Desiree Coleman

Desiree Coleman, also known as Kadesh, is an American actress and vocalist. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Coleman recognized her singing ability at age six, and her mother encouraged her to join the St. Luke Baptist Church choir. By age fourteen she had become a member of a community choir called the Soul Searchers of New York City, and during her youth she also appeared in several commercials.

Coleman's professional performance career began in 1983 when she stepped into the off-Broadway musical Mama, I Want to Sing!, replacing Tisha Campbell in what was the production's longest-running run. In that show she portrayed singer Doris Troy, a character based on Troy's actual life. She subsequently moved to Broadway, appearing in Bob Fosse's Big Deal in 1986. Her work in that production earned her a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.

In 1988 Coleman released a self-titled album through Motown Records. The single "Romance" followed in November of that year, and a second single, "To Stay Together," was released in early 1989. In 1997 she appeared as one of four leads in Born to Sing, a sequel to Mama, I Want to Sing!, with the Washington Post noting that she played her role to the hilt. That same year she performed at DIVAS Simply Singing, an annual concert fundraiser produced by Sheryl Lee Ralph, where the Los Angeles Times remarked on her vocal pyrotechnics. In 2002 she joined a McDonald's Gospelfest tour alongside Hezekiah Walker, Vickie Winans, Cissy Houston, and the group Virtue. In 2006 she recorded a song titled "Holla" for WWE, which became the entrance music for WWE Diva Kelly Kelly.

Outside of her performance career, Coleman is the former wife of Mark Jackson, a former professional basketball player who later served as head coach of the Golden State Warriors. Together they founded the True Love Worship Center International, a nondenominational church, serving as co-pastors and operating out of a rented church in Van Nuys, Los Angeles.