Chrisette Michele & Rick Ross

In a very short span of time, R&B singer/songwriter Chrisette Michele shot from small-time performer to one of Def Jam's most promising talents, purely based on her unique instrument -- a gorgeous and effortlessly versatile singing voice colored with Billie Holiday-esque inflections of vocal pop and jazz. The jazz-influenced vocalist, born Chrisette Michele Payne in 1982, developed her pipes through singing gospel, first performing for a congregation at age four. God and music were clearly instrumental in her upbringing. Her father, who also played the organ, was a deacon, and...