Benita Arterberry

Benita Arterberry possesses one of the most stunningly powerful, gospel-grounded instruments of the early 1990s urban contemporary landscape. Capable of effortlessly transitioning from roof-raising vocal acrobatics to the most delicate, candle-lit slow jams, Arterberry brought a raw, unvarnished church authority to the high-gloss production styles of the era. Her brilliant tenure in the secular mainstream remains a cherished sanctuary for purists who value pristine vocal arrangements, immaculate studio collaboration, and the absolute gold standard of sophisticated, adult-focused romance.

Her definitive major-label milestone arrived in 1991 with the release of her critically acclaimed debut album, Thank You, via SBK Records and Ultrax Records. Orchestrated under the executive guidance of Tommy Quon, the project stands as a sweeping showcase of elite studio craftsmanship. Arterberry collaborated with an astonishing lineup of legendary R&B architects, including fusion icon Ronnie Laws on the sultry “Give Me Love,” Donald Robinson and Diane Quander on the elegant opener “It’s You,” and Mikki Bleu on the vibrant title track. The album masterfully balanced street-smart, up-tempo rhythms—such as the Monty Seward-helmed promo single “Changed”—with deep, emotional balladry like “Can We Start Over,” a breathtaking composition co-written and vocal-arranged by Broadway powerhouse Jennifer Holliday.

Beyond this landmark release, Arterberry’s immense talent has achieved legendary status across multiple generations of crate-diggers and soul collectors. Years prior to her 90s album, she recorded the ultra-rare, fiercely sought-after disco-funk banger “Time For A Change” (under the singular moniker Benita), which became a holy grail for international vinyl DJs before being lovingly reissued by the Athens Of The North label. Later pivoting her majestic voice toward an inspirational gospel career as Benita Arterberry-Burns, her early secular catalog endures as a beautifully preserved, high-fidelity testament to a singer who effortlessly bridged the worlds of high-energy 90s R&B and deep, emotional soul music, solidifying her place