Melba Moore was destined to be an entertainer. Her prolific career spans across a number of genres—Broadway, Contemporary Soul/R&B, Pop, Rock, Jazz, Gospel, and Classical. Melba’s hard work has been rewarded with many accolades. The awards list includes a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Lutiebelle in Purlie and the 2015 Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award from the Artists Music Guild (AMG). Melba’s distinct, five octave vocal range has captivated audiences worldwide.
Her successful singing career includes three Grammy nominations, two Hot 100 singles (“Lean On Me” and “You Stepped Into My Life”) and two number one Hot R&B hits (“A Little Bit More,” a duet with Freddie Jackson and “Falling”). In 2017, Melba Moore’s all-star version of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, alongside the Manhattan Harmony Four’s rendition.
Her legacy as a woman of many firsts— the first African-American actress to replace a white actress in a lead role on Broadway (Diane Keaton in the Broadway musical Hair) and the first African-American actress to play the lead role of Fantine in Les Misérables—has opened the door of opportunity for many people of color. We hope Melba’s quote inspires you to radiate love throughout the world with your God-given talents. Thank you, Melba, for being one of the most beautiful people in the world, inside and out.