# Chanté Moore
**Chanté Moore** is an American R&B singer and songwriter whose career, begun at the tail end of the new jack swing era, has placed more than a dozen songs on Billboard's R&B chart. Born in 1967 in San Francisco, California, she is known for a five-octave range, a supple soprano, and use of the whistle register, the highest human vocal register.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore-mn0000165345) • [2](https://www.chantemoore.com/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Chanté Torrane Moore[3](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/17e359d0-966e-4c2a-a632-3e5c7de0a1d4) |
| Born | 1967, San Francisco, California[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore-mn0000165345) |
| Break | Discovered at age 22 by producer and executive Louil Silas, who signed her to Silas Records, his MCA subsidiary[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore-mn0000165345) |
| Debut album | *Precious* (1992), RIAA-certified gold on the strength of "Love's Taken Over" and "It's Alright"[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore-mn0000165345) • [2](https://www.chantemoore.com/) |
| Biggest hit | "Chanté's Got a Man" (1999), a Billboard top ten pop hit from her highest-charting album, *This Moment Is Mine*[2](https://www.chantemoore.com/) |
| Vocal range | Five octaves, including whistle-register singing[2](https://www.chantemoore.com/) |
| Recent visibility | First American ever to compete on China's *Singer 2024*, tying for the most first-place finishes across the show's 13-week run[2](https://www.chantemoore.com/) |
## Early life and discovery
Moore was born in San Francisco in 1967. Her father was a minister, and she grew up on gospel music alongside recordings by [George Duke](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-duke) and [Lee Ritenour](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-ritenour), sometimes writing her own lyrics to their music.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore-mn0000165345) The Universal Music Japan biography describes a strict household in which, as the daughter of a pastor, she was not permitted to listen to anything besides gospel, and notes that she worked as a model in San Diego between the ages of 13 and 17.[4](https://www.universal-music.co.jp/chante/biography/)
A performance in a high-school production of *The Wiz* convinced her to pursue singing professionally.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore-mn0000165345) In San Diego she performed in singing and dancing shows while trying to meet people in the music industry; her break came when singer [El DeBarge](https://www.edgepedia.org/el-debarge) saw her perform in the musical *Heat Wave* in Los Angeles.[5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/music-popular-and-jazz-biographies/chante-moore) That connection led to her singing background vocals on "You Know What I Like" from DeBarge's album *In the Storm*, and her demo tape reached Louil Silas Jr., who made her the first artist on his Silas label under MCA.[4](https://www.universal-music.co.jp/chante/biography/)
## The 1990s: *Precious* and *A Love Supreme*
In 1992 Moore was featured on El DeBarge's Top 15 R&B single "You Know What I Like" and released her debut album, *Precious*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore-mn0000165345) The album was released in September 1992 and reached No. 20 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart, selling 403,000 units according to SoundScan. Its debut single, "Love's Taken Over," sold 101,000 units, spent 32 weeks on the Hot R&B singles chart, and peaked at No. 11.[6](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-09-24.pdf) The album was certified gold, and *Rolling Stone* praised Moore's "supple soprano that floats over and into songs."[2](https://www.chantemoore.com/) A duet with Keith Washington, "Candlelight and You," was also a hit from the album.[4](https://www.universal-music.co.jp/chante/biography/) A 1993 Los Angeles Times concert review found the album's pop-leaning arrangements beneath her talents but described her as a singer who, like [Mariah Carey](https://www.edgepedia.org/mariah-carey) and [Minnie Riperton](https://www.edgepedia.org/minnie-riperton), could deliver spine-tingling high notes and illuminate lyrics with heartfelt sincerity.[7](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-06-26-ca-7209-story.html)
Her second album, *A Love Supreme*, was released on November 15, 1994, and was aimed at a younger, more R&B-oriented audience than her adult contemporary debut.[8](https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-love-supreme-mw0000120040) • [6](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-09-24.pdf) In 1995 she appeared on the soundtrack of the film *Waiting to Exhale* with the song "Wey U," which showcased her whistle register.[9](https://www.bandsintown.com/a/50319-chant-moore)
## Late 1990s and 2000s
*This Moment Is Mine* (1999) became her highest-ranking [Billboard](https://www.edgepedia.org/billboard-magazine) charting album and contained her signature song, "Chanté's Got a Man (At Home)," a Billboard top ten pop hit.[2](https://www.chantemoore.com/) Her fourth album, *Exposed* (2000), took a more overtly sexy direction, with production from [Jermaine Dupri](https://www.edgepedia.org/jermaine-dupri), Tim & Bob, "Tricky" Stewart, and Bryan-Michael Cox; an NME review linked its tone to the collapse of her marriage to actor [Kadeem Hardison](https://www.edgepedia.org/kadeem-hardison).[10](https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-nme-3598-333152)
**Collaborations sustained her career** during a stretch without solo releases. She and [R. Kelly](https://www.edgepedia.org/r-kelly) were featured on the Isley Brothers' 2001 single "Contagious," a Top 20 pop hit nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore-mn0000165345) With her then husband, singer [Kenny Lattimore](https://www.edgepedia.org/kenny-lattimore), she recorded two duet albums, *Things That Lovers Do* (2003) and *Uncovered/Covered* (2006).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore-mn0000165345)
After her divorce from Lattimore, Moore signed with the independent label Shanachie and released *Love the Woman* on Peak Records in 2008, her first solo album since *Exposed*, with contributors including George Duke and [Raphael Saadiq](https://www.edgepedia.org/raphael-saadiq).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore-mn0000165345) • [11](https://www.allmusic.com/album/love-the-woman-mw0000489163) *Moore Is More* followed on Shanachie in 2013, debuting at No. 1 on the iTunes R&B Albums chart, and around the same time she appeared in TV One's *R&B Divas LA*, a spin-off of *R&B Divas*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore-mn0000165345) • [12](https://interview.theurbanmusicscene.com/2013/08/moore-precious-than-ever/) In 2017 she released two albums, *The Rise of the Phoenix* and the holiday collection *Christmas Back to You*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore-mn0000165345)
## Vocal style
Moore's voice is described on her official site as a crystal clear five-octave range with a smooth, rich tone and wide emotional phrasing.[2](https://www.chantemoore.com/) AllMusic's review of *A Love Supreme* heard echoes of [Diana Ross](https://www.edgepedia.org/diana-ross), Anita Baker, Toni Braxton, Sade, and [Whitney Houston](https://www.edgepedia.org/whitney-houston), while noting that in "I'm What You Need" she touches Mariah Carey-style high notes only sparingly, as embellishment.[8](https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-love-supreme-mw0000120040) Her whistle register remains a signature: live setlists have included a version of "It's Alright" performed in whistle register, and she continues to tour internationally, including a Beijing date on her Voice of the Soul Tour.[13](https://www.livenation.com/artist/K8vZ9171jgV/chante-moore-events) • [14](https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/chante-moore-73d64295.html)
## *Singer 2024* and recent work
In 2024 Moore was selected as the first American ever to compete on *Singer 2024*, one of China's most popular television singing competitions. She tied for the most first-place finishes over the show's 13-week run and performed for audiences the show reached weekly, about 220 million viewers.[2](https://www.chantemoore.com/) Recent singles include "Right One" (2021) and "So Distracted," a duet with [Eric Benét](https://www.edgepedia.org/eric-benet) released in 2024.[15](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore/17410) Her site announces a project titled *EVOLve* with production from Laney Stewart, Tricky Stewart, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the team behind "Chanté's Got a Man."
## Personal life
Moore has been married four times: to Tony Guillen (1991 to 1994), to actor Kadeem Hardison (1997 to 2000, one child), to singer Kenny Lattimore (2002 to 2011, one child), and to Stephen Hill since October 2022.[16](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0601015/bio/)
## References
1. [Chanté Moore Biography by Craig Lytle, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore-mn0000165345)
2. [Chanté Moore, official website biography](https://www.chantemoore.com/)
3. [Chanté Moore, MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/17e359d0-966e-4c2a-a632-3e5c7de0a1d4)
4. [CHANTE MOORE biography, Universal Music Japan](https://www.universal-music.co.jp/chante/biography/)
5. [Chante Moore, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/music-popular-and-jazz-biographies/chante-moore)
6. ["Chante Moore Woos Younger Fans," Billboard, September 24, 1994](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-09-24.pdf)
7. [Dennis Hunt, "Pop Music Review: Material, Sound Problems Bury Moore's Vocal Power," Los Angeles Times, June 26, 1993](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-06-26-ca-7209-story.html)
8. [A Love Supreme review, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-love-supreme-mw0000120040)
9. [Chanté Moore, Bandsintown](https://www.bandsintown.com/a/50319-chant-moore)
10. [Chante Moore: Exposed, NME album review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-nme-3598-333152)
11. [Love the Woman review by Andy Kellman, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/love-the-woman-mw0000489163)
12. [Moore Precious Than Ever interview, TheUrbanMusicScene.com](https://interview.theurbanmusicscene.com/2013/08/moore-precious-than-ever/)
13. [Chanté Moore 2026 tour dates, Live Nation](https://www.livenation.com/artist/K8vZ9171jgV/chante-moore-events)
14. [Chanté Moore concert setlists, setlist.fm](https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/chante-moore-73d64295.html)
15. [Chanté Moore, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/chant%C3%A9-moore/17410)
16. [Chanté Moore biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0601015/bio/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › R&B singers, 1990s and 2000s › R&B singers of the 1990s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license