hɜːɹ ˈænsɛstɚz wɜː ðə fˈɜːst blˈæk fˈæmɪli tə pˈɜːtʃɪs lˈænd ɪn bˈɪlɚɹˌɪkə, mˌæsɐtʃˈuːsɪts, wˌɛɹ ʃiː ɡɹˈuː ˈʌp; ʃiː ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm bˈɪlɚɹˌɪkə məmˈoːɹɪəl hˈaɪ skˈuːl, ænd lˈeɪɾɚ bˈɜːkliː kˈɑːlɪdʒ ʌv mjˈuːzɪk klˈæs ʌv nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti θɹˈiː.
Her ancestors were the first black family to purchase land in Billerica, Massachusetts, where she grew up; she graduated from Billerica Memorial High School, and later Berklee College of Music class of 1973.