Taral Hicks Explained

Taral Hicks
Birth Place:The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Yearsactive:1993–present
Education:Grace Dodge Vocational High School
Family:D'atra Hicks (sister)
Module:
Embed:yes
Background:solo_singer
Label:Motown

Taral Hicks (born September 21, 1974) is an American actress and R&B singer. Hicks is best known for her acting in such films as 1993's American crime drama film A Bronx Tale and her 1997 debut R&B studio album This Time which featured a cover of Deniece Williams' "Silly" that peaked at No. 4 on Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.

Raised in Bronx, NY, Hicks graduated from Grace Dodge in 1993.[1]

Career

Acting

Hicks began her film career with a role in the critically acclaimed 1993 film, A Bronx Tale. Her subsequent film roles were small: 1995's Just Cause with Sean Connery and Laurence Fishburne, and 1996's Educating Matt Waters and The Preacher's Wife with Whitney Houston. She appeared in the movie Belly in 1998. In 2000, she appeared on screen in the short film, Are You Cinderella?, with actor Wood Harris. Her later film roles were in independent films such as 2005's The Salon, with Vivica A. Fox, Dondre Whitfield, and Darrin Henson; 2006's Forbidden Fruits with Ella Joyce, Fredro Starr, and R&B singer Keith Sweat; 2007's Humenetomy; and 2010's Ex$pendable. Hicks featured in the HBO television series Subway Stories in 1997. Two guest roles followed: 2002's 100 Centre Street in the episode titled "Fathers", and a 2003 episode of Soul Food: The Series titled "The New Math".

Hicks co-starred in the musical stage play Tyler Perry's Aunt Bam's Place with Paris Bennett, Cassi Davis, Jeffrey Lewis, and Melonie Daniels. It had a 3-day run beginning August 30, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia (Cobb Energy Center) and was filmed for a DVD release on June 12, 2012.[2]

Music

In 1995, Hicks signed a deal with Motown Records and released an album titled This Time. The single "Ooh, Ooh Baby", written by and featuring Missy Elliott, charted on the Billboard R&B singles chart. However, the lead single intended to debut her singing career was "Distant Lover", an uptempo track produced by Teddy Riley. The album did not take off until the second single, "Silly", a remake of the classic R&B hit by Deniece Williams, was released. Featuring a black-and-white music video directed by Hype Williams, the single charted well on the R&B chart. After collaborating on the video for "Silly", Williams cast Hicks as in his directorial film debut, 1998's Belly, as Keisha, DMX's girlfriend. The video for "Silly" appeared in one of the film's scenes. Hicks has expressed interest in pursuing a career in gospel music.[3]

Personal life

Hicks is a 1993 graduate of Grace Dodge Vocational High School in the Bronx, New York.[1] She is the younger sister of actress and singer D'atra Hicks. In 1999, Hicks began dating Loren Dawson,[4] and the couple married in 2001.

Discography

Singles

YearSongPeak positiona
US PopUS R&B
1996"Ooh, Ooh Baby" (featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott)81
1997"Distant Lover"60
1998"Silly"104[5] 54
"How Can I Get Over You"
Soundtracks

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993A Bronx TaleJane Williams
1995Just CauseLena Brown
1996The Preacher's WifeTeen
1997Subway StoriesWoman with FlowersTV movie
1998BellyKeisha
2000Are You Cinderella?Homeless WomanShort
2005The SalonTrina
2006Forbidden FruitsNicole WaltersVideo
2007Humenetomy Member of Gospel Choir
2010Ex$pendableBrendaVideo
2012Aunt Bam's PlaceMona
2014The Hilltop BarbershopMember of the church choir
2016Where Hearts LieShante Jackson
A Sub in the Brick CityDetective TammyShort
The 1 Closest 2 U Le-Le
SuppositionCheryl Jameson
King of NewarkMistress
2017The HillsDr. Welker
North Housing AuthorityBilly Blaire News Caster
2018King of Newark 2Lawyer
2020Bitch LoverMrs. Marshall
2022GaslightKendra
Sleepyhead Yvonne
A Second ChanceShena
A Father's PrideSister Rose

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002100 Centre Street-Episode: "Fathers"
2003Soul FoodNaomiEpisode: "The New Math"
2018Illusions KellyMain Cast
2020Chase Street Beverly JohnsonMain Cast

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Beckerman, Jim . Where Stars Are Born . . August 19, 2000 . February 12, 2020 . When Shanell Jones graduated from Teaneck High School in June, she already had a deal with Def Jam, a major recording label. But as former Motown Records artist Taral Hicks (Teaneck, Class of 1994) and Alligator recording artist Shemekia Copeland (Teaneck, Class of 1997) could tell her, that's no big deal in this neck of the woods. . https://web.archive.org/web/20110516171812/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-30986533.html . 16 May 2011 . dead.
  2. Web site: Tyler Perry's Aunt Bam's Place Starring Paris Benet & Taral Hicks Comes to DVD Tomorrow. Urbanbridgez.com. June 11, 2012. February 15, 2019.
  3. Web site: Taral Hicks: From the Belly of the Beast. https://web.archive.org/web/20090904030039/http://www.allhiphop.com/stories/lifestylefilm/archive/2009/09/01/21920258.aspx. September 4, 2009. September 1, 2009. All Hip Hop.com.
  4. Web site: Happy 20th V-Day my love ❤️@lorendawson. Hicks. Taral. Instagram.com. February 23, 2019.
  5. Web site: Billboard – Music Charts, News, Photos & Video. May 15, 2017.