MICHELLE BROOKS-THOMPSON Whitney Houston of Gospel Music
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When did you first get into music? I always say that I started music in the womb! My late mother was a professional singer and while she was pregnant with me, I’d always start moving in her belly to the music whenever she performed or was in the studio recording. She’d literally have to stop recording in her studio session because I was so active! I would think that I gave my first musical performance in utero! Lol Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? I think my sincere love and passion for music since a child has inspired me to pursue a career in music. Honestly, music has been a part of me since as far back as I can remember. I can’t even pinpoint or say what sparked it. I just know that I’ve been singing my entire life. I can remember sitting at the piano with my mom and watching her sing and play. I was around the age of 4 or 5 when I’d do that. By the age of 9- I was playing piano by ear and taking lessons. And actually, I would pull my keyboard out into the front yard and gather the kids in the neighborhood to form a choir. We’d sing outside and I’d play the piano! At 10 years old I won my first talent competition singing Whitney
Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” & was singing in a trio group with my mother and aunt. I was also singing in the adult church choir and leading difficult musical solo’s with ease. Music surrounded me every day. Once my mother passed away when I was 13 years old, I took over the church music ministry for my grandfather’s church. From that point on I continued to remain active in music. Everything that I did musically helped me develop into who I am and my passion for it. How has your music evolved since you first began creating music? When I first began singing and performing at a semi-professional level ... I really had not tapped into my own gift as a song writer/ composer. I was content with singing covers of other artists but making them my own. It wasn’t until 2005 that I wrote my first song titled, “I Won’t Complain.” I wrote the song for a talent show in college - which I ended up winning 1st place and $500.00. Looking back to that song and comparing it to my newer songs such as “When I Think” or “He Will Do It” ... my writing style and confidence has changed for sure. It mainly has a lot to do with me growing vocally and developing my own music style as an artist.
