Melba Moore
An international American contemporary prolific 5 octave singer and award winning actress. She has had a long and much decorated career, while she specializes in the musical genres of
Broadway, Contemporary Soul/R&B, Pop, Rock, Jazz, Gospel and Classical.
Melba Moore was destined to be a Star! It could have been her Grammy-nominated cover of the Aretha Franklin classic "Lean On Me" or her Tony Award-winning performance as ‘LuttieBelle GussieMae Jenkins’ in the Hit Broadway musical ‘Purlie’ that solidified her place in America's hearts. Ms. Moore became the first African-American actress to replace a White actress in a lead role on Broadway when she replaced Diane Keaton in the Broadway musical ‘Hair’. She was the first African- American actress to play the lead role of Fantine in ‘Les Misérables.’ Ms. Moore was also the first female pop/R&B artist to perform a non-operatic solo concert at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera House. Ms. Moore has performed for Caesar’s Palace, Riviera and Sahara (Tahoe) hotels. Internationally she’s performed at the legendary L’Olympia- Olympia Hall in Paris, The Cannes Film Festival, and ‘Talk of the Town’; more recently she was at the Jazz Café’ in London, England.
Awards received are The Broadway Tony, Ellis Island, Artist Guild, Trumpet Award of Excellence, NAACP Spingarn and a History Makers Tribute.
Ms. Moore is better than ever, an elegant living legend, humanitarian, a star of stage, screen, and recordings; she's done it all and has done it beautifully. An American trend setter, she sets the bar high. She is currently in the planning stages of her return to Broadway, television and film. Ms. Moore’s current single “It’s My Time Again” from her Forever Moore CD that debuted on the London Music Dance Charts at #16.
This Renaissance woman has been busy! Andy Warhol once said, 'we are all good looking for seven minutes in our lifetimes.’ Melba, is experiencing her seven minutes right now. She has never looked more beautiful. Her vocal delivery is still of the highest standard.
A graduate of the famed Arts High in Newark, NJ, Melba, at the encouragement of her parents went on to pursue music education at Montclair State University, but her inner voice told her she had to see if she had the chops to make it as a performer. “Music is what God allows me to do,” declares Melba. Born into a musical family, music chose Melba. “Music was a centerpiece in my family. My parents were musicians and so were many of my aunts and uncles.” Melba’s stepfather (pianist Clement Moorman) introduced her to several agents which led to some studio work and eventually an audition that landed her a role in the cult classic ‘Hair’ on Broadway.
Melba’s natural father was the legendary big band leader Teddy Hill who was the music manager at the famous Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem and her mother Bonnie Davis, had a #1 hit that peaked for 5 weeks on Billboard's R&B Singles chart with the song “Don’t Stop Now.”
Ms. Moore is a Grammy nominated vocalist, a film star. She was in the animated film ‘All Dogs Go To Heaven,’ ‘The Fighting Temptations’ (starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Beyonce Knowles). Moore has a successful track record in Television with the Melba Moore Show and Melba Moore Clifton Davis Show on CBS-TV, Falcon Crest and Ellis Island. She produced the ‘Melba Moore Live’ concert for Television and she is also profiled in the documentary series ‘Un-Sung’ on TV-One.
Ms, Moore scored a string of Billboard charted hits, which garnered her 4 Grammy nominations and an American Music Award Nomination. In the 80s and 90s, Melba Moore gifted us with classic jams like “Lean On Me,” “This Is It,” “You Stepped Into My Life,” “Read My Lips,” "Love's Comin' At Ya,” "Livin' For Your Love,” "Falling" and "A Little Bit More" a #1 duet with Freddie Jackson. “With over 40 years in the industry, the singer and Broadway actress continues to create new music for fans to enjoy, and plans to release a new album this spring.
Recently, Ms. Moore’s recording projects have included 2 gospel albums, I’m Still Here and Nobody But Jesus. She also released The Gift of Love a duet album of classic songs and unforgettable originals with Phil Perry.
This multi-faceted artist and philanthropist is always reaching deeper, pressing harder, ever challenging herself; keeping her audience on the edge of their seats, knowing that whatever happens next will be at least, as exciting as what happened before.
Melba Moore co-produced with BeBe Winans “Lift Every Voice and Sing” which was entered into the U.S. Congressional Record as the official Negro National Anthem in 1990. In 2017 the song was named an ‘American Aural Treasure,’ by the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress for Ms. Moore’s rendition of the anthem alongside Barbara Streisand’s ‘People,’ and David Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust.’