Mz OptimiZm Speaks with Melba Moore, Iconic Musical Legend

Melba Moore was destined to be a star! Hailing from a musical family, Ms. Moore graduated from the famed Arts High School in Newark, New Jersey. At the encouragement of her parents, she went on to pursue music education at Montclair State University, but her inner voice told her she had to see if she could make it as a performer. Ms. Moore’s stepfather, pianist Clement Moorman, introduced her to several agents which eventually landed her a role in the cult classic musical HAIR. It was in HAIR that Ms. Moore became the first African-American woman to replace a white actress, (acclaimed Diane Keaton), in a lead role on Broadway. A year and a half later, she starred in PURLIE, which earned her a TONY Award for her portrayal as “Lutiebelle.”

Although Ms. Moore enjoyed working on Broadway, she didn’t want to forget about her first love…music. Deciding to focus more on her recording career, she made her recording debut on Mercury Records with I Am Love, followed by Look What You’re Doing To The Man. She was nominated for a Grammy Award for ‘Best New Artist.’ During this time, television shows (including her own variety show for CBS), numerous Grammy nominations and recordings followed. Ms. Moore was the first female pop artist to do a non operatic solo concert at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera House.

Currently, Ms. Moore is working on an autobiography with professor and former New York Times writer Mel Watkins detailing all of her achievements over the span of her career. She is also in the studio working on a new album which will be released on her new label A'Moore Entertainment, which she shares with her daughter Charli Huggins . The album is being produced by Rahni Song and Dominic McFadden, son of the late Gene McFadden of McFadden and Whitehead . It is scheduled to be released in early 2011.

For booking Information call Ron Richardson (718)230-1950