Wintley Augustus Phipps was born on January 7, 1955 in Trinidad and Tobago. He moved to Montreal at an early age and attended Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology. Phipps' music career began with the release of I Give You My Life in 1979. He later released albums including We Are One, A Love Like This, and The Sun Will Shine Again. Notable performances include singing for American presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and at the 2013 Inaugural Prayer Service. He has also performed for Rosa Parks' 77th Birthday gala, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and former South African President Nelson Mandela. Phipps founded the U.S. Dream Academy in 1998, dedicated to providing educational support for at-risk youth.
