D'atra Hicks

{{Infobox person

| name = D'atra Hicks

| image = Datra Hicks.jpg

| image_upright = 0.9

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = Deitra Cherelle Hicks

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|12|27}}

| birth_place = Harlem, New York City, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| education = Harry S. Truman High School

| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|singer}}

| family = Taral Hicks (sister)

| module = {{Infobox musical artist

| embed = yes

| genre = {{hlist|R&B|soul|pop|gospel}}

| label = {{hlist|Capitol|Digital Jukebox}}

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Cheryl Pepsii Riley|Chandra Currelley|Tamela Mann}}

| years_active = 1985–present

| domesticpartner =

| website = {{URL|datrahicks.net}}

}}

D'Atra Hicks (born Deitra Cherelle Hicks; December 27, 1967){{citation needed|date=February 2019}} is an American actress and singer. Hicks is best known for her role as Jackie Simmons in Tyler Perry's 2002 stage play Madea's Family Reunion. Hicks has also performed as Nurse Trudy in the 2006 stage play What's Done in the Dark and as Niecy in the 2009 play Laugh to Keep from Crying.

Life and career

Born in Harlem, Hicks began performing in her grandfather's church choir as a child. In her early teens, Hicks and her older sister Miriam formed a singing group "The Hicks Sisters" and eventually cut a demo. The duo's demo caught the attention of Broadway producers of the stage play Mama I Want To Sing! were impressed by Hicks' voice. In late 1985, Hicks was offered the lead role of Doris Winter in the play, in which she portrayed from April 1986 until 1990.[https://books.google.com/books?id=bbsDAAAAMBAJ&dq=deitra+hicks&pg=PA34 "Mama, I Want To Sing Hits 5th Year In New York (Jet Magazine) February 1, 1988] The play eventually became the most successful off-Broadway black musical in theatrical history. During her time on Broadway, Hicks received a solo deal with Capitol Records in 1989. Hicks released her self-titled debut album under the Capitol label on September 9, 1989. With production contributions from Narada Michael Walden and Nick Martinelli, Hicks' album debuted at number sixty-three and sat ten weeks on the Top R&B Albums chart. Hicks later scored roles in Tyler Perry's stage plays including Madea's Family Reunion, What's Done in the Dark.

File:Datra Hicks Performing in Tyler Perry Production.jpg

Hicks starred in the stage play Laugh to Keep from Crying, written and directed by Tyler Perry.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/11/tyler_perry_play_laugh_to_keep_1.html|title=Tyler Perry play, 'Laugh to Keep from Crying,' mixes laughter, tears, Grand Rapids references in DeVos Hall show|last=DeBoer|first=Terry|date=November 18, 2009|work=GRAND RAPIDS ENTERTAINMENT|publisher=mlive.com}} She played Neicey, a prostitute who is seeking to turn her life around even as she mistakenly influences Lisa.

In 2018, American playwright, comedian and director JD Lawrence asked Hicks to take part in a new reality show on Bravo's Your Husband is Cheating On Us, along with Ginuwine, Tondy Gallant, Lia Grant and Kristen Plati.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/fans-love-it-critics-dont-after-tyler-perry-can-urban-theater-cross-over/2018/05/28/066179e4-5d39-11e8-b2b8-08a538d9dbd6_story.html?noredirect=on|title=Fans love it. Critics don't. After Tyler Perry, can urban theatre cross over?|last=Andrews-Dyer|first=Helena|date=May 27, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/2018/04/195677/reality-tv-black-subcultures|title=Reality TV Has Become An Unlikely Champion For Black Subcultures|last=Bowen|first=Sesali|date=April 5, 2018|work=Refinery29|publisher=refinery29.com}}File:Datra Hicks on Reality show - Your Husband Is Cheating On Us.jpg reality television series Your Husband Is Cheating On Us, 2018]]

Hicks also provided vocals on Earnest Pugh's 2018 album The UnSung Hits Vol. 1 (EPM Music Group/ Entertainment One),{{cite web|url=http://www.thechristianbeat.org/index.php/gospel/5064-earnest-pugh-to-release-10th-project-on-september-7|title=Earnest Pugh To Release 10th Project On September 7|last=Clarks|first=Jessie|date=July 30, 2018|work=TCB|publisher=thechristianbeat.org}} which was produced by Cedric Thompson, Michael Bereal and Keith Williams.

Personal life

Hicks is the older sister of actress and singer Taral Hicks. No sources have either confirmed or denied that Hicks has ever been married. Hicks has one child, Diamond Grant,{{Cite web |date=2018-02-22 |title=D'atra Hicks |url=https://www.bravotv.com/people/datra-hicks |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Bravo TV Official Site |language=en-US}} with actor Tony Grant.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

=''Divorce Court''=

Sources differ as to the circumstances surrounding Hicks' relationship with actor Loren Harper.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} Hicks and Harper appeared married on Divorce Court twice, once in September 2010[http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/divorce-court/episode-17909320/195720/ TV Guide – TV Shows – Divorce Court] and later divorced in February 2017. A source cites their marriage as fictitious, stating that it was a comedy sketch acting scene arranged for television for the launch of the Divorce Court series.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

Chart positions

=Albums=

class="wikitable"
rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2" style="width:230px;"\| Album details !colspan="2"\| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"\| Record label
style="width:3em;font-size:80%"\| US R&B !style="width:3em;font-size:80%"\| UK
1989 \| D'atra Hicks \| style="text-align:center;"\| 63 \| style="text-align:center;"\| – \| style="text-align:center;"\| Capitol Records
2007 \| Finally My Time \| style="text-align:center;"\| – \| style="text-align:center;"\| – \| style="text-align:center;"\| –

class="wikitable"

rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2" style="width:230px;"| Album details

!colspan="2"| Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2"| Record label

style="width:3em;font-size:80%"| US
R&B

!style="width:3em;font-size:80%"| UK

1989

| D'atra Hicks

| style="text-align:center;"| 63

| style="text-align:center;"| –

| style="text-align:center;"| Capitol Records

2007

| Finally My Time

| style="text-align:center;"| –

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;" \| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" \| Year ! scope="col" colspan="2" \| Peak chart positions
scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" \| US R&B ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" \| US Dance
scope="row" \| "Sweet Talk"[http://www.musicvf.com/D'atra+Hicks.art D'atra Hicks Songs] \|1989 \| 8 \|\| 24
scope="row" \| "You Make Me Want to Give It Up" \|1989 \| 51 \|\| —

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;" | Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year

! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart positions

scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US
R&B

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US
Dance

scope="row" | "Sweet Talk"[http://www.musicvf.com/D'atra+Hicks.art D'atra Hicks Songs]

|1989

| 8 || 24

scope="row" | "You Make Me Want to Give It Up"

|1989

| 51 || —