Melba Moore

The Legendary Icon Celebrates her 50th Anniversary in the Entertainment Industry.

Melba is a Broadway, film and television star, an American Rhythm & Blues singer, four-time Grammy nominee among which includes her cover of her dear friend Aretha Franklin’s classic “Lean on Me.” Melba continues into the 21st century as one of pop music’s most enduring artists.

• First African American Woman to replace a White actress in a lead role in the Broadway musical Hair.

• First African American woman to play the female lead, Fantine, in Broadway’s Les Misérables.

• First female POP/R&B artist to perform a non-operatic solo concert at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera House.

• Performed at L’Olympia Hall in Paris, France.

• Melba starred in the road tours of the Broadway hits “After Midnight”, “Chicago”, “Ain’t Misbehavin”, and “Lady Day at The Emerson Bar and Grill’ in a 3-month sold out performance.

• First Female Icon to receive a Grammy Nomination in the Rock Category (Michael Jackson was the First Black Male).

• The Drama Desk Award, Ellis Island Award, Artist Guild Award, Trumpet Award of Excellence, NAACP Spingarn Award, History Makers Tribute, Co-Produced “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Melba Moore and Friends which was entered into the Congressional Record as the Official African American Anthem and into the Library of Congress as an Aural Treasure.

Tell us about your historic campaign to have “Lift Every Voice and Sing” entered into the Congressional Record in the 90’s and recently recognized by the Library of Congress as an Aural Treasure as the official African American Anthem?

The official version is called Melba Moore and Friends 1990 modern rendition of James Weldon Johnson and brother John Rosamond Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (first a poem by James and then set to music by John in 1900 and became a hymn), Produced by BeBe Winans and Melba Moore and performed with her friends Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., Louis Gossett, Jr., Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Jeffrey Osborne, Stephanie Mills, Take 6, The Clark Sisters, Freddie Jackson, Bobby Brown, Howard Hewett, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Terri Lyne Carrington, Gerald Albright and Anita Baker, directed by Debbie Allen. Height of the National Council of Negro Women and Dr. C. Delores Tucker of the National Congress of Black 1990 the African American leadership lead by Dr. Dorothy In Women came to Ms. Moore to ask if she would sing and record the song and help lead their efforts to have the song entered into the Congressional Record as the Official African American Anthem. Ms. Moore stated, “The importance of producing this project that was placed in my care was an opportunity of a lifetime to sing a song that can be taught to all of our children and get placed in the American history books and for people all around the world to learn. Our sacrifices and contributions to American history deserve to be recognized just like everyone else.” “I recently found out that the Hon. Congressman James Clyburn’s, 6th, SC is launching a campaign to have the Anthem recognized as an American Universal Anthem like ‘America the Beautiful’. I totally support him and his efforts to have this beautiful all-inclusive Anthem taken to the next level. We are also working to have the history of the Anthem included in the African American Museum at the Smithsonian, the Montgomery Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice.

Dr. Benjamin Hooks (Former President of NAACP), they are curators of the Hymn gave Melba Moore permission to record the Hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson, (1905). The Melba Moore and Friends version of the Hymn became the African American Anthem and was signed into the U.S. Congressional Record in 1990. Ms. Moore asked her label Capitol Records at the time to partner with her and fund the historic project on her behalf with all proceeds to benefit the NAACP.

Who gave you the support and encouraged you to sing instead of continuing as an educator in the beginning of your career?

My parents wanted me to have financial security because they were musicians, so they discouraged me. My stepfather, Clem Moorman, eventually came around and helped me by introducing me to some people in the business. But it still was not his ideal choice for me.

You are celebrating your 50th Anniversary in the entertainment industry, tell us about what it takes to succeed, to become the First in so many areas and survive gracefully. What kind of advice can you share with those that are coming up today?

Well, you want to be a constant student of your craft.

Purlie, 1970 Broadway Musical Poster

Always learning and evolving. I also believe that it is important to keep an open mind to new trends, new genres, and new ideas. Not necessarily to dive right in, but to be an observer. Some people like to dismiss things because it is different from what they are familiar with. Others like to jump aboard because they think that it is going to make them fashionable. Stay true to who you are and refine your craft.

Melba was the Tony Award winner of the 1970 Tony Award® for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, for her performance as Lutiebelle in Purlie, award presented by Ken Howard, Melba Moore, Blythe Danner and Rene Auberjonois (l.to r.).

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Melba Moore was Lutiebelle in Purlie, the 1970 Broadway Musical.

How important is your faith when it comes to the type or quality of music you sing?

My faith is everything to me. It is the source of my philosophy. I always want to be sure there is a high standard of morality in the music I sing.

What is your favorite genre of music you like to sing and why?

I love singing R&B because it is beautiful and diverse.

Why did you decide to sing rather than play an instrument like piano?

Cause I sing better than I play. My life really became altered once I started focusing on singing. After a while, I really did not have the time to spend playing piano. But I really love it.

What kind of songs inspire you to record them?

I am inspired by songs that grab you right away. It can be the beat, the melody, the arrangement. You can hear the magic in them.

How much do you practice singing a week?

I sing all the time. I must keep singing in order for the muscle to work. Just like you go to the gym to work out your body, you must sing to work out your voice.

What is your most popular quote you tell people?

Mrs. Coretta Scott King was one of my mentors and her famous quote to Women, since this is Women’s History Month was “Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become its soul.” King’s understanding of a “woman’s place” is timeless. So I say to all women “Do not Give up and don’t stop dreaming, We are the Change”.

What is next for Melba Moore in this Virtual era?

I have a hit single called “Just Doing Me” written by George and Angela Pettus produced by Terry Hunter. I am in the studio working on more new music and am preparing to launch various virtual entertainment projects.

Google Photos

Cleavon Little, Melba Moore, John Heffernan and Sherman Hemsley

Photo Credit: Friedman-Abeles

Sherman Hemsley, Melba Moore, Novella Nelson and Cleavon Little

Photo Credit: Friedman-Abeles

Melba with Cicely Tyson.

Photo Credit: Ron Richardson