Join us as we journey through the fascinating life and career of music industry legend, Melba Moore. From her roots in a family that loved music, to her journey through Broadway, and her triumphant television career, Melba's story is an inspiring testament to resilience and the power of dreams. Hear how she navigated the tumultuous landscape of fame, relationships, and even a white-collar crime committed by her then-husband that left her with nothing, only to emerge stronger and wiser.
Melba's wisdom is not confined to her personal experiences; she also offers profound insights into the importance of mentorship and social capital in the music industry. Reflecting on her own mentors, including Pastor Shirley Caesar, and her role in mentoring others, Melba emphasizes how these relationships shaped her singing career. Hear how she was inspired by her daughter to reinvent herself and create her new album, Imagine.
In the latter part of our conversation, Melba opens up about navigating relationships as an older woman, highlighting the importance of understanding what one wants and needs in a relationship. We conclude with an intriguing discussion about her legacy, the importance of giving back to the community, and her thoughts on the remake of the iconic film, Imitation of Life. This conversation is a testament to Melba's courage, her timeless wisdom, and the enduring power of her music. Don't miss this remarkable opportunity to learn from one of the greats; subscribe and join us for this unforgettable musical journey.
Join us as we journey through the fascinating life and career of music industry legend, Melba Moore. From her roots in a family that loved music, to her journey through Broadway, and her triumphant television career, Melba's story is an inspiring testament to resilience and the power of dreams. Hear how she navigated the tumultuous landscape of fame, relationships, and even a white-collar crime committed by her then-husband that left her with nothing, only to emerge stronger and wiser.
Melba's wisdom is not confined to her personal experiences; she also offers profound insights into the importance of mentorship and social capital in the music industry. Reflecting on her own mentors, including Pastor Shirley Caesar, and her role in mentoring others, Melba emphasizes how these relationships shaped her singing career. Hear how she was inspired by her daughter to reinvent herself and create her new album, Imagine.
In the latter part of our conversation, Melba opens up about navigating relationships as an older woman, highlighting the importance of understanding what one wants and needs in a relationship. We conclude with an intriguing discussion about her legacy, the importance of giving back to the community, and her thoughts on the remake of the iconic film, Imitation of Life. This conversation is a testament to Melba's courage, her timeless wisdom, and the enduring power of her music. Don't miss this remarkable opportunity to learn from one of the greats; subscribe and join us for this unforgettable musical journey.
This is not a video. When I was coming out, we had to go outside the city. We had to go travel, go out of town, beat down doors. This was the first time Bill has ever gone on this set.
Melba:He said here comes the token. This is not a video.
Sanya:And out of my mouth I said F you, but all the fans are asking for positive women with family and business. That's what we bring to the show, and yet still it's like oh, she's boring. It's my real story. This is really who I am.
Sanya:I build myself off a dollar and dream without a man's help, without a basketball player. Particularly, the patriarchal box says white cisgender males have defined for us should be how we define ourselves. I didn't say it. That's what we're saying on the street, the streets, the avenues and the bulletin. Welcome, welcome, welcome. You're now tuned into another amazing edition of Sign you On Air. And how do I start each and every single episode? You guessed it. I have another great show for you. I'm excited. I'm excited.
Sanya:But before I tell you about today's guest, I need you to subscribe. Sign you On Air streams across every major streaming platform. If you're watching this Sign you On Air episode on YouTube, not only subscribe, but make sure you hit the little notification bell. That way, every time I upload an all new Sign you On Air celebrity interview and patting their pivotal milestones and moments, you'll be the first ones to know. So go ahead and hit that notification button and go across every streaming platform and make sure that you subscribe to Sign you On Air.
Sanya:Now back to today's guest. Now, she's been on Sign you On Air twice. The first time was in the early days of Sign you On Air, when I started off as a radio show and a podcast and she is back today. I have none other than the legendary, iconic five-active voice-sanging Melba Moore. When I tell you, it is an honor just to have a conversation with this woman who has really left such strong footprints throughout the music industry, and what I really want to do in this conversation with Ms Moore is to give her her flowers. I don't think the music industry really pays their respects to the icons, the legends, the people that really started music for black folk. You know, I don't think that we give them their flowers. We are in this new space of the transference of the guards for a better lack of description where there is an emergence of new artists, and these artists today don't have any idea about the Melba Moors of it all. So this is what this episode will do is introduce this younger generation to the legendary Ms Melba Moore and then remind the seasoned, grown folks, remind them. She ain't done yet, not at all. So we are going to be talking about her early beginnings navigating through the music industry. She was also in Broadway, plays, television and, if you don't know, by the end of this conversation you're going to know Ms Melba Moore. So I'm excited.
Sanya:So, before I bring Ms Moore into the Sonia On Air Studio. Let's just hop into some celebrity news. So today I want to talk about Jonathan Majors. He's back in the news. Back in the news. So if you don't know who Jonathan Majors is, go ahead and Google him. But he's appeared in such hit films such as Creed III and also Lovecraft Country. They need to bring that series back. Lovecraft Country loved it, loved it, loved it.
Sanya:I don't even know why it was canceled, but Jonathan Majors, if you don't recall, back in March of 2023, he was arrested and charged with assaulting his girlfriend. Now, the girlfriend was saying oh, he beat me up and Jonathan claimed his innocence all this time. And you know, the court of public opinion called social media the judge and jury of them all. They tried and committed Jonathan Majors. But lo and behold, lo and behold, recently, recently, like last night okay, the police are now filing charges against the ex-girlfriend who claimed that Jonathan beat her up. Lo and behold, she's the one who hurt herself. So wait a minute.
Sanya:So this is what happened at. This incident happened at 1240 am in New York City, midtown. Now, I don't know about you, but if you come from the melanin-dopeness households, your grandma or your mother told you, the only people outside after midnight are pimps, holes and those looking for trouble. So trouble found them. We're not even going to get into the race issue of it all. I'm just going to leave that alone. But what this really says, once again, is when you put things out there in the public, social media and this whole digital space, it allows people to make up so many opinions about individuals that may not even be true. They form so many opinions before they even go in front of the judge. I'm telling you, social media and this whole digital space is the judge and jury of it all the Supreme Court, the president, parliament, the House of Congress, the neighborhood mayor. They are it all okay. So I'm curious to find out.
Sanya:So what happened?
Sanya:The NYPD? What they did was wait a minute. They issued an iCard. I never heard of this until I started learning about this update of Jonathan Majors. So the NYPD issued an iCard. The reason is, if the police were to run across said girlfriend you know, just run across her by accident that there is probable cause for her arrest.
Sanya:I don't get it. Either you're going to arrest her or you don't. So the iCard just tells NYPD that there is probable cause to arrest her. So let's assume this happens. I said woman is just walking down 34th street and NYPD officer approaches her because he's like, hmm, you look kind of familiar and he runs her name and it says it says I probably should arrest you, but I'm not sure. Is that what an iCard mean? I don't get it the privilege of it all, because you cannot be black in America roaming the streets, roaming the streets of this fair land, with an iCard, because when you have skin that looks like mine, it's just guilty, guilty, guilty. Ain't no probable cause, ain't no iCard, none of that. It is like a monopoly game. Go straight to jail. So I am curious to see how this story unfolds. But this is crazy. Once again, I'm not going to get into the race issue of it all.
Sanya:Because people can like who they like, but you've got to have a lot more discernment in choosing who you like. Because another story it's alleged that he's now boot up with Megan Good for the past few months. That don't even look right to me. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I'm just going to leave it at that. So why don't we do this? Let's get back to the show and talk about Miss Melba Moore. Let's do that.
Sanya:So, like I told you, I have coming up in just a few short moments, the iconic, the legendary Miss Melba Moore. This is a conversation that I'm going to be leaning into, just like every celebrity that I bring here on. Sonia Onia, I'm definitely leaning in. I'm a perpetual learner, no matter what space is that I'm in. If I'm surrounded by greatness. Every word that they say is a teachable moment for me. Some lessons I might take. Some lessons I might say, huh, let me think about that a little bit more.
Sanya:But she did it right. She did it right and she's a woman of a particular age who has gone through a few things, but she's still a lot to learn. So why not start continue learning today with the five octave singing? No, the five octave singing, because there's a difference between singing and singing Legendary. And what Miss Melba Moore doesn't know is I was introduced to her Okay, in my head All when I was in elementary school. I was in a story. When Miss Moore joins us, so why don't we just bring in the legendary icon Singer, miss Melba? Hi, miss Moore.
Melba:Can you see me and hear me? Yes, I can. Okay, sweetie.
Sanya:How are you? Fantastic? How are you? I'm blessed, I'm blessed. Let me tell you why I'm blessed. Today, please tell me, I'm in your space having a conversation with you. Uh-oh, that's me. Let me tell you. Anytime I can tap into someone who was instrumental in my life, it is an honor and it is a blessing. Wow, well, great. So let's just jump right into it, because I really want the purpose of this conversation to introduce you to a new generation and to remind my generation of all the wonderful and amazing things that you have done throughout the years. So let's just start with your early years as a music teacher in Newark, new Jersey. Talk about that.
Melba:Oh, that was amazing. I did not want to teach. My natural father was a big band leader very well known by the name of Teddy Hill. My mother was. They did not marry, but my mother was a professional singer. So my point is, it was in my genes, it was in my DNA, but then she married a piano player from Newark, new Jersey. So now I have a father, but he had a son and a daughter. So now, instead of being just a disjointed, you know discombobulated, and you know your families broke up before you even start. Yeah, now I got a sister, a brother. We had two more brothers later, I had cousins and I had a family. That's very important.
Melba:But because mother and daddy worked together as a professional group, my mother was my step dad's lead singer in his group and so, because they were musicians, they want all of us to have a good education and perhaps be teachers. So that was the inspiration for that, and they want us to have real jobs. So I studied piano along with my sister and brother. We all became intimately acquainted with an instrument. Also, before that, I was nine years old and my mother met and married my step dad. So when you're the instrument, you usually know you can sing by the time you're three or four years old, but there was no music in my life. No, so none. No family, lots of abuse and terrible things that happened when a man is not in the house to protect you, especially when you're a little girl. But now I have this incredible gentleman. His name is Clement Mormon, which is where I took the name Moore. Okay.
Melba:My name was Smith. Really, yeah, I was a little girl from so much and the way he treated my mother and us, it made us the family. I remember I started my life on the streets, were in New York City. So you play on the streets and whatever, and you know, if you're a girl and you're very like I was, you get kind of rough already.
Melba:Yeah, so glad to have a brother because I could fight him, you know, and I was there with him and said, melba, he looked me in my eye and the first grown man I ever heard Look me in my eye and look with the love of the concerns. And, melba, you can't fight anymore. You have to learn how to communicate. And maybe part, I have a sister, my sister. You know, I was so close, which she's my step sister, which is my sister. You know. I don't know about step no more. You know what I'm saying. I learned family but he wanted us to be teachers. My brother was passed away. It was great. He was also a teacher. My sister just retired a couple of years ago from public school teaching. She taught elementary schools, which means she taught generally, but her field was history teacher and I became a music teacher because I don't know about music, so I learned that and learned how to teach it, and because daddy and mother said so.
Melba:I went to school and I want to say that I absolutely adored teaching. I became another person. It's like becoming an actor in a play. You get in front of the children and you see them look at you and you have a teacher's plan and taught everything how to do. And you there, it transforms you, yeah it does.
Sanya:I can definitely agree and relate. As I'm listening to you, I'm like, oh my gosh, we have so many similarities. I too started off my early career in education. I'm still in education as a director of many high schools, but started off as a classroom teacher, a special education teacher very, very transformative for my life and that's a way to give back to to my community. But do you find that teaching back then and teaching now are two different worlds?
Melba:But I knew this was coming. Well, first of all, I started out my education in Catholic school and they could hit you, you know and you learn, the 10 come damage and you know, you know, the catechism is very, very, very strict. And then, when I came to Newark, I went to public schools Different, huge, hugely different. And what I saw as I taught there I taught about maybe four or five years, maybe maybe less was was especially, of course, in junior high school, when the kids are starting to go into puberty and the hormones take over and you might as well be teaching in a jail and you are the prisoner, not them.
Sanya:Tell me about it. Tell me, miss Moore. I work with high school students and every night before I go to sleep I have to go for a therapy reflection walk Just to unpack the day and recalibrate and show up brand new and refresh the next day.
Melba:But I started off working in prison, so it prepared me to work with similar, unfortunately, what I saw happening, especially perhaps because I know because I was a music teacher, the principal on down did not respect that category. Yeah. They don't know the value of it, the power of it, and so I saw a lot of different instances where the top down did not respect the school system. Yeah.
Melba:And so as I went on, especially toward in junior high school, I could see how the breakdown of that would deteriorate the school system over the years. And that's what's happened. You have to have armed guards in there now.
Sanya:Yeah, yeah, and the way that our students are lined up outside of the building just to get through scanning.
Melba:It's like the pipeline to the prison system, because Well, personally, you're saying scanning, because the people who ran that system have led a deteriorate to that point and have been so selfish. What have education and people about their desires and their needs? They have not taken care of the students they have. So the system is gone, so it's not safe for anyone.
Sanya:No, it's not. It's really not. So you had a history experience as a teacher in Newark, New Jersey, but then something happened where you landed on Broadway.
Melba:Well, what happened was I didn't want to be a teacher, right, I'm just saying as being a part of the system. I could see what was coming down the road. That's not why I left. I really had a strong desire to try to be a performer and so I went to my stepdad, or my dad, and I said Well, I'm teaching because you've told me to teach you, you want me to teach, and I'm very good at it and I love it, but I'm going to try to be an entertainer. I want to try to be a performer like you and mother. You're laughing so much fun. Right, right.
Melba:So I asked my dad to take me around to some of his agents and people to get me into the industry and to make a long story longer story a little bit shorter. One of the first people we ran into taking a meeting with somebody and we were all in kind of the reception area was Valerie Simpson. We were all trying to make meetings, trying to do things, yeah, and so we exchanged numbers and she got me involved with studio backup scenes. So that was my entry into show business.
Sanya:Oh, wow, yeah, the right place at the right time with the right person.
Melba:That's my story.
Sanya:And you were ready, and you were ready. Let me tell you about another impact that you made on my life, just talking about your segue into Broadway. I was, I was a young tenderoni in elementary school and I had an amazing music teacher by the name of Paula Holmes rest in power and she would have us put on these huge Broadway productions and the first song that we ever sang was from Perley, and I had no idea who Melba Moore was, but she she wanted to make sure that the lyrics resonated with us, that we knew who Melba Moore was. She gave us this whole history lesson so that when we sing such words as I ain't never seen a man do the things that that man can, my Perley Like we knew exactly what we were singing because she told us about you. So in elementary school, that was when I first learned about you, miss Melba Moore, and once again, that's why I'm honored to have you in front of me for the second time on signing on here. Talk about just your entire experience on Broadway.
Melba:Well, before I do that, that's the same thing I used to do in the classrooms, whatever the music was on the radio. What was that? We use that, for example, so that we could have something to start to relate to. Well, okay, well, the first, the first opportunity I had on Broadway, came because of recording session that I was doing along with Nick and Val and a whole bunch of other background singers for Gott McDermott, who wrote the music for the Broadway show Hair, and they were still casting. So they were still looking for strong black singers for this parody that they were going to do on the Supremes. That was the main feature thing that they were still casting for. So when the date was finished, they invited all of us to come and sing for the director and the producer. Nobody else on the date wanted to do that, so I did.
Melba:So I got on Broadway, I got into my first Broadway show, which was Hair, but before I left the show because I stayed in for almost two years it was longer than that, maybe almost three years they kept changing the lead and one of the girls in the course was a black girl. She said why come, I can be. I thought this was free love and you know, and you know freedom and equity and you know everything's. You know you don't have to be pushed up because you black. She said how come a black girl can't do the female lead? And I said, well, as white people? They said we didn't think of it. So so they let me try out for it. And they rehearsed before the matinees, but the person I wound up replacing was Diane Keaton.
Sanya:Yes. But, that's how it happened, wow, so so you were actually the first African American actress in a Broadway production to take over a leading role previously held by a white woman, diane Keaton. Yeah, have you fully accepted the magnitude of that first milestone? No.
Melba:That's why I'm telling the story like it is. First, we need to see by how it happened. I don't know how good it works, I don't know. I'll tell you the next one After I've been doing that for a long time. That's saying big mouth black girls have not been doing the show for three years. You need to start going. You know, learn how to audition, because you really didn't audition for this.
Melba:She told me how you auditioned and she told me that we're having auditions for this new Black Broadway show and she told me where to get a script and everything. And I saw she said don't worry about trying to get the role, just you need to learn how to audition. You don't even know how to audition. So I was trying to learn how to audition but I got the part, but that was to play Pearl. Wow. But the reason I had the ability to play that little country girl was because that's who I was raised by, because my mother was a single parent. She was going all the time. So the person who raised me was illiterate, she was orphaned, she didn't know who her parents were and she somehow came up north from North Carolina with some family that she worked with. So that's really kind of who I was Just country and a broken family. And she said well, this is how you do it. I said okay.
Sanya:I'll try it, but coming from that you know, like you said, a broken family being raised by someone from the South who was illiterate how were you still strong enough to navigate through Broadway in such a time where there weren't really spaces, comfortable spaces for people like us?
Melba:Yes, Because I was raised by an orphaned sharecropper and then I know nothing else. Yeah, yeah, I mean we'd be scared of everything anyway, but we go anyway.
Sanya:That speaks to the strength of where we came from. That's where we are. Yes, and you know, I was having a conversation with a woman today and just talking about being in the valley and oftentimes our experience is sometimes in the valley. There's no way up for. There's no other way, but up for us because we come from the fight, we come from winning, we come from navigating through struggles and that's why I wanted to address another whiteboard is grassroots.
Melba:It's the root of everything. So you may be scared but you're not really uncomfortable because you know that's, that's natural, supernatural, it's the essence of everything. Yeah, I mean you may not know all. I mean I can articulate it now, that education and then on Broadway I have interviews. I can say it now, but you are it.
Sanya:That really resonated. You are it? Yeah, because sometimes people are still trying to figure it out. They are listening to other people without understanding. Just like you said, you are it.
Melba:You have to keep trying to figure it out, because God is always doing something new, but it's wonderful to be able to sit here and say to people you are it and you know what I'm saying is true. You know, we're not talking about anything specific. We're talking about your culture, your heritage, if you're a black person, but of course doesn't matter what race you are. Whatever it is, you are it.
Sanya:You are it, you are enough. Yeah, I love that. So, navigating through Broadway and then you land on television. Now a family member told me to tell you this because I was still a baby at that time, so I really don't have any recollection. Like I said, my first introduction to you was when I was in elementary school in the 80s. But my older aunt she told me, she said tell Ms Moore, that while everyone was racing to the television to watch Sonny and Cher, we have Melba Moore and Clifton Davis. How did you land on television?
Melba:You knew the black, sonny and Cher.
Sanya:How did you land?
Melba:on television. I have to say thank you to Ms Calvinette.
Sanya:Wow, another icon.
Melba:How did that happen? Well, I'm trying to think there were some agents who came to see the show. I'm trying to think I don't think I had an agent yet. I might have had.
Melba:I can't remember all the details, but I was also romantically involved with Clifton Davis at the time and he was he was, I tell you what was happening on Broadway at that time. He was down the road in the course of Hello Dolly, which was then starring Ms Pearl Bailey, and her leading man was Cab Calloway and one of the ingenue parts was Chris Calloway, cab's daughter. Anyway, that was an incredible time and Clifton and I were dating and Clifton left Hello Dolly to get his first male lead role in a musical called Two Gentlemen of Arona, which was kind of a remake of a Shakespeare story. But so we were already the Black, sunny and Share. We were the love interest and the offer was made to both of us to do the summer replacement.
Melba:I guess they made the arrangement with Carol Burnett. That happened I'm trying to remember or understand how all this happened and so we got it as a replacement TV show and that's how that happened. But then, you know, they brought the writers and, you know, created the whole CBS did the whole concept of the show. I don't know whose idea was. I know a big song was called Up on the Roof, so we did our performances on the roof. I guess that was first of all.
Sanya:That was very colored, you know, but you know, as you're mentioning your, your, your relationship with Clifton Davis, I'm like you know what. So Beyoncé and Jay-Z was not the first one, it was Melba Moy and Clifton Davis. How about that? So, once again in a space on television where we didn't see too many people like us, right, how did you still have the strength to say I'm going to keep moving forward and answering God's assignments. For my next assignment, I don't think.
Melba:I don't think I knew so much that it was God then, but my parents were entertainers. This is what I saw around the old time. I mean people like Sarah Vaughn came to my house.
Sanya:Really yeah, oh my gosh. I met Ella Fitzgerald in the airport one day she said hello to me, I would have, I would have fanned out, I would have fainted.
Melba:I did. I mean, I didn't pass out, but so these were our daydreams, yeah.
Sanya:Yeah, but see, see how you talk about people that you've met and you fanned out. That's how I feel about you.
Melba:Do? Have you ever heard the song that I do? Colleen on me. Of course you know where I got that from when Miss Aretha Franklin.
Sanya:Another icon.
Melba:I couldn't stand to watch her without screaming until I got hoarse. So if I had a shoulder I wouldn't go see Miss Aretha.
Sanya:Wow, talking about, you mentioned, like Carol Burnett, clifton Davis, aretha Franklin, like I would say, like, who was the number one person that you wished to meet, that you did meet.
Melba:I met everybody.
Sanya:Name them, name some of them, name some more. Oh gosh.
Melba:I met well people that was, you know, kind of scary People like Frank Sinatra, I mean big, big, big, big, big big stars. You know, I'm trying to think Because people I love, like Lou Rawls and Nancy Wilson and Cicely Tyson, wow, icon, oh, just so many, many, so many, many, many, many, many people.
Sanya:So can I ask you a question, just talking about the relationships between people of color in the industry back then, do you think there was sort of like a camaraderie back then that we don't have?
Melba:I don't know that we don't find it today. I think we do.
Sanya:Okay.
Melba:I do.
Sanya:You think it's different in any way though?
Melba:I'm sure it is because you know it's 50 years now. Yeah, Wow, you people, you young people come along. You don't even know what that was like I know.
Sanya:That's why I'm asking you like mention all of these names, because to me it's just in the middle of the world. I'm not sure if you know who I saw on television, who I heard my parents listening to.
Melba:I'm going to sit down and hear these type of stories because I feel like I was there. But do you, do you in your, in your field, meet a lot of different well-known people?
Sanya:I'm sorry, say that again. In your field of journalism, do you meet a lot of people? Yes, I do so. Think about it like that. Yeah, and every time I meet someone it's a teachable moment for me. I'm a professional learner.
Melba:Right, each person, yeah.
Sanya:So who was the one person that you met that you learned the most from? You can't, you can't.
Melba:You can't, I could, I could. Okay, cool, I said, oh, you can't, you can't, oh yeah, you could. Who is that? One person might be Pastor Shirley Caesar.
Sanya:Wow, I got greens, beans, potatoes, hands and you name it. I'm sorry.
Melba:What was a good example? Because she's a sacred artist, but she's in all the world Like when we did. What is it? The temptation, the movie?
Melba:The fighting, fighting, fighting, fighting, fighting, fighting, fighting, fighting. But when I was having really, really, really difficult times and I didn't know that I was saved, but trying to sing. But I didn't have no songs. So one of the one of the people I met was Shirley Murdock, who wrote some music for me so I could do a gospel album, and she did it. You have to listen to it. This song is incredible. We both signed it. She wrote it for me and she, you know she can sing anything. She didn't sing over me or anything like that. She wrote it for me and then she put herself and she sang back up for me. Those experiences you know.
Melba:But but Pastor Shirley and I would visit a lot of different churches and it was during a time when I lost everything, so she would just be there with me, helping me to navigate the church wall, because she knew I was saved. First of all, and I wasn't a gospel singer, I didn't have no songs. But we related on a Christian level, right and as two fellow artists and two Right Sorry. Remember when, when, when Miss Oprah had this big party for for everybody at her house. We were one of the parts of her mansion.
Sanya:Well, you said Oprah.
Melba:Miss Oprah. Yes, oprah, okay, okay. And we were in one place. I was oh my God, there's Tina Turner all over there. And and the song said Melva, and it was Diana Ross. I was oh my God. And then Pastor said Melva, melva, who's that over there? She's one of them secular singers. Who's that? I said Pastor, that's Mary J Blige.
Sanya:Oh, to be in that room. I can only imagine the energy.
Melba:And she spoke to me like that because we were friends. She just whispered who's that over there? Wow, I think that's incredible.
Sanya:Yeah, that is incredible. But what was the? What was the? The, the biggest lesson that Pastor Shirley Caesar left you with?
Melba:I'm not sure I pick out one thing. It's just how she was.
Sanya:Just how she was and that taught you how to be very I.
Melba:I. I worked a lot of different things with her Different community events, church types of things, films and stuff and it's she's very grassroots country. It's all about how you present yourself before God, if it's the way you dress or whatever you know she was like no, but look at that. Look at that Right. No, that ain't right.
Sanya:You know, Miss Moore, I got a little distracted because I grew up in a household where my parents always had pictures on the walls and the pictures told the story of my lineage. What are the pictures behind you?
Melba:Oh, okay, the top one is a picture of me and Ted Kennedy. Wow, this is Charlton Heston, the man who played Moses. Yes, this is Bob Dole he was a senator. Wow On your walls, all my walls, over here. These are some record executives down here. This is Bobby Brown, that's Debbie Allen, that's Deanna Warwick, and we're rehearsing to do lift every voice and sing the whole the version that we do, with all the different artists on it. And this right here is Beth Midler, looking down on me saying hello. Wow.
Melba:And I've got lots more.
Sanya:Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. You don't walk into households nowadays where there's pictures of your experiences lining the walls. I got that from my parents and I've continued that legacy, like my daughter and I. We take pictures all the time because we want to look back on those moments. But I kind of want to move back a little bit, because you mentioned briefly the moment that you lost it all. Yes, talk about that. When did you lose it all and what was the reason behind losing it all?
Melba:Well, my then husband I didn't realize it was a white collar criminal, and one of the things that had happened was that I found a document which revealed that he had had someone forge my signature on a divorce agreement and he had divorced me for the purpose of taking all of our assets. Oh wow, and what? I confronted him? Well then, everything hit the fan and fell apart, and eventually I counted for proper divorce, because there was no mention that we had a child. And then everything really went downhill. I became homeless and I lost my child.
Melba:My husband was my manager he's the reason I have all these hit records even now Genius is that and so I had to start all over again and get my life back, and what happened was I met a gentleman by the name of Michael Matthews, who had called me just before all of that manifested and fell apart. He invited me out on the road to do probably one of the first gospel plays, and I was saved. That had happened. And so when I went out there on the road, it was just amazing. First of all, it was a real gospel. Everybody was saying there's a lot of things I could tell you about it, but I was devastated. I was just beating, it was just. I wasn't angry or anything, I was just kind of numb, right, and I was like you don't really know what's happened to you, you don't even have a conversation about it. Who's best? You can keep going step by step.
Melba:But Michael Matthews, he paid me $5,000 in cash After every Sunday matinee. I didn't even have a bank account. Oh, wow, wow. So, my dear friends, my little gospel church friends on the road showed me how to do my business at the post office. I was like I'm gonna get money orders and put them, because that's less cash. You paid it from the box office. A lot of it was singles, you know, paper pads for cash, like a stripper with a dollar. You look like that or like Casaseza. So I began my life all over again. I was trying to find out where my daughter was. Eventually I got her back, you know, and that was the beginning. Really, I have a great following down in the church world. Yeah.
Melba:I have some gospel albums and everything. One thing everybody knows is Melville more is saved.
Sanya:Yes, we know that Melville more is saved, but we also know that you are not a singer, but you are a singer child. You are, you are a singer child the first time that you were in a recording studio.
Melba:Talk about that. Oh, probably the first time was behind, seeing that backup, behind my mother, behind your mother. Wow, rational singer. She was recording artist. Uh huh, so I don't even know this. I never sang on any of her hits, but you said the first time in a studio, so singing background for you. Uh huh, let me start here. Did I mention that one of the first people I met when I was in the industry was Valerie Simpson?
Sanya:Yes, you did Okay.
Melba:Well, she ushered me into recording studios for the first time as a professional singer.
Sanya:Wow, did you feel that you were ready at that time?
Melba:Absolutely, I had taught people how to do that. Yes, I was a real teacher and you know, music was a centerpiece of our family. So, absolutely, and I saw the music on TV. That was a big role model for me and I was a big fan of it and I didn't know that was going to happen. So I was in a relationship with her and I was in a relationship with her and I was in a relationship with her. And I was in a relationship with her and that was a big part of my life.
Sanya:But one of the recording sessions turned into going up for Well presentation wasn't really an audition for my first Broadway show, which was hair Right, but I could. I enjoyed backup singing so much. That's right, that's what it was, but I'm glad that you emerged from being a background singer to being the iconic Lee Melbourmore singer that we know today, because the songs that you have put out into the universe are amazing. One of my favorite all-time songs is with I'm going to do it with Freddie Jackson. Talk another iconic singer, not a singer. Talk about working with the legendary Freddie Jackson.
Melba:Well, once again, my husband my ex-husband was our manager and he had formed a relationship with Kashif. Kashif knew all these songwriters and performers and producers and among them was Paul Lawrence and Kashif, and one of them was also Freddie Jackson, and so on recording sessions Freddie used to sing some backup and I heard that voice. I said, ooh, look there, so maybe he should come out on the road with me as a backup singer. Then when we got on the road, I would feature him in the middle of my show and the first song he sang was Good Morning, Hardix. I said, OK, After I heard him sing that everybody just went cuckoo for cuckoo pops.
Sanya:I didn't know that he started backup with you.
Melba:Yeah. So then I would say to the audience I would say, ok, before I bring him out here, I'm going to tell you who he is and he's going to be a star, because I know once he starts singing you're not going to hear nothing because you're going to be hollering and hooping all over, right? And so that's how I introduced Freddie, and my then husband and our company got in his first recording situation I think it was with Capitol Records and launched him as a star, and then I became his mentor.
Sanya:Nice. You know I'm going to frame this because I want people to really understand what you just said, because having social capital is so, so important. Having a strong network of people with similar interests so they can take you to the next step is so important Because other nationalities they do it. They pull up their nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and we have to make sure that we are surrounded by the right type of people with similar interests to take us where we need to go, because we are already enough so we can show up in spaces.
Melba:But you have to tell African-American people that, especially younger people, because they don't realize that the family is still broken. All the other nationalities didn't come here as slaves. They didn't have their family line broken, so they know to pass it on or pass it around. So we have to remind each other. We are family now We've been mended and this is who we are and what we are and what we have, so that we can have a network, first of all, and so that we can have a future.
Sanya:Yes, yes. Well, talking about the future or this current space of music, are there any current artists that you listen to and you like?
Melba:I don't have time to listen to people who I'm so busy doing my stuff. But there's so much talent it is ridiculous. Yeah, yeah, it's a lot. It's marvelous and we're being taught we should be in charge of ourselves in our business, and business starts when you're five years old.
Sanya:How, at five years old, talk about that.
Melba:Get a paper route or clean the house and you get paid by your parents.
Sanya:OK, I remember when my daughter was three and I told her I don't care what you do, you better sing a song, tap dance, write a book, it's something. But I want you to own and lead your future.
Sanya:We know to do that now, so yes, yes, yes, yes, oh my gosh, but you know, fast forward. You just released your 33rd album titled Imagine and your daughter she is the one who brought the idea to you to reinvent yourself. Sometimes, when you reinvent yourself, there's a little fear. Were you fearful of reinventing yourself and creating new music? I?
Melba:don't think that's what's there. I think what's there is ignorance, because you ain't got a mirror, you can't even see yourself. You need to have other people's perspective and God tells you I'm doing something new, so you need to know what they feel. But you wouldn't even know to do that. Someone says, ma, listen to this. I said, okay, yes, great, wonderful, so I think you should do that. You think I should do that. Of course, she's been raised with us in the industry. She's done a lot of different things, but she's never worked with me as a record executive person in this, so I don't really know what she knows. She's just been my baby.
Sanya:Right. So how was it working with your daughter? Incredible.
Melba:I said wow, you see me singing this. That's how it is.
Melba:She's seen beauties and strengths and stuff that I have, no cold that I have, just like I see her. And then of course she's a very what can I say? Maybe she's like me, I don't know. She's a very caring and just visionary too. But you have to kind of pull it out of her. She doesn't put her opinion on you or anything, and maybe she's respectful of adults so she would come in.
Melba:So you know, she's seen me do something that she don't even like. She mustn't want to like that one, but she would never. She would never a front meal cost me or hurt me in any way. And so when she tells me something, not only do I know that she's thought it through, but she loves me so much she don't want to see me hurt by something and she would try to be smart about it as possible, not so she could prove to me that she's smart, but so that when I heard it I could use my expertise and we could talk about it and see what each other here and see.
Melba:I think it's fabulous, it's a whole new. I mean, if I could have this relationship with somebody I knew that I brought and we could be as open with each other and start on such a caring level. I don't think there would be any fear, because she's, you know, told me everything she thought about how each song should be done, and how it's going to be paid for, and how I'm going to do this and how I'm going to go on with my own life and how she's going to do her life. This is not even a job. That's what she wanted to throw my way and I'm like, wait a minute. She doesn't really know what her profession is, I mean to call it. So she puts this together. I'm so okay, well, you're the executive producer, that's what you call it.
Sanya:Right, right, right. But did you, did you allow her to really lead that entire experience and you became the learner?
Melba:Yes, First of all, because I didn't depend on it for anything. Everything that I do is still intact, so if I don't feel like doing it, something happens and she walks away. There's no risk, right? So everything that we're doing is because we thought about it. Yeah, we want to do it each step of the way.
Sanya:Right, right, I like that, I like that, but I want to go back to relationships for a moment. You're still married.
Melba:No, but we're still a family. That's something God creates, so okay.
Sanya:Navigating relationships as an older woman? Yes, Okay.
Melba:Well, as a person in the world, sometimes you don't agree with different people, but you have something that you should work with or work on.
Sanya:So, at your age, what is a non-negotiable when it comes to relationships with men?
Melba:I don't know because I don't have none.
Sanya:Me either Melba Me, either. I thought you was going to tell me something. I'm trying. Are you hoping that you'll marry again?
Melba:I have no clue Really. No, because I'm. I don't. I mean, I've been lonely, but I'm not lonely. I think even if you're with somebody, you're going to be lonely.
Sanya:Well, I wouldn't say that. I would say you're just not alone. There's a difference between being lonely and being alone.
Melba:I know I'm not just describing it properly and my daughter's not married, but I want that for her. I want her to have that experience in that relationship, Even if you don't have children. I would like her to have that experience.
Sanya:But let's say a man came your way, that kind of loneliness.
Melba:I know that's, that's different.
Sanya:Yeah, that's right. But let's just assume a man did come your way and he was saying all the right things and he just presented well and he asked you for your hand in marriage, would you?
Melba:be open If he said all the right things, because I would know. But what I thought and how I lived, if that was good or not, sure I would. Yeah, I don't have anything against it. I don't have experience to draw from.
Sanya:I hate you. I'm trying to keep hope alive too. And my parents? They were married for what? 50 years. So I use that, you know, as a testimony that you know love is definitely possible. I'm still open to it. But I look at you know older women such as yourself, and I'd, like I said, I'm a perpetual learner and whatever advice you can give me a space, especially in this dating space, because it's crazy.
Melba:If you're going to date, that's another whole set of parameters. It means you're only putting yourself in a position of a possibility of sharing a life with something you're considering. That, sure, you have to know that Maybe you have certain feelings and you haven't really organized it yet, but if that's what you're really thinking, you want to do, I think you should think about it and see what would your parameters be.
Sanya:And I couldn't tell you that you should do that, yeah, I've thought about those things at this age. The number of eligible men it's very limited.
Melba:That's always the case, but also these are different times and the family structure is different, so I want to close the door.
Sanya:No, I'm definitely, you know, embracing the possibilities and saying if it comes my way, I'm open to it and, as you mentioned before, I'm ready.
Melba:When you say you're ready, you have to think about what is the family structure these days and who are you potentially partnering with and what is their idea of what that is?
Sanya:Yeah, and I know I envision something very non-traditional and it's going to take someone who agrees with being non-traditional. And what I mean by non-traditional? I don't mean like the Jada and Will Smith type of it all, not that.
Melba:I don't know what they do, so tell me.
Sanya:Well, they have an open marriage.
Melba:Oh, I remember what that was no.
Sanya:And Jada Pinkett Smith is now. You know she released a tell old book and she's saying that her and Will Smith have been separated since 2016.
Melba:That's not a relationship, that's a movie for publicity.
Sanya:I said the same thing because she has a new book coming out and all of these secrets that she's dropping. I'm like whoever her publicist is, they are just trying to generate sales, that's it.
Melba:No, now we're talking about relationships. Yeah, yeah.
Melba:I think that the way the society has been splintered and divided and going through so many transitions and transformations, you would have to sit down over some time and assess what you really believe in right now and what you think a man should should if he were to, you know, appealing to you. Just kind of think those three and then consult some different people who are really in that age range and have some experiences to draw on about how things are going now. So it's not just your opinion, your feeling. Yeah, I'm going to take that advice and pursue that and see what's going on around you, see what it's made up of now. I think I've done that and that's why I'm succeeding at what I'm doing. Right, right.
Sanya:I'm going to lean into that and I'm going to try it. I'm definitely going to try it.
Melba:I think the family and relationships are so wonderful they are even with all the terrible things that can happen. I do yeah, that's so true I have a relationship with my ex-husband because I'm a Christian and he's become saved on his own, and so now, whatever we bring to the table, it has to meet God's opinion, right? And we go like this because I said, uh-uh, no, I don't belong to you, no more, I'm not interested in your opinions. What did God say?
Sanya:How do you use that Uh-uh, uh-uh what?
Melba:did God say? I know what God said now. So when you tell me something, I don't know if that's your opinion or not.
Sanya:Right, right, I love it, I love it, and that's the wisdom that I aspire to achieve.
Melba:Yes, yes, and those are things you can kind of say, you can question and say, oh well, where am I? You got to navigate where you are. You got to find out where, you got to find out who you are now.
Sanya:Yeah, yeah, so true, and that's all part of it, you know, so true. Do you and your daughter sit down and talk about relationships? Absolutely yeah. My daughter and I redo as well. My daughter's 28. How old is your daughter? She's 40. Really, wow, yeah, so you two are having real authentic, transparent type of conversations.
Melba:Yeah, Because we've been damaged so much, and so has my ex-husband. Probably the most damage he did was to himself. Now it's our job to help him mend. Yeah, we could only think like that because we were born again Christians. All the little different, very subtle details that go into that, and loving the way God says you're supposed to love.
Sanya:Yes, when you wake up, do you start each morning with a prayer?
Melba:No, a whole series of prayers before I open my eyes and the ministers come on. I just put the tape record on because in case I fall asleep. And then I got some people, because I'm Catholic and we invoke our angels. I know who they are the servants. The servants, the thrones, the dominions. I know who they are. Bring them in there first. And now I'm getting to the point where they're starting to blossom and expand into things, not to just that basic prayer, but you've got to grow in knowledge and wisdom and everything and the things of God. So there is, it's a tailor made for you, but they're still my gods, I remember, because you can't see them or touch them or anything. Right, that's the real reality that we have to conform to. Yeah.
Melba:Yeah, that's, that's my what do you call it? My job, my routine and how I spend the first several hours of beginning of my day. Yeah, so that's why I still have a career, but that's my job.
Sanya:Right, Right, I love it. You know, I started this day as well. Once I got into the office, I closed my door and I told my assistant. I said you know what? We're going to turn on some gospel music and we're going to praise him for as long as it takes and then we're going to start our day.
Melba:First of all, then you two are on one accord Go ahead, yeah.
Sanya:Yeah, we are on one accord. And like I pray over my space, my father, he's also a chaplain. My mother God rest her soul she was a deaconess. So all of that spirituality, you know, they've instilled it in me.
Melba:So now it is my responsibility to share it with the world and you know that it's all of our responsibility. We don't know it. We're strict of our very security. Yeah, yeah. Much less our responsibility.
Sanya:Yes, yes, so I'm assuming that you go to church every Sunday?
Melba:No, I go every day. Oh, we're Catholic.
Sanya:Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I in church all the time and standing up and standing down every five minutes.
Melba:I take a union, I go to confession.
Sanya:Oh my, are you a deaconess or no?
Melba:Well, you're in the Catholic church, so they don't have no, they have them, but I travel, so I can't do that. Okay, I have to be. You know, minister, on the road. Right, I'm what you call an apostle with sent.
Sanya:I hear you. I hear you. So you know, I feel that a lot of my success is attributed to because I made a promise to God I will never deny your name, Whatever he said right, if you acknowledge me, I'll acknowledge you.
Melba:So you can't, you can't lose. Yes.
Sanya:Yes, yes. So this is why you know, especially coming from a school system now involved in media, these type of conversations aren't always welcomed. But I like to spark the conversations just to see am I in the space of like minded individuals Like you?
Melba:need to find out where you are yes, because it's war.
Sanya:Yes, it is, it is. I feel the spiritual warfare on a daily basis and this is why, at the end of every day, I have to do a therapy, self reflection walk where I'm talking to God. Sometimes I don't even talk, I just listen and say, okay, I'm just, I'm just listening to you, god, I'm here, I'm ready. So I every night, faithfully. That's how I end my day. You sound?
Melba:kind of radical.
Sanya:I am. I am you know, I was talking to my daughter accepted that I am a disruptor. Okay, I believe that that's what God purposed me to do to disrupt spaces that aren't in alignment with.
Melba:This is a season and we can't accept it. That's the first denomination of Christianity, is the one that Jesus started. That's why there's all these physical reminders of what he did in Israel and, of course, israel was the synagogue first. But I forgot what I'm gonna say. But I forgot what I was gonna say.
Sanya:I'm sorry, it's okay, it's okay, but you know switching topics. I was so pleased to see you getting your flowers when you received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and I was even more pleased to know that Cat Williams had a lot to do with that. Talk about that.
Melba:The whole process was very amazing. And then, of course, let's talk about Cat Williams. I met him for the first time there at the presentation and I really didn't know what to say to him. Of course, I said thank you, all that, but I wanted to see him. Who is this? What is this? You know what he is. He's like a Holy Ghost person. That's what he is.
Sanya:And a lot of people wouldn't even think that.
Melba:No, he won't let you know that, he doesn't. You know, I found out and everything and we were very unstrictly, you know, come in and not to say a lot about it. Well, especially at first. Then at a certain point, my partner, ron Richardson, put it out on our site once. He said it was okay, because we wanted to say thank you and we wanted to get to know Mr Williams, because this is a very, very, very, very, very very special person who would do things like this, and apparently he does it all the time. Yeah, he does, he does.
Melba:It's not that I'm trying to get to be bosom buddies with him, but I was really curious. I said oh gee, you know what is this and you know. All my life and all my career, with all the traumas I've had, I've had people come to my aid and help me and do things. I was saying that I went out on the road to my first class will play with Michael Matthews and at the time that I'd happened I was already homeless. I lost my daughter and everything that. And this gentleman, michael, at the end of the first week paid me $5,000 in cash, and I didn't even have a bank account, right? So I noticed people like that, yeah.
Sanya:Yeah there are, you know, unsung heroes and angels out there that will step in and provide when we need it the most. So you didn't even reach out to cat Williams to ask him for his help. He did that on his own.
Melba:I think my partner Ron discovered him. I knew who he was and found him.
Sanya:So talk about that day when you receive the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and you have people speaking about all of your amazing work in the entertainment industry. I saw a Loonel she spoke on behalf of. I love Loonel, love her.
Melba:She's another one, yeah, and with that potty mouth, you'd never know it.
Sanya:I live for a good curse word, Miss Mool. I'm sorry.
Melba:Oh my God, she called me a few days before it was supposed to happen and just gave me some wonderful and encouraging words and then we just it was short, but it was personal, they're just, once again, show you the kind of person she is. I said, well, where did I get these kind of friends from? Wow, you think of it that way. But then you say once again, well, who is she? What kind of a person is she? You know, but I'm getting to see how she is, you know, hilarious and you know, partier and a good, good, good, whole person. Yeah.
Sanya:Yeah, but you know, I think that you've given the world so much that what you put out in the world, the universe will give you back in return, and I think that this is just the way of the universe saying that we see you, we appreciate all of the amazing things that you've given to us. So people are now given to you and I'm so glad to see this happening because, as you mentioned, you know, you lost it all your money, your daughter, fighting your way back and to see you in the space. I love a great comeback story and you are a definite testimony of a great comeback story. So talk about coming back. You are going to release. I think they're going to do the remake of the Imitation of Life and you're going to be in it.
Melba:That's going to be. That's quite a ways down the road, but, yes, that's going to happen. Yes.
Sanya:So they haven't started any type of production yet.
Melba:No, that's not going to be for a while. They have some other things that they have to do first. That'll be down the road, but I will do that. I'll be doing it, oh but it's a definite. Yes.
Sanya:That's also iconic. I know about this classic film, but a lot of you know this newer generation they don't. So I'm glad to see that they're going to do a remake of it, but why? Why are they doing this, do you know? I?
Melba:think it's in the ethos once again, because we want to preserve our, our heritage as holy servants. Yeah.
Melba:Yeah, because I looked at the credits and how the packaging was of the CD and how they had to do it back in the 40s I think that's when it was first done. It was a white, white, white, white, white, white society. So somebody had to break through and kind of coach, and how you present this story Because the maid, she's the star of it. So you couldn't say that Right, right. And now, all these years later, we haven't lost interest in it and that's a story that again will be received so well because we've come so far. Now we want to look back and reminisce, right Well, our heroism really.
Sanya:Mm, hmm, so you can reminisce when you go back to Newark, new Jersey, where you attended high school and they renamed the street after you. How amazing is that. Do you go back to Newark, new Jersey, and visit too often?
Melba:I do really a lot of community service there for the purpose of keeping some contacts there, because that's where I really had family or where my family was mended and I found music, that I was, that I was a musician and got my education and grew to be a person that could be in the right place at the right time to get an acting role, you know, or to have such good training that I can run into somebody like Valerie Simpson and she said here's my number, you read music. Yeah, that's what all that all happened in Newark. So I want to keep my contacts there and so my basic roots there are, with the church and community service there.
Sanya:Yeah, Nice, Nice. I love to hear when people give back. I think it's everyone's responsibility to give back to this world in some way, big or small. Just give back to to your community. We've talked about some of the amazing things that you've contributed to this world. Unpack some of your milestones and pivotal moments, but what legacy do you intentionally want to leave this world with? That's the one give back to give back.
Melba:Hmm, I mean from the beginning, you teach your children to do community service, to volunteer stuff.
Sanya:I love it. I love it you don't know.
Melba:Sometimes in the beginning you don't even know what your gifts are. But still, if you're first gifted to be a giver, give yourself.
Sanya:Yes, yes, oh my gosh, what are your hobbies? I just want to know, because you look amazing Every time I see you. You are impeccably dressed. What are your hobbies? Working out, really, you work out Every day. Yeah, see, I feel bad about myself because I'm still trying to find the time, but you really want to. Do you find the time? So that's not an excuse.
Melba:Well, right now you could call it rehab. Okay, you start early enough, it can be a hobby. Then you should be, you know, working to your life. So the routine, so that maintains your well being.
Sanya:True, true. So, besides exercising, what else do you like to do?
Melba:I don't really have hobbies yet. I think after I reach my next level here and I get the rest of my team in terms of being an executive producer of some of the projects that I'm going to do, I'm going to travel a little bit Maybe. I used to like to swim. I don't have time to do that anymore. I used to want to like to maybe skydive a little bit or something. I don't know. I want to find out, because I haven't had time to think about it.
Sanya:I get you. Yeah, I'm in this space for the past two years of doing things that I would have normally not done. I don't call it the pandemic. I call it the pandemic During the pandemic. Unfortunately, I lost my mom, and what it taught me was to cherish each and every single moment, to step outside my comfort zone, to make every single moment count. So that's my advice to you, ms Moore Step into that new phase and do things that you would have normally not have done, and just try it out.
Melba:I agree, it's a wonderful, wonderful world and it's to be explored. And time, even if you live to be 120 years old, it flies.
Sanya:Yes, yes, it sure does. I know every day my daughter's like I hope this day goes by fast and I'm at this point where I'm just like I want to cherish every single second Second. I don't, I don't want to think about tomorrow, because I want to live in right now and just cherish that, because this second it's gone, this second right here is gone. This second it's gone. So I just want to make it count.
Melba:Sometimes I think, oh my God, I'm falling asleep, but I want to stay awake just a little bit longer. I love this story.
Sanya:I go through that every night too. Every night I'm like go to bed, son, okay.
Melba:You gotta go to sleep because you kind of get up and be ready for tomorrow. But I'm gonna finish today yet.
Sanya:Yes, yes, yes, yes. So, ms Moore, thank you so much for this conversation. I am so full, I am so honored. You gave me some next steps to think about and I'm definitely going to tap into your conversation and do. Thank you so much.
Melba:Thank you, I'm gonna take your advice too. When I get a month, some moments. Now I'm gonna make a margin. No, but what would you like to do for a hobby when you get a chance? Yeah, because those moments to plan are going to.
Sanya:Yeah, I went sparkling for the first time in St Thomas.
Melba:I like to do that. Okay, yeah, go ahead.
Sanya:It was scary, but I challenged myself to just and. I swim. But I said, you know, I got to try it because I would hate to if something would have happened to me and I can no longer walk or talk to say I missed that opportunity to do something new.
Melba:And you just reminded me I used to snorkel. Let me go back into some things I used to do.
Sanya:Yeah, yeah, because you look good, Malva, you look good.
Melba:I'm gonna get somebody to see me.
Sanya:Look good. You really really do. But once again, continue blessings, miss Moore. Thank you for blessing my show and I'll stay in touch and continue following you on social media. Please do Take care, love, bye, bye, oh gee.
Sanya:So the iconic, the legendary Miss Melba Moore just talking about things, her life, losing it all, the comeback story, the husband, the ex husband who forged the divorce papers. She lost her daughter, but then her 33rd album. The daughter led the new album and allowed Miss Moore to step into a new space, her social capital of iconic figures in history, such as Freddie Jackson, diana Ross, the queen, valerie Simpson, who's also been on the show, oprah Winfrey, mary J Blige, clifton Davis, pastor Shirley Caesar. Who else is she named? Who didn't she name Frank Sinatra? When you are surrounded by greatness, there is no other excuse but to be great. Hence, miss Melba Moore, I really enjoyed that conversation and I hope that you enjoyed it too. Make sure that you share this conversation with your friends, your family. If you're older, find people that are younger than you and share this conversation with them too.
Sanya:We can't figure out where we're going if we can't understand where we come from. And when she mentioned that our experience is sort of like a grassroots. We are it, we are enough. We come from. We come from struggle and over the years, over the decades, we have kept one foot in front of the other to navigate through the struggles to come out successful. On the other side, we have it in us. So let this conversation be a reminder that you have everything that you need already and we are able to be successful. This has been another amazing edition of Sign your Own Air. Make sure you subscribe. See you just now. Bye.