Tonya Lumpkin’s journey started in Kansas City, Missouri, where she grew up Tonya Johnston, the middle child and only girl, in a family that at the time had 3 children. Tonya was placed in the Gifted & Talented program in 1st grade and continued in the program through high school where she attended Lincoln College Preparatory Academy for Accelerated study. She was raised in a Christian family and was a member of Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, where her mother, Phyllis Poke, led powerhouse solos in the choir. Entertaining and music runs in the family and Tonya always knew she would someday entertain as well.Hip hop music was up and coming and it quickly caught her attention. She started reciting rhymes she heard as young as age five. By age 13, she was writing her own music and poetry and by age 15 had made her debut as one-half of the amateur rap duo Divine. Tonya and her best friend, Shurhea Mitchell were regulars on the Kansas City talent show circuit, performing at the BRE Conventions, opening for major recording artists and were offered a recording contract in 1989. Her father, who was managing them at the time, felt the contract was not the right deal. They passed on it and it would be several more years before Tonya would return to music as Sole’.
In the interim, Tonya attended college, changing her major from Psychology to Political Science then to Music. By 1992 she had become a single mother of 2 daughters, in a dysfunctional relationship. Desiring more for her life, she decided once again to pursue a career in music.
In 1997, she packed up, left for L.A., made some connections there and then moved to Atlanta, in pursuit of a record deal, which she landed in October of 1998 with Red Zone Entertainment and Dreamworks Records. She also landed a publishing deal with Windswept Publishing the following year. Tonya, now known as Sole’, went on to release her gold selling debut album “Skin Deep” in September of 1999 which included a provocative marketing campaign featuring the KC native, semi nude, dipped in platinum paint, posing in more than a few arousing positions. She also had a guest appearance on the song “Who Dat” by JT Money which sold over 1 million copies, was number one on the rap singles charts for 8 weeks and won “Rap Single of the Year” at the 1999 Billboard Music Awards. That same year, she was also nominated for “Rap Artist of the Year” and went on to win several ASCAP Music awards.
During this time, Tonya (Sole’) also met the man who would later become her husband, R&B recording artist, Ginuwine. After dating for several years and having two daughters, they were married on Sept. 8, 2003. It was during this time away from the music industry that her transformation began. She started feeling uncomfortable with the images she was portraying and the lyrics she was writing. She began to see the impact that music and media has on society and especially youth. Her relationship with God was renewed and she committed herself to being and example, not only for the daughters she was raising, and the man she had just married, but to people everywhere.
Tonya rededicated her life to the Lord in April, 2003 and became a member of From the Heart Church Ministries in Temple Hills, Md. “ My life is 100% changed. God is a restorer and a healer. I am not the same person I was before. God has washed me, cleansed me, purged me, delivered me and set me free. I am truly grateful for his continuous grace. I am living, breathing evidence that the God I serve is real…… I am a new creature in Christ and I have the peace that passes all understanding… the peace that no amount of fame, money or worldly success could bring,”
Tonya is now a graduate of the Protocol School of Washington, an entrepreneur and owns several companies including Global Decorum, an etiquette and international protocol consulting firm in Maryland, S.P.R.U.C.E., an independent living program based in Kansas City, Mo and Stories and Dreamz Salon & Spa in Lee’s Summit, Mo. She now resides in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area with her husband and children and is an active member of her church and community. She volunteers in the International Ministry as Cultural Team Leader, serves as a youth mentor and has been an invited guest speaker at organizations including Job Corp, Spiritually Speaking, the Black Student Union at George Mason University and The Life Center, to name a few. She speaks on the influence of music and media on culture, self image and societal behavior. She has also worked with Urban Change, a faith based organization led by Pastor Jay Cameron, where she performed in his life changing stage play, Sexpose’. In addition, she is a World Vision sponsor of children in India and Africa and finds great pleasure in being able to show the love Christ through serving those in need.
“I don’t know if I will ever return to music, but if I do, it will not be as the same person I was before and I will not conform to worldly standards. I have no desire to be a part of glorifying sin or causing someone else to stumble. The blinders have been removed from my eyes and now I am able to see. I know who I am and who’s I am and my goal is to reach as many others as I can, especially the youth, and show them that there truly is another way to live than what they see on TV and in the streets.”
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