Crystal Waters
A New Jersey vocalist who majored in computer science at Howard, Crystal Waters had one of 1991's surprise left-field hits with "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless).
The song had both a potent message and wonderful vocal that smartly mixed anger, irony, and humor.
None of Waters' other songs were quite that inspired, but her debut LP, Surprise, got her in the hunt. Storyteller followed in 1994, and in 1997 Waters returned with a self-titled effort.