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India.Arie learned the transforming power of music early in life, encouraged by both parents -- her mother, Simpson, herself a former singer, and now Arie's stylist, and her father, basketball star Ralph Simpson. She had taken up a succession of musical instruments throughout her schooling in Denver, Colorado, but it was her discovery of the guitar at college in Savannah, Georgia, that inspired her to write and perform. After co-founding an Atlanta-based independent music collective, Arie contributed a song to a locally released compilation, which led to a second-stage gig at Lilith Fair. There, a Universal/Motown music scout spotted her and made an introduction to Motown CEO Kedar Massenburg. Arie's 2001 debut, Acoustic Soul, earned her seven Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist, and Record, Song and Album of the Year -- the most of any solo artist that year. During that time India.Arie joined veteran roots-rocker John Mellencamp for a duet on "Peaceful World," collaborated with Cassandra Wilson on "Just Another Parade," and wrote the heartbreaking "Good Man" for We Were Soldiers. Arie also headlined MTV2/Vibe "Women in Hip-Hop and Soul" tour, and co-starred in the Gap's holiday television campaign, appearing with Sheryl Crow, Liz Phair and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. By then, her exposure and her multiple Grammy nominations helped Acoustic Soul go multi-platinum. Arie's follow-up, Voyage to India, came out in 2002. Arie and her musical director, Shannon Sanders, co-produced most of the album together, while guitarist Ricky Quinones was also a frequent collaborator. Of the record Arie says: "It was a musical manifestation of my last year or two. It's been all about growth and experiencing different kinds of love and friendship, bonding. 'Little Things,' 'Slow Down,' 'God Is Real,' and 'The Truth,' all blended together, would sum up the past year."
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