Singer/songwriter, Dinah Chapman, has been singing since age 5. Inspired by her mother, Dinah learned to sing lead vocals for church choirs and to direct choirs. She sang with her family group, the Taylor Singers, who traveled and performed throughout the Midwest whenever her father preached at various churches. While pursuing a degree in marketing, Dinah continued singing with the Eastern Michigan University Gospel Choir and a local gospel ensemble, Love & Total Devotion.
After college, Dinah continued to perform and record with various D.C.-based groups and recorded a single. Although Dinah’s roots are in gospel music, her contemporary crossover appeal allows her to transition gracefully into mainstream. As she began to record more songs, she also began writing. Early in 2002, one of Dinah’s first songs ever written, “You Always Cared,” was recorded by Grammy nominee Ann Nesby and released on Universal Records.* It is the 10th song on Ann Nesby’s Album, “Put It On Paper” by Time Child Records 2002. “You Always Cared” was also released on a compilation CD, Bishop T.D. Jakes Presents: God’s Leading Ladies, in 2002 on the EMI Gospel label.
Dinah’s motto is, “one heart, one soul, one song”. She says, “People are basically the same wherever you go. We just need to reach out and draw upon what we have in common and honor and celebrate our differences. Music seems to bring us all together!” Dinah’s love for God and for music keeps her inspired to reach within her soul and deliver her best music to share with the world. Her vision includes song writing, singing, recording, and producing positive, uplifting, life-changing music and creating scholarships for underprivileged performing arts students in honor of her mother, the late Mildred Evelyn Gates.
Dinah’s homebase is in northern California. From 2013 to early 2016 she attended Unity Institute and Seminary pursuing her Masters of Divinity. She graduated and was ordained in June 2016. She served as Associate Minister at Unity of San Leandro in northern California until February 2018, at which time she became senior minister at Unity of Tri-Valley in Dublin, CA. Under the umbrella of Unity Worldwide Ministries, in January 2018, she launched an on-line ministry, Unity Joy Abundantly Expressing Ministries (UJAEM). She is currently enrolled in the Doctoral (DMin.) Program at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA developing a capstone project that will combine research and spiritual practices related to joy and justice work in faith-based communities.
* with additional contributors.
My Inspired Supporters
Reverend Claudell County
Reverend Claudell County is a retired Unity minister and former faculty member of Unity Institute and Seminary training Unity ministers in Ministry Arts and Skills (Leadership and Administration). She has a B.A., from Illinois State University and M.A. from University of Northern Colorado. Her Unity ordination was in 1986.
Ramona Harper, LUT
Ramona is a Licensed Unity Teacher (LUT) and a certified Unity Prayer Chaplain Trainer. She is also licensed and ordained as a Practitioner and Minister in the Divine Science Church organization and a graduate of the Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development founded by Rev. Dr. Iyanla Van Zant.
Ramona Harper is a retired career diplomat, Senior Foreign Service Officer, of the US Department of State with a specialization in Public Diplomacy. Her overseas postings were Senegal, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Panama and Germany. Ramona’s academic work includes a Master of Science degree in Counselor Education from Florida International University and a Master of Science degree from the National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces in National Resource Strategy.
Reverend Mary Anne Harris
Rev. Mary Anne Harris is retired and has been a Spiritual Leader and Unity Minister for 28 years. She has served three ministries: Unity of Fremont (Fremont, CA), Tri-Valley Unity (Dublin, CA) and the Unity Church of Christianity (Tulsa, OK).
She was ordained through the Field Licensing program in Feb. 1997. Her interests include travel, writing and photography. She is married to Patrick Harris and is owned by their parrot Merlin. Her travel site is: www.harrishousestudio.com
Reverend Diana McDaniel
Reverend Diana McDaniel is the senior minister of Unity of San Leandro and has been leading the ministry there for 20 years. She also serves as President of the Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial. You can learn more at www.portchicagomemorial.org