the Vanguard. Foster co-wrote and sang backup vocals for their album “Black Messiah” that won Best R&B Album of the Year and Best R&B Song for “Really Love” at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.

The energetic songstress said winning the highly-regarded accolade “is a beautiful thing though not winning doesn’t determine the value of your artwork.”

Back to the Hill

Shortly after her arrival on campus recently for this interview, Foster admitted that she had not been on campus in five years and asked to take a tour.

“I feel a wave of monumental memories coming back to the forefront of my mind. My father was a math professor and mother was an English professor…being at FAMU feels so familiar. It’s like breathing,” the alumna expressed.

As she rode through campus, Foster chuckled and recounted some of her favorite FAMU memories.

“I have so many memories of driving through the set, standing in line at Foote-Hilyer, singing with the concert choir with people like K. Michelle,” she laughed.

The budding music star has come a long way and this is only the beginning. “Promise to Stay Here” was released through Billboard, helping to propel the song to airwaves across the nation. This summer Foster plans to release a video for the song, but for now she is working hard to make sure she rides the wave of her latest success.

After performing her new hit at ATL Live on the Park, in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park the day prior to returning to Tallahassee, Foster’s work ethic is strengthened from what she learned while attending FAMU.

“FAMU taught me how to navigate in this world and industry. And to hustle! Can I say that?” she laughed.

 

 

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Previous article FAMU’s Historic Honda All-Star Challenge Championship
Next article Alumni Spotlight
Related Posts
FAMU Division of Audit Holds HBCU Fraud, Risk, and Controls Virtual Townhall

FAMU Division of Audit Holds HBCU Fraud, Risk, and Controls Virtual Townhall

May 25th, 2022
FAMU Professor Named to Capitol Hill Ocean Week Advisory Committee 

FAMU Professor Named to Capitol Hill Ocean Week Advisory Committee 

May 25th, 2022
FAMU National Alumni Association Annual Convention To Be Held in Tallahassee June 1-5

FAMU National Alumni Association Annual Convention To Be Held in Tallahassee June 1-5

May 24th, 2022
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by the FAMU Office of Communications.


Timeline
May 25th 11:54 AM
News

FAMU Division of Audit Holds HBCU Fraud, Risk, and Controls Virtual Townhall

May 25th 7:00 AM
Faculty

FAMU Professor Named to Capitol Hill Ocean Week Advisory Committee 

May 24th 6:21 PM
Alumni

FAMU National Alumni Association Annual Convention To Be Held in Tallahassee June 1-5

May 23rd 5:35 PM
Students

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer Invites FAMU College of Law Graduates To Stay Around and Shape the Community

May 23rd 2:30 PM
Staff

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Names Esteemed Scholar, Innovator as New Dean 

Follow Us!
Tweets by @FAMU_1887
RSS FAMU Sports News
  • Scott Advances to NCAA East Quarterfinals
  • Rattlers defeat Prairie View in 10th inning walk-off
  • Grant Rowell and Hunter Viets earned All-SWAC Honors
  • Rattlers open up SWAC tournament versus Prairie View
  • Robertson, Scott to Represent Rattlers at NCAA East Prelims
A&M Magazine Digital Stories
FAMU Videos

💉 #CallTheShots with FAMU's Basketball Team 🏀

👨🏾‍🎓 Congratulations to the Spring 2022 Graduates 👩🏿‍🎓

Upcoming Events
Jul
8
Fri
all-day IRENE C. EDMONDS YOUTH THEATRE P... @ Charles Winter Wood Theatre-Edmonds Stage
IRENE C. EDMONDS YOUTH THEATRE P... @ Charles Winter Wood Theatre-Edmonds Stage
Jul 8 – Jul 9 all-day
IRENE C. EDMONDS YOUTH THEATRE PRODUCTION @ Charles Winter Wood Theatre-Edmonds Stage
IRENE C. EDMONDS YOUTH THEATRE PRODUCTION   July 8 – 9, 2022 Charles Winter Wood Theatre | Edmonds Stage Share a delightful evening applauding the achievements of a group of talented young performers, culminating a[...]
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML
Calendar
May 2016
S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Apr   Jun »
Archives
Subscribe to Our Newsletter!

Enter your email address to subscribe to our news site and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Us!
Got a Story?

We love hearing from our alumni.  Let us know what you’ve been up to since you left the hill! Contact us here today!

© Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 2019. All rights reserved.
Powered by the FAMU Office of Communications