Dot Todman’s Unconventional Rise: From Foster Child to Celebrity Vocal Coach
Meet the Jamaican-Canadian Who Sparked the Success of This is Us Star, Chrissy Metz
Dot Todman is a talented Canadian-Jamaican singer/songwriter and highly regarded celebrity vocal empowerment coach. Despite facing challenges in her journey, Dot’s optimism and positive outlook shine through in all that she does.
She spent her early life in foster care before being adopted by an interracial couple. Growing up as the only Black girl her age in a small town of 32,000, Dot often felt disconnected from her cultural heritage. Raised by a single White mother, she faced unique challenges in navigating her identity and finding a sense of belonging.
While Dot was well-known for her talent as a singer/songwriter, she had always longed to be in a more diverse community. Her friend suggested joining the Mormon Church as a way to further her education in the USA, where she knew she would find greater diversity than in Canada. Seeking God, and a way to connect with people who shared her appearance and further her education, she saw it as a promising opportunity and earned an Academic Scholarship to attend Brigham Young University in Idaho and Utah.
It wasn’t until she reconnected with her birth mother at the age of 20 that she discovered her Jamaican heritage and began to incorporate this into her music. “They wanted me to sing like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston and assumed I could – but I had a totally different flavor… and I was still discovering what that was. My influences were New Wave bands like Duran Duran, Howard Jones and Depeche Mode!”
Drawing from her diverse background, Dot infused her music with a blend of reggae, jazz and pop influences. Despite the challenges, Dot remained faithful, served a Mormon mission, and earned three degrees. Her life and pain continued to inspire her to write and perform. Years later, after moving to Hollywood, Dot found her birth father and learned she had five sisters, one whom has since become a notable actress, Nesta Cooper (Travelers on Netflix, See on Apple TV+).
Dot was eventually forced to temporarily suspend her performance career due to a long battle with endometriosis and a severe surgical accident. Her spiritual and personal development led her to leave the Mormon faith. During her recovery, she created CORE Vocal Power® (a holistic approach to voice that combines psychology and vocal technique) and continued to use her vocal talent and expertise to coach esteemed celebrities, including This Is Us star, Chrissy Metz.
Her other clients have performed on the late-night circuit, the Oscars, America’s Got Talent, and Ellen DeGeneres to name a few. They have worked with stars such as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Beyonce. Her passion for empowering each person has been at the heart of her work.
Some of Dot’s recent career highlights include sharing the stage with Bobby McFerrin, performing in her own one-woman interactive musical, and being featured on NBC, MTV, KTLA5, TV Guide, KPFK, Idol Chat and LA Talk Radio.
After a successful excision surgery, Dot is fully healed, and is ready to share the unforgettable, interactive music that she has been crafting all along. She released her latest single “All a Dream” this summer and produced her first ever original song lyric music video. Get ready to be inspired by Dot’s relatable and empowering story, told through her unforgettable music!