Join us for a captivating interview with Melba Moore, the Tony Award-winning, four-time Grammy-nominated vocalist, actress, and Hollywood Walk of Fame honoree. Known for her electrifying performances on Broadway in “Hair” and “Purlie,” she rose to television stardom in the 1970s and 80s, appeared in major motion pictures, and delivered timeless hits like “Lean on Me” and “You Stepped Into My Life.” In this episode, Ms. Moore shares insights into her latest album, “Imagine,” celebrates her well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and offers a preview of her role in Don B. Welch’s uplifting gospel play, “Heavenbound.” Discover how her enduring passion for music, storytelling, and faith continues to inspire audiences across generations. Don’t miss this exciting look into the life and artistry of a true entertainment icon. Record Date: [Dec 19] Release Date: [Jan 3] www.geauxqueen.com 💬 Let us know your favorite moment in the comments below! 👍 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more empowering conversations. Follow Geaux Queen Media: https://www.instagram.com/theqchat_podcast #podcast #melbamoore#interview #podcastsforwomen #selflove #selflovejourney
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Grab your print or digital copy of Go Queen magazine today.
Stay. Inspired by the incredible.
Stories and features inside. Visit our website to grab your
copy now. Welcome back to the Q Chat where
we celebrate Incredible. Women who are making their mark
and spreading a powerful. Message of self love.
Empowerment and resilience. Join us today for a memorable
(00:24):
conversation with the iconic Melba Moore, the Tony
award-winning four time Grammy nominated vocalist, actress and
recent Hollywood Walk of Fame honoree who lit up television
screens in the 1970s and 80s andalso appeared in major motion
pictures. From her show stopping
performances on Broadway and Hair and Pearly to her beloved
(00:47):
hits like Lean On Me and You Stepped Into My Life, Miss Moore
has captivated audiences for decades.
In this episode, she opens up about her latest album, Imagine,
the exciting honor of receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk
of Fame, and her upcoming role in the Don B Welch's faith
driven gospel play Heavenbound. TuneIn to hear how her faith,
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her enduring passion for music, storytelling and uplifting
messages continues to light the way for future generations to
come. Working hard on a mission.
Head high. Purpose driven.
Crown on, never tilted. Go quick, go quick, go quick.
(01:51):
Amazing. I don't really have words, but I
wrote a few things down because I knew that I would get so
dumbfounded I I wouldn't be ableto say anything.
So I hope I'm telling you a few things that you haven't been
told already. I was born in Harlem Hospital,
New York City to a single parentmother.
(02:14):
She was a her first profession was as a big band singer.
My father's name was Teddy Hill.Oh, there we go.
Wow. And Melba straight ahead.
Please get the Hill smile in themiddle.
(02:37):
Thank you guys for joining another episode of the Q chat
today. I have a very special guest.
She's a legend. It's such a blessing to have her
on the platform. It's the legendary Tony winning
artist, Miss Melba Moore. And today we're going to talk
about some great things that shehas coming up.
She's going to be in a play called Heavenbound and she also
has a great album out right now and a beautiful single calling
(02:58):
called Imagine. So we're just going to chat it
up with her and learn some different things about her
journey and everything that she has going on right now.
How you doing today? Fantastic.
I'm so happy to be here with youtalking about me.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
As I said, it's such a blessing to have you on our platform.
So I wanted to dive in and startoff immediately by talking about
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your album Imagine. I know that it's on your
daughter's label and you also have this great single, which is
also the title of the album called Imagine.
So I just wanted to talk to you first about that.
How was that experience and can you tell us some more about
this? Amazing single.
Well, have you Have you heard itat all?
Yes, I have and it's so beautiful and there's a line I
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actually wanted to quote, if you're OK with that.
I know there's a line that says,Can you imagine a place of
peace? Imagine that love filled every
street, normal hate, we'd all befree.
Imagine how pure this world willbe.
And as you know, these past few months, things have been kind of
all over the place. So it's so beautiful to have a
reminder that we should love. So tell us some more about this
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single. Well, I think it's, it's a very
important message. Of course, peace for the world
is timeless. It's nothing new.
But fortunately or unfortunately, we, we always
have to be reminded of just how important peace is to us.
And well, I guess the subject is, is very, very important.
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But I guess it doesn't mean anything to anybody listening to
us now unless they've actually heard the music, because I think
that's the key in terms of why imagine the song is likable or
lovable or something that, you know, you want people to, to, to
experience. And I would say that the
category might be smooth jazz. And I, I think the, I want
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people to listen to the music. I think it's absolutely
beautiful. I think it's, it starts with
this beautiful guitar playing. And I think that's important
because before the the singing comes in, the mood is already
established. And I think it's one of
sweetness and calmness and beauty and excellence.
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And I think it's just great. But that's only important if you
hear the song. And I thought, well, that also
to say that sharing the baton, Idon't know if I'm exactly
passing it on to my daughter because she found the music for
me. It's on her label.
And so I'm going to my next level, I think.
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Executive producer in charge of it.
But then I bring abort everybodythat I say.
I don't, I don't look to the record company like in the old
days, like if it was ACBS Records or Mercury Records or
Universal Records. Now it's it's Gallery
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Entertainment. That's the name of the label.
I didn't name it. That's what my daughter named
it. Her name is Charlie.
So she's my new boss. And so it's, it's a new day for
me personally because now I'm kind of a senior executive, I
guess. And so time has passed for me,
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for those people that are experiencing me now, it's now so
just a lot, there's a lot going on and, and everybody's going
through extreme, deep, deep, deep changes.
And so I, I feel like I'm running in tune with everything
and everybody. And so everything that we do is
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really not just personally important, but it's really
vital. And if you have the microphone
in the, in the camera or if you're in the, in the public
eye, well, I, I'd like to be responsible for, for the content
that, that I put out. I'm, I'm an adult.
I don't, I don't just want to hit record.
I I I wanted to do something really positive to the person
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that participates with the success that I hope I have with
it. Awesome, that's great.
And I know like I said, you're alegend you've been out for I
mean, I grew up watching you actually.
So and I know you said like you're the boss now, your
daughter's the boss. So how is the experience now?
It sounds like like this is something brand new territory
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for you. Like is it like new experience
now as opposed to I know you said it's different with the
labels and things like that. So how does that feel?
Because you have, you've had such a a legendary career over
decades to produce, to have a project right now.
And you said it feels new, like how?
What type of failing is that? Well, like you're really
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responsible. Like when you first get your
driver's license and you're out in the road in that car, you're
behind the wheel. You, you got to know what the
rules are and you know, you can be a legend, veteran or
whatever, but you're in charge now.
So you have to think differently.
You have to kind of remember what people have said to you,
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remember what your experiences have been, remember what they
are now. You're stepping from one place
now to another place in responsibility.
And, you know, you're giving me an opportunity to to talk about
this. Thank you very much.
But the work has to speak for itself.
And so that's a really, really, really, really, really, really
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different feeling and experience.
There's no one to blame if, if that's what I wanted to do, the
buck stops, stops with me. I can ask a lot of people's
opinions, but now I got to decide whether I think they're
going to be right or not, or else I'm I'm going to suffer for
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it. I mean, I might have suffered
before, but you had a whole hostof people in charge of a company
or doing different jobs to create an A&R team, publicity
team, marketing team, and they were all professionals.
And you, you get to think about,I guess, the structure of
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something in a certain way, especially if it's it's been a
long time. And you get to think about
yourself and everything in a certain way if you've done it
for a long time, but things keepchanging.
One thing I've, I remember aboutmy life in this industry that
come from an entertainer's family and that's the one thing
they always say don't get used to nothing because it's going to
keep changing. So you have kind of like an
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antenna of always. And if you last, you know it's
going to come. But you know, you're always
really concerned because if you were in charge, I mean, you
know, like I didn't go to Business School.
A corporation is different than a music class.
It's very, it's very, it's very different how you run a
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business, for instance, right? Very different.
But one of the things I have learned over the last, say, 1520
years of being in charge of my own personal career pretty much
is I've learned about how businesses work and what we,
what they all have in common, whether it's music or any
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business. Not that I know everything, but
I know certain things are not going to work for me.
So I don't do that anymore. But I also know certain things.
Regardless of what you're doing,you have to get the word out
there. You have to have a following.
You have to understand how the the marketing works during your
era. And I know since I was born into
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the industry, the structure of the business in some ways has
changed drastically. In some ways there have been
some commonalities that always kind of float go through it.
Well, was that your question? But it's it's different.
It's the same and it's different.
How can I say? It right and just from your
answer, I feel like you have like I said, you're a legend.
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You've been doing this for decades, but it seems like
you're so adaptable to changes. Do you think that's a key to
your longevity? Because when I got the
opportunity to talk to you, I was so excited.
You know, like I said, I've watched it since I was a child.
I'm almost 50. So I'm like, you know, this is
amazing and you're you're still working.
You have your single you're going to be in your play and
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like I said, people from my generation, of course they know
Melba Moore. So do you think that's the key
to your longevity because you seem so open to learning even
after you've been in this game this entire time?
Absolutely. And I think that's one of the
things that I'm grateful for because I don't know that's
something that everybody can do because there's a lack of
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comfort in that. But if you can adopt that, I
think it makes life livable. And of course, it's, it's
difficult being in an area whereyou're talking about popularity
and and fame because it seemingly changes so much.
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And but what I feel is that you have to develop a flexible sense
of your identity as so you don'tlose yourself somehow, right?
And I think that's just. It sounds like such a broad
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thing to say, but I think it's important for for people and
during our time, they're so turbulent and the, the, the
public opinions are so diverse and so broad and, and so
dynamic, you can lose yourself. Yeah.
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Oh yeah. Definitely.
It's, it's, it's good to to be in an industry like this if you
have learned to be adaptable. I mean it I I hope in not a a
flaky way because you have to stand for something as well.
Right, right. You have to have some integrity.
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It seems like there's a balance between being authentic and like
you said, being adaptable, but long as you hold on to your
authenticity, authenticity, which is something I think
you've definitely mastered for sure.
Now I want to ask you, of coursetoo, You've been definitely
working. You have this play coming up,
this gospel play, Heaven bound. I mean, you're obviously not
stopping anytime soon. Can you tell us about the play
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that's coming out? Well, I was invited to do that
by Mr. Don Welch, and he's also starring Kenny Lattimore.
But the gospel genre is something that I came across
about 20 years ago or so when Tyler Perry kind of started the,
he was one of the people who started that genre and he
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started it based on the church as the target audience.
And so there's, there's no cursing in there usually.
Very often people really say sanctified Christians.
So this is another hole, I'll call it genre, but category.
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It's a real Christian entertainment because their,
their family values. It's like, it's like Disney but
for, but for blacks and for Christians.
So it's very joyful and, and, and I think black people have
the greatest sense of humor and Goss.
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People are just out to lunch andwe have such we, I'm not a
gospel singer. I'm a, I'm a born again safe
Christian. So that puts me in that category
mentally out to learn when it comes to humor, just over the
top. They're I think they're just
funnier. And maybe they're funnier
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because they have to reach a higher level, but they are just,
you are not on a higher level ofcommunity or communication.
So they're, they're always hilarious and they're always
stories about the church, somebody in the church, and, and
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they're always really ridiculously and fabulous gospel
singers. I'm not a gospel singer, but
they've invited me to guest star.
So I'm looking forward to it because the genre is just so
excellent and so fun. Right, right now, I know, like
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with all the things you have going on, how do you take care
of yourself though? Like how, what are some of your
Wellness routines? How do you rest with everything
that you have going on? Well put God first.
I'm Catholic so I can go to church every day if I have the
time. Yeah.
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So actually do that and I receive communion and go through
the whole, all of, I'll call them rituals and that's really
my life. So that's first.
And then that colors the day. So I go to the boss first and
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see if you're going to let me dothis thing, you're going to let
me breathe today. First things first.
And of course he commands that you schedule your day in this
your, your week in a certain way.
So that Saturday and Sundays you're supposed to rest.
Of course for entertainers, that's when we we work
generally. But if you put him first, he'll
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show you how you order your day so that you rest properly.
And then and when you, when he says rest, he wants you to put
your work away and just think about him.
I guarantee you if, if you only do that the first hour of your
day, you're going to be recharged, you're going to be
refueled. You get all, all your worries.
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We're going to, they're not going to be worried.
Don't be concerned. You have to do things and you're
very, very responsible. But it's a whole different
energy. So when you, you are, I guess
I'm more disciplined. There's certain things that
don't allowed to get in my way anymore, get in there that I
probably wouldn't be paying attention to if I didn't put God
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first and some things kind of sneak in there and you know that
didn't you know what? I don't need that.
What do you say? I get I get my consultation, He
says, well, Miss MOBA, I think Iwant you to be a singer now.
For to to me, that means the voice is a sacred thing.
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So what does it need? OK, most people know that
seniors shouldn't shouldn't havedairy, you know, fried foods,
different things, kind of basic things that you know.
And then after a while, you learn what what your voice needs
and what it can't tolerate and what's going to give you
laryngitis. You know what's going to make
you fat and ugly. You don't want to be.
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And so you learn your little things.
And just like you're an athlete,so the care of yourself is, is
is primates first actually. And so of course you do want to
keep your youth and your vitality and your health, but
you also have to perform really like an athlete.
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You have to think, I mean, you have to look at it that way,
treat it that way. I mean, like no more potato
chips, especially now since I'm a citizen, senior senior
citizen, but I mean, because not30 years old anymore.
So I don't have the hormones in a different things that were
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going on that would help you tolerate some things that now
you don't have that to help you.So you can't do that and you
actually have to change. So like, I mean, I don't eat, I
don't eat fried foods anymore. I don't I don't eat pork.
I don't eat a lot of meat, eat alot of fish, no oils, it's
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usually baked or microwaved, butso that there's no oil and I I
find that or just rejuvenates meso and lots of greens,
vegetables and instead of like candies or you know, pastries
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and cakes and stuff, fresh fruits.
Right. So you replace one with the
other. So, and you find out what you
can do and what you can't do. You get your own little regimen
here, but you really have to make the change.
Or you can see the why did I getthat cold or why is the flu
going around And I caught it, you know, or this is my throat
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is dry or I think I'm getting laryngitis.
You can't, I can't get laryngitis.
And you find out what's doing itand and you get the the.
You know, go on the Internet or go whatever you need to find out
about different foods and what they do and what, what things
are good for you. Plenty, plenty, plenty, plenty
of room temperature bottled water because tap water is not
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safe pretty much anywhere, you know, these days.
So basic things like that have to be, they have to be your
religion. You have to take them seriously.
Now, once I asked you to oh, I didn't mean to cut you.
Off. Oh, I'll just rattle on and on
and off. I wanted to ask.
You, you had such a luxurious career.
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You won a Tony for Pearly. You had your TV show way back in
the day. So many different things that
you've done. I think any, and I'm sure you
have a lot, but is there any memorable moments that just
really stand out to you? Like what are some of your
favorite moments in your career?Oh definitely.
One was getting the Tony Award because I was not really
familiar with it. I was not familiar with really
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being an actress. But my first job was as a public
school music teacher in Newark, NJ and then I went from that and
into doing backup studio work through someone I met, Miss
Valerie Simpson. We were crossing paths there and
exchanged numbers and she got meinvolved into the industry that
way. And then how I got my first
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Broadway show was from a recording session.
Nothing happened in the I wouldn't have known where to go
to audition or anything like that, but things happened for me
anyway. But it happened in some unusual
ways. And and so I have some wonderful
moments like getting the Tony Award and being in such shock,
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not understanding the categories.
And after was finding out that Iwas the first black actress to
receive the award in that in forbest supporting actress in a
musical. So really realizing that colored
barriers were being broken as well.
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And then trying to figure out, OK, I didn't I really didn't
have a manager yet. So some of the things that
happened were just, I have so many moments.
I'll just mention that one and then there's so many.
Now I know. Yeah, of course.
Got the Hollywood star that KattWilliams paid for.
I saw you got a street named after you.
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I mean, I can only imagine how does that feel too?
Because I think I don't know if you may have realized how with
the gesture of campaign. How for, Like I said, people, my
generation, you are a legend. I don't know if you walk around
accepting that or feeling that, you know, you know that people
who have really watched you so many years, how we truly value
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you and then have that honor. It's just so amazing that he was
able to give you those flowers. Are you able to just accept, you
know, the flowers that you're being given recently?
Like I said that that Hollywood Walk of Fame star, you got the
street named after you. How does that feel to just be
able to accept those flowers? I like the way you say it.
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I really feel wonderful. I, I had no shortcomings about
receiving it. I mean, I had to stop a moment.
I was, I was trying. I said, Oh my gosh, I'm going to
have to try to write a speech and think about this now.
I kind of really didn't think about it wasn't so much thinking
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first of all, that so much time had already passed.
You know, you're you're meeting challenges, you're living a good
life and you figure out what's coming next.
And then you realize all this time is passing.
Some of these incredible things have really accumulated.
So you stop them and you say, wait a minute here, I'm making a
joke. But it's really wonderful.
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It's wonderful. First of all, my emotion just
kind of overcame me with Mr. Katt Williams because at at the
celebration of the Star, it was the first time I actually met
him in person. So I'm looking at him like this
and he's looking at me. We're experiencing each other.
I'm saying, oh, boy, I know thatI was in tears because you just
(24:28):
kind of you kind of realize how special this is, how once in a
lifetime experience it is. It's just all so, so, so good.
I don't. I don't.
Even though I had all the time in the world, I don't think I
could write a speech to say how wonderful I felt.
Now I thought, yeah, I want this.
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I had no reason to feel any kindof rejection of it at all.
I like the way you asked that, you know, with the Tony Award.
I was so confused and I was justlearning to act so I I wasn't
sure that I deserved it or anything.
I mean, there was so many confused, confusing feelings
(25:13):
that I had about it and I'm, I'mjust scared to death because I'm
trying to make sure I'm doing mycharacter.
There were so many things on my mind that I'm still adjusting
to. But after all of this time, I
let the dust settle. Is it?
Well, yes. Yes.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and no. You know, many things have
(25:35):
happened to me because I'm in that time in my life and people
thank God they want to give you your roses while you can smell
them. It's kind of getting used to
saying thank you, thank you. And it's it's really, really,
really wonderful. And I and I love to observe and
experience the people that are that are doing this to me for
(25:56):
me. They are and look at their lives
and look at their careers and then ask them questions, You
know, I mean, I'm not an interviewer or anything, but I
like, I love people and what their heart is, what they're
thinking, you know? Awesome.
I love it. Like I said, I feel like I got a
little part of this too, that I get to give you some flowers too
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because this is like I said, this is an amazing experience
just watching you through my childhood and on television and
movies. Of course, this is just a
blessing for our platform to be able to also give you your
flowers just because we have so many living legends that are
still here. And as you said, we want to give
you guys your flowers while you can smell them right now.
(26:39):
So I don't want to take up too much of your time.
Like I said, I just love how youhave so many things going on and
I think it's amazing. Of course you have the play
coming up. You still have your album.
What's next? Like are you?
Do you have any plans to slow itout?
Well, I'm not going at any particular speed.
Everything seems to be at a goodpace, but fortunately we sit
(27:00):
down, we have several things to talk about.
So looks like I'm doing about 25,000 things at once, but I'm,
it's pretty well paced and what I'd like to work on now I, I did
a performance at 54 Below, whichis a little supper club in
Manhattan. It's a landmark, but they
primarily have people who have done Broadway there.
(27:21):
And it went really, really well.I had very little time.
I would have gotten together a scripting team and everything,
but I put it together myself. So it went so well.
What I'd like to do now is take a moment along this journey and
put together actual Little Theatre company and mount a
woman play with music that I'd like to tour, maybe call Noble
(27:42):
Noble Moore from Broadway with Love or Still Standing, The
Noble Moore story. I've done different versions of
it, but I'd like to get it up, get a real theater company and
start touring it and actually work out the kinks and see what,
see what I come out with, you know, I can always tour and do
concerts like that, you know? But I'd like to do a play with
(28:03):
music and I'd like to see if I can develop another comedic
character because I love comedy that seems like I'm I can be
funny. Have you ever done an
autobiography? Well, I have some pieces of it
here and there. Yeah, I think it'll help me do
that too. Yeah.
If I if I put something up that's basically
autobiographical, it'll help me kind of see where I just start
(28:28):
with that. I think that would be really
great. You know, a lot of people are
putting their lives in books. I think that would be really
nice. I know a lot of people would be
interested. I definitely would be interested
in reading a memoir from you forsure.
Just hearing your experiences. I would love to read that.
I know, like I said, I know a lot of fans would definitely
grab that book for sure. Thank you.
(28:50):
But that's that's what my plan is.
In the meantime, people present wonderful projects to me, so
I'll just keep doing those. Before we end everything, do you
think you can leave us with a positive affirmation?
Like I love your energy is so bright.
And like I said, I think maybe the fact that everybody's giving
(29:13):
you those flowers, I'm sure thatfeels really good.
Is there any positive affirmation you can give us?
I know like that song Imagine Alone with a lot of positive
energy for sure. Is there anything you can leave
us with before we end everything?
Well, my, my thought is that I as a person always want to be
inspiring people to look at their own lives in, in a, in a
(29:38):
way because they heard me sing asong and they saw me do a
character and always has something positive to impart to
people. So it can be like one song or
one project or it can be a mega movie or something, I don't
know, but but something inspiring always I hope.
(30:04):
Thank you so much for your time.This has been a beautiful
experience. Again, like I said, I'm blessed
that I was also able to give youyour flowers today.
I'm just so happy to see you still going strong.
And it's it feels great just to see you on television or to see
you like I saw you on the SherryShepherd show recently just to
see you out and about. And I know I saw a feature of
(30:25):
you as well on yes morning. So it's just great just to see
how legends still here and just giving us everything that you've
got. I really appreciate just hearing
you. Can you tell us for people that
are tuning in, where can they goto see the play?
Like I know some people may be interested in going to see this.
I know it starts next month, right?
(30:46):
Yes, it's going to be Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, Wilshire Evil Theater.
OK, OK. January 11th.
OK, perfect. That's great and I wish you all
the success. I know it's going to be great.
And like you said, I know Kenny Latin words and it's I know that
has to be something else. So again, I'm just real happy
(31:08):
just to see your brightness and it was a beautiful thing to to
see what cat did for you last year.
Like it's nothing but a blessingjust to see you getting those
blessings. So it's amazing.
I really appreciate your support, but I thank you so
much. Don't take it for granted and I
hope we can speak again too. Awesome, thank you so much guys.
(31:30):
This is the legendary Miss MelbaMoore Again, this has been a
blessing just for us to give herthose flowers.
And I hope you guys take away some positive notes from this
interview like it's never too late and just keep going strong.
Your voice makes people happy, so just remember to just always
try to put a smile on everyone'sface.
Thank you guys for tuning into the Q chat.
(31:51):
Make sure you guys catch some more episodes from
www.goclean.com. Make sure you guys be safe and
go. Love yourself.
Grab your print or digital copy of Go Queen magazine today.
Stay. Inspired by the incredible.
Stories and features inside. Visit our website to grab your
copy now. Welcome back to the Q Chat where
we celebrate Incredible. Women who are making their mark
and spreading a powerful. Message of self love.
Empowerment and resilience. Join us today for a memorable
(00:24):
conversation with the iconic Melba Moore, the Tony
award-winning four time Grammy nominated vocalist, actress and
recent Hollywood Walk of Fame honoree who lit up television
screens in the 1970s and 80s andalso appeared in major motion
pictures. From her show stopping
performances on Broadway and Hair and Pearly to her beloved
(00:47):
hits like Lean On Me and You Stepped Into My Life, Miss Moore
has captivated audiences for decades.
In this episode, she opens up about her latest album, Imagine,
the exciting honor of receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk
of Fame, and her upcoming role in the Don B Welch's faith
driven gospel play Heavenbound. TuneIn to hear how her faith,
(01:10):
her enduring passion for music, storytelling and uplifting
messages continues to light the way for future generations to
come. Working hard on a mission.
Head high. Purpose driven.
Crown on, never tilted. Go quick, go quick, go quick.
(01:51):
Amazing. I don't really have words, but I
wrote a few things down because I knew that I would get so
dumbfounded I I wouldn't be ableto say anything.
So I hope I'm telling you a few things that you haven't been
told already. I was born in Harlem Hospital,
New York City to a single parentmother.
(02:14):
She was a her first profession was as a big band singer.
My father's name was Teddy Hill.Oh, there we go.
Wow. And Melba straight ahead.
Please get the Hill smile in themiddle.
(02:37):
Thank you guys for joining another episode of the Q chat
today. I have a very special guest.
She's a legend. It's such a blessing to have her
on the platform. It's the legendary Tony winning
artist, Miss Melba Moore. And today we're going to talk
about some great things that shehas coming up.
She's going to be in a play called Heavenbound and she also
has a great album out right now and a beautiful single calling
(02:58):
called Imagine. So we're just going to chat it
up with her and learn some different things about her
journey and everything that she has going on right now.
How you doing today? Fantastic.
I'm so happy to be here with youtalking about me.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
As I said, it's such a blessing to have you on our platform.
So I wanted to dive in and startoff immediately by talking about
(03:21):
your album Imagine. I know that it's on your
daughter's label and you also have this great single, which is
also the title of the album called Imagine.
So I just wanted to talk to you first about that.
How was that experience and can you tell us some more about
this? Amazing single.
Well, have you Have you heard itat all?
Yes, I have and it's so beautiful and there's a line I
(03:43):
actually wanted to quote, if you're OK with that.
I know there's a line that says,Can you imagine a place of
peace? Imagine that love filled every
street, normal hate, we'd all befree.
Imagine how pure this world willbe.
And as you know, these past few months, things have been kind of
all over the place. So it's so beautiful to have a
reminder that we should love. So tell us some more about this
(04:03):
single. Well, I think it's, it's a very
important message. Of course, peace for the world
is timeless. It's nothing new.
But fortunately or unfortunately, we, we always
have to be reminded of just how important peace is to us.
And well, I guess the subject is, is very, very important.
(04:24):
But I guess it doesn't mean anything to anybody listening to
us now unless they've actually heard the music, because I think
that's the key in terms of why imagine the song is likable or
lovable or something that, you know, you want people to, to, to
experience. And I would say that the
category might be smooth jazz. And I, I think the, I want
(04:49):
people to listen to the music. I think it's absolutely
beautiful. I think it's, it starts with
this beautiful guitar playing. And I think that's important
because before the the singing comes in, the mood is already
established. And I think it's one of
sweetness and calmness and beauty and excellence.
(05:09):
And I think it's just great. But that's only important if you
hear the song. And I thought, well, that also
to say that sharing the baton, Idon't know if I'm exactly
passing it on to my daughter because she found the music for
me. It's on her label.
And so I'm going to my next level, I think.
(05:31):
Executive producer in charge of it.
But then I bring abort everybodythat I say.
I don't, I don't look to the record company like in the old
days, like if it was ACBS Records or Mercury Records or
Universal Records. Now it's it's Gallery
(05:52):
Entertainment. That's the name of the label.
I didn't name it. That's what my daughter named
it. Her name is Charlie.
So she's my new boss. And so it's, it's a new day for
me personally because now I'm kind of a senior executive, I
guess. And so time has passed for me,
(06:14):
for those people that are experiencing me now, it's now so
just a lot, there's a lot going on and, and everybody's going
through extreme, deep, deep, deep changes.
And so I, I feel like I'm running in tune with everything
and everybody. And so everything that we do is
(06:35):
really not just personally important, but it's really
vital. And if you have the microphone
in the, in the camera or if you're in the, in the public
eye, well, I, I'd like to be responsible for, for the content
that, that I put out. I'm, I'm an adult.
I don't, I don't just want to hit record.
I I I wanted to do something really positive to the person
(06:57):
that participates with the success that I hope I have with
it. Awesome, that's great.
And I know like I said, you're alegend you've been out for I
mean, I grew up watching you actually.
So and I know you said like you're the boss now, your
daughter's the boss. So how is the experience now?
It sounds like like this is something brand new territory
(07:19):
for you. Like is it like new experience
now as opposed to I know you said it's different with the
labels and things like that. So how does that feel?
Because you have, you've had such a a legendary career over
decades to produce, to have a project right now.
And you said it feels new, like how?
What type of failing is that? Well, like you're really
(07:39):
responsible. Like when you first get your
driver's license and you're out in the road in that car, you're
behind the wheel. You, you got to know what the
rules are and you know, you can be a legend, veteran or
whatever, but you're in charge now.
So you have to think differently.
You have to kind of remember what people have said to you,
(08:02):
remember what your experiences have been, remember what they
are now. You're stepping from one place
now to another place in responsibility.
And, you know, you're giving me an opportunity to to talk about
this. Thank you very much.
But the work has to speak for itself.
And so that's a really, really, really, really, really, really
(08:24):
different feeling and experience.
There's no one to blame if, if that's what I wanted to do, the
buck stops, stops with me. I can ask a lot of people's
opinions, but now I got to decide whether I think they're
going to be right or not, or else I'm I'm going to suffer for
(08:46):
it. I mean, I might have suffered
before, but you had a whole hostof people in charge of a company
or doing different jobs to create an A&R team, publicity
team, marketing team, and they were all professionals.
And you, you get to think about,I guess, the structure of
(09:09):
something in a certain way, especially if it's it's been a
long time. And you get to think about
yourself and everything in a certain way if you've done it
for a long time, but things keepchanging.
One thing I've, I remember aboutmy life in this industry that
come from an entertainer's family and that's the one thing
they always say don't get used to nothing because it's going to
keep changing. So you have kind of like an
(09:32):
antenna of always. And if you last, you know it's
going to come. But you know, you're always
really concerned because if you were in charge, I mean, you
know, like I didn't go to Business School.
A corporation is different than a music class.
It's very, it's very, it's very different how you run a
(09:54):
business, for instance, right? Very different.
But one of the things I have learned over the last, say, 1520
years of being in charge of my own personal career pretty much
is I've learned about how businesses work and what we,
what they all have in common, whether it's music or any
(10:15):
business. Not that I know everything, but
I know certain things are not going to work for me.
So I don't do that anymore. But I also know certain things.
Regardless of what you're doing,you have to get the word out
there. You have to have a following.
You have to understand how the the marketing works during your
era. And I know since I was born into
(10:36):
the industry, the structure of the business in some ways has
changed drastically. In some ways there have been
some commonalities that always kind of float go through it.
Well, was that your question? But it's it's different.
It's the same and it's different.
How can I say? It right and just from your
answer, I feel like you have like I said, you're a legend.
(11:00):
You've been doing this for decades, but it seems like
you're so adaptable to changes. Do you think that's a key to
your longevity? Because when I got the
opportunity to talk to you, I was so excited.
You know, like I said, I've watched it since I was a child.
I'm almost 50. So I'm like, you know, this is
amazing and you're you're still working.
You have your single you're going to be in your play and
(11:23):
like I said, people from my generation, of course they know
Melba Moore. So do you think that's the key
to your longevity because you seem so open to learning even
after you've been in this game this entire time?
Absolutely. And I think that's one of the
things that I'm grateful for because I don't know that's
something that everybody can do because there's a lack of
(11:45):
comfort in that. But if you can adopt that, I
think it makes life livable. And of course, it's, it's
difficult being in an area whereyou're talking about popularity
and and fame because it seemingly changes so much.
(12:05):
And but what I feel is that you have to develop a flexible sense
of your identity as so you don'tlose yourself somehow, right?
And I think that's just. It sounds like such a broad
(12:26):
thing to say, but I think it's important for for people and
during our time, they're so turbulent and the, the, the
public opinions are so diverse and so broad and, and so
dynamic, you can lose yourself. Yeah.
(12:49):
Oh yeah. Definitely.
It's, it's, it's good to to be in an industry like this if you
have learned to be adaptable. I mean it I I hope in not a a
flaky way because you have to stand for something as well.
Right, right. You have to have some integrity.
(13:10):
It seems like there's a balance between being authentic and like
you said, being adaptable, but long as you hold on to your
authenticity, authenticity, which is something I think
you've definitely mastered for sure.
Now I want to ask you, of coursetoo, You've been definitely
working. You have this play coming up,
this gospel play, Heaven bound. I mean, you're obviously not
stopping anytime soon. Can you tell us about the play
(13:33):
that's coming out? Well, I was invited to do that
by Mr. Don Welch, and he's also starring Kenny Lattimore.
But the gospel genre is something that I came across
about 20 years ago or so when Tyler Perry kind of started the,
he was one of the people who started that genre and he
(13:54):
started it based on the church as the target audience.
And so there's, there's no cursing in there usually.
Very often people really say sanctified Christians.
So this is another hole, I'll call it genre, but category.
(14:18):
It's a real Christian entertainment because their,
their family values. It's like, it's like Disney but
for, but for blacks and for Christians.
So it's very joyful and, and, and I think black people have
the greatest sense of humor and Goss.
(14:39):
People are just out to lunch andwe have such we, I'm not a
gospel singer. I'm a, I'm a born again safe
Christian. So that puts me in that category
mentally out to learn when it comes to humor, just over the
top. They're I think they're just
funnier. And maybe they're funnier
(15:00):
because they have to reach a higher level, but they are just,
you are not on a higher level ofcommunity or communication.
So they're, they're always hilarious and they're always
stories about the church, somebody in the church, and, and
(15:20):
they're always really ridiculously and fabulous gospel
singers. I'm not a gospel singer, but
they've invited me to guest star.
So I'm looking forward to it because the genre is just so
excellent and so fun. Right, right now, I know, like
(15:43):
with all the things you have going on, how do you take care
of yourself though? Like how, what are some of your
Wellness routines? How do you rest with everything
that you have going on? Well put God first.
I'm Catholic so I can go to church every day if I have the
time. Yeah.
(16:03):
So actually do that and I receive communion and go through
the whole, all of, I'll call them rituals and that's really
my life. So that's first.
And then that colors the day. So I go to the boss first and
(16:24):
see if you're going to let me dothis thing, you're going to let
me breathe today. First things first.
And of course he commands that you schedule your day in this
your, your week in a certain way.
So that Saturday and Sundays you're supposed to rest.
Of course for entertainers, that's when we we work
generally. But if you put him first, he'll
(16:44):
show you how you order your day so that you rest properly.
And then and when you, when he says rest, he wants you to put
your work away and just think about him.
I guarantee you if, if you only do that the first hour of your
day, you're going to be recharged, you're going to be
refueled. You get all, all your worries.
(17:07):
We're going to, they're not going to be worried.
Don't be concerned. You have to do things and you're
very, very responsible. But it's a whole different
energy. So when you, you are, I guess
I'm more disciplined. There's certain things that
don't allowed to get in my way anymore, get in there that I
probably wouldn't be paying attention to if I didn't put God
(17:27):
first and some things kind of sneak in there and you know that
didn't you know what? I don't need that.
What do you say? I get I get my consultation, He
says, well, Miss MOBA, I think Iwant you to be a singer now.
For to to me, that means the voice is a sacred thing.
(17:48):
So what does it need? OK, most people know that
seniors shouldn't shouldn't havedairy, you know, fried foods,
different things, kind of basic things that you know.
And then after a while, you learn what what your voice needs
and what it can't tolerate and what's going to give you
laryngitis. You know what's going to make
you fat and ugly. You don't want to be.
(18:12):
And so you learn your little things.
And just like you're an athlete,so the care of yourself is, is
is primates first actually. And so of course you do want to
keep your youth and your vitality and your health, but
you also have to perform really like an athlete.
(18:34):
You have to think, I mean, you have to look at it that way,
treat it that way. I mean, like no more potato
chips, especially now since I'm a citizen, senior senior
citizen, but I mean, because not30 years old anymore.
So I don't have the hormones in a different things that were
(18:57):
going on that would help you tolerate some things that now
you don't have that to help you.So you can't do that and you
actually have to change. So like, I mean, I don't eat, I
don't eat fried foods anymore. I don't I don't eat pork.
I don't eat a lot of meat, eat alot of fish, no oils, it's
(19:19):
usually baked or microwaved, butso that there's no oil and I I
find that or just rejuvenates meso and lots of greens,
vegetables and instead of like candies or you know, pastries
(19:43):
and cakes and stuff, fresh fruits.
Right. So you replace one with the
other. So, and you find out what you
can do and what you can't do. You get your own little regimen
here, but you really have to make the change.
Or you can see the why did I getthat cold or why is the flu
going around And I caught it, you know, or this is my throat
(20:03):
is dry or I think I'm getting laryngitis.
You can't, I can't get laryngitis.
And you find out what's doing itand and you get the the.
You know, go on the Internet or go whatever you need to find out
about different foods and what they do and what, what things
are good for you. Plenty, plenty, plenty, plenty
of room temperature bottled water because tap water is not
(20:26):
safe pretty much anywhere, you know, these days.
So basic things like that have to be, they have to be your
religion. You have to take them seriously.
Now, once I asked you to oh, I didn't mean to cut you.
Off. Oh, I'll just rattle on and on
and off. I wanted to ask.
You, you had such a luxurious career.
(20:47):
You won a Tony for Pearly. You had your TV show way back in
the day. So many different things that
you've done. I think any, and I'm sure you
have a lot, but is there any memorable moments that just
really stand out to you? Like what are some of your
favorite moments in your career?Oh definitely.
One was getting the Tony Award because I was not really
familiar with it. I was not familiar with really
(21:10):
being an actress. But my first job was as a public
school music teacher in Newark, NJ and then I went from that and
into doing backup studio work through someone I met, Miss
Valerie Simpson. We were crossing paths there and
exchanged numbers and she got meinvolved into the industry that
way. And then how I got my first
(21:32):
Broadway show was from a recording session.
Nothing happened in the I wouldn't have known where to go
to audition or anything like that, but things happened for me
anyway. But it happened in some unusual
ways. And and so I have some wonderful
moments like getting the Tony Award and being in such shock,
(21:55):
not understanding the categories.
And after was finding out that Iwas the first black actress to
receive the award in that in forbest supporting actress in a
musical. So really realizing that colored
barriers were being broken as well.
(22:17):
And then trying to figure out, OK, I didn't I really didn't
have a manager yet. So some of the things that
happened were just, I have so many moments.
I'll just mention that one and then there's so many.
Now I know. Yeah, of course.
Got the Hollywood star that KattWilliams paid for.
I saw you got a street named after you.
(22:39):
I mean, I can only imagine how does that feel too?
Because I think I don't know if you may have realized how with
the gesture of campaign. How for, Like I said, people, my
generation, you are a legend. I don't know if you walk around
accepting that or feeling that, you know, you know that people
who have really watched you so many years, how we truly value
(23:01):
you and then have that honor. It's just so amazing that he was
able to give you those flowers. Are you able to just accept, you
know, the flowers that you're being given recently?
Like I said that that Hollywood Walk of Fame star, you got the
street named after you. How does that feel to just be
able to accept those flowers? I like the way you say it.
(23:22):
I really feel wonderful. I, I had no shortcomings about
receiving it. I mean, I had to stop a moment.
I was, I was trying. I said, Oh my gosh, I'm going to
have to try to write a speech and think about this now.
I kind of really didn't think about it wasn't so much thinking
(23:44):
first of all, that so much time had already passed.
You know, you're you're meeting challenges, you're living a good
life and you figure out what's coming next.
And then you realize all this time is passing.
Some of these incredible things have really accumulated.
So you stop them and you say, wait a minute here, I'm making a
joke. But it's really wonderful.
(24:04):
It's wonderful. First of all, my emotion just
kind of overcame me with Mr. Katt Williams because at at the
celebration of the Star, it was the first time I actually met
him in person. So I'm looking at him like this
and he's looking at me. We're experiencing each other.
I'm saying, oh, boy, I know thatI was in tears because you just
(24:28):
kind of you kind of realize how special this is, how once in a
lifetime experience it is. It's just all so, so, so good.
I don't. I don't.
Even though I had all the time in the world, I don't think I
could write a speech to say how wonderful I felt.
Now I thought, yeah, I want this.
(24:51):
I had no reason to feel any kindof rejection of it at all.
I like the way you asked that, you know, with the Tony Award.
I was so confused and I was justlearning to act so I I wasn't
sure that I deserved it or anything.
I mean, there was so many confused, confusing feelings
(25:13):
that I had about it and I'm, I'mjust scared to death because I'm
trying to make sure I'm doing mycharacter.
There were so many things on my mind that I'm still adjusting
to. But after all of this time, I
let the dust settle. Is it?
Well, yes. Yes.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and no. You know, many things have
(25:35):
happened to me because I'm in that time in my life and people
thank God they want to give you your roses while you can smell
them. It's kind of getting used to
saying thank you, thank you. And it's it's really, really,
really wonderful. And I and I love to observe and
experience the people that are that are doing this to me for
(25:56):
me. They are and look at their lives
and look at their careers and then ask them questions, You
know, I mean, I'm not an interviewer or anything, but I
like, I love people and what their heart is, what they're
thinking, you know? Awesome.
I love it. Like I said, I feel like I got a
little part of this too, that I get to give you some flowers too
(26:18):
because this is like I said, this is an amazing experience
just watching you through my childhood and on television and
movies. Of course, this is just a
blessing for our platform to be able to also give you your
flowers just because we have so many living legends that are
still here. And as you said, we want to give
you guys your flowers while you can smell them right now.
(26:39):
So I don't want to take up too much of your time.
Like I said, I just love how youhave so many things going on and
I think it's amazing. Of course you have the play
coming up. You still have your album.
What's next? Like are you?
Do you have any plans to slow itout?
Well, I'm not going at any particular speed.
Everything seems to be at a goodpace, but fortunately we sit
(27:00):
down, we have several things to talk about.
So looks like I'm doing about 25,000 things at once, but I'm,
it's pretty well paced and what I'd like to work on now I, I did
a performance at 54 Below, whichis a little supper club in
Manhattan. It's a landmark, but they
primarily have people who have done Broadway there.
(27:21):
And it went really, really well.I had very little time.
I would have gotten together a scripting team and everything,
but I put it together myself. So it went so well.
What I'd like to do now is take a moment along this journey and
put together actual Little Theatre company and mount a
woman play with music that I'd like to tour, maybe call Noble
(27:42):
Noble Moore from Broadway with Love or Still Standing, The
Noble Moore story. I've done different versions of
it, but I'd like to get it up, get a real theater company and
start touring it and actually work out the kinks and see what,
see what I come out with, you know, I can always tour and do
concerts like that, you know? But I'd like to do a play with
(28:03):
music and I'd like to see if I can develop another comedic
character because I love comedy that seems like I'm I can be
funny. Have you ever done an
autobiography? Well, I have some pieces of it
here and there. Yeah, I think it'll help me do
that too. Yeah.
If I if I put something up that's basically
autobiographical, it'll help me kind of see where I just start
(28:28):
with that. I think that would be really
great. You know, a lot of people are
putting their lives in books. I think that would be really
nice. I know a lot of people would be
interested. I definitely would be interested
in reading a memoir from you forsure.
Just hearing your experiences. I would love to read that.
I know, like I said, I know a lot of fans would definitely
grab that book for sure. Thank you.
(28:50):
But that's that's what my plan is.
In the meantime, people present wonderful projects to me, so
I'll just keep doing those. Before we end everything, do you
think you can leave us with a positive affirmation?
Like I love your energy is so bright.
And like I said, I think maybe the fact that everybody's giving
(29:13):
you those flowers, I'm sure thatfeels really good.
Is there any positive affirmation you can give us?
I know like that song Imagine Alone with a lot of positive
energy for sure. Is there anything you can leave
us with before we end everything?
Well, my, my thought is that I as a person always want to be
inspiring people to look at their own lives in, in a, in a
(29:38):
way because they heard me sing asong and they saw me do a
character and always has something positive to impart to
people. So it can be like one song or
one project or it can be a mega movie or something, I don't
know, but but something inspiring always I hope.
(30:04):
Thank you so much for your time.This has been a beautiful
experience. Again, like I said, I'm blessed
that I was also able to give youyour flowers today.
I'm just so happy to see you still going strong.
And it's it feels great just to see you on television or to see
you like I saw you on the SherryShepherd show recently just to
see you out and about. And I know I saw a feature of
(30:25):
you as well on yes morning. So it's just great just to see
how legends still here and just giving us everything that you've
got. I really appreciate just hearing
you. Can you tell us for people that
are tuning in, where can they goto see the play?
Like I know some people may be interested in going to see this.
I know it starts next month, right?
(30:46):
Yes, it's going to be Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, Wilshire Evil Theater.
OK, OK. January 11th.
OK, perfect. That's great and I wish you all
the success. I know it's going to be great.
And like you said, I know Kenny Latin words and it's I know that
has to be something else. So again, I'm just real happy
(31:08):
just to see your brightness and it was a beautiful thing to to
see what cat did for you last year.
Like it's nothing but a blessingjust to see you getting those
blessings. So it's amazing.
I really appreciate your support, but I thank you so
much. Don't take it for granted and I
hope we can speak again too. Awesome, thank you so much guys.
(31:30):
This is the legendary Miss MelbaMoore Again, this has been a
blessing just for us to give herthose flowers.
And I hope you guys take away some positive notes from this
interview like it's never too late and just keep going strong.
Your voice makes people happy, so just remember to just always
try to put a smile on everyone'sface.
Thank you guys for tuning into the Q chat.
(31:51):
Make sure you guys catch some more episodes from
www.goclean.com. Make sure you guys be safe and
go. Love yourself.
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