Melba Moore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melba Moore
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Moore in 1999
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| Born |
Beatrice Melba Smith
October 29, 1945 New York City, U.S.
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1966–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Charles Huggins
(m. 1974; div. 1991) |
| Children | 1 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | |
Beatrice Melba Smith (born October 29, 1945), known by her stage name Melba Moore, is a famous American singer and actress. She is known for her powerful voice and for winning a Tony Award for her work on Broadway.
Contents
Life and Career
A Musical Childhood
Melba Moore was born in New York City. Her mother, Gertrude Smith, was a singer known as Bonnie Davis. Her father, Teddy Hill, was a famous big band leader. Music was a big part of her family.
When Melba was nine, her mother remarried a jazz pianist named Clement Leroy Moorman. The family moved to Newark, New Jersey. She attended the Newark Arts High School and later went to Montclair State College, where she earned a degree in music in 1970.
Broadway and Early Fame
Moore's career took off in 1967 when she joined the original cast of the hit musical Hair. She starred alongside other famous performers like Diane Keaton.
In 1970, she won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. She received the award for her role as Lutiebelle in the musical Purlie. This award made her a major star on Broadway.
After her success in Purlie, Moore starred in her own TV variety show in 1972 with actor Clifton Davis. She also appeared in movies and released two albums, I Got Love and Look What You're Doing to the Man.
A Successful Music Career
In 1975, Moore signed with Buddah Records. The next year, she released her biggest hit song, "This Is It". The song was a top-10 hit in the United Kingdom and a top-20 hit on the R&B charts in the U.S.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, she released many popular songs. Some of her other hits include:
- Lean on Me (1976), which earned her a Grammy nomination.
- You Stepped into My Life (1978), a cover of a Bee Gees song.
- Love's Comin' at Ya (1982), a popular dance song.
In 1986, she had two number-one R&B hits, "Falling" and "A Little Bit More", a duet with singer Freddie Jackson. Her song "Read My Lips" earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, which was rare for a Black artist at the time.
Later Career and Legacy
Melba Moore has continued to perform for many decades. In 1995, she returned to Broadway to perform in the famous musical Les Misérables.
She has also appeared in movies, such as The Fighting Temptations (2003) with Beyoncé Knowles and Cuba Gooding Jr.. She continues to release music, including gospel albums, and performs in plays and concerts.
Awards and Recognition
Melba Moore has received many awards for her work in theater and music.
- 1970: Won a Tony Award for the musical Purlie.
- 1971: Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
- 1976: Nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance for "Lean on Me".
- 1986: Nominated for a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for "Read My Lips".
- 2015: Inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
- 2023: Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to live theater.
Personal Life
Moore was married to business promoter Charles Huggins from 1974 to 1991. They have one daughter together. Moore has described herself as a "born-again Catholic."
Selected Works
Here are some of Melba Moore's most well-known works.
Stage Shows
- Hair (1967)
- Purlie (1970)
- Timbuktu! (1978)
- Les Misérables (1995)
- Ain't Misbehavin' (2007)
Movies
- Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970)
- All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989) – as the voice of the Whippet Angel
- The Fighting Temptations (2003) – as Bessie Cooley
Famous Albums
- I Got Love (1970)
- Peach Melba (1975)
- This Is It (1976)
- The Other Side of the Rainbow (1982)
- A Lot of Love (1986)
See also
- List of Broadway musicals stars
- List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart
