Gospel-primed soul singer Sam Salter spent several years in the choir of the Faithful Church of God in Christ in his native Los Angeles, then crossed to the secular side of the tracks for his 1997 recording debut, It's On Tonight.
In addition to his religious inspirations, Salter was influenced early on by the classic soul of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, winning several local talent shows as a teenager. He recorded a demo tape that was heard by super producer L.A. Reid, the co-head of LaFace Records, and he soon signed a contract with one of the most hyped urban R&B labels...