By CELESTE M. HART
In 2001, this journalist met with Melba Moore, for a Cleveland, Ohio, Black newspaper article, upon the release of her CD, I’m Still Here, and performance of her one woman show, held at a local church. Moore recently struggled through a difficult time in her personal, financial and professional life.
“I had to figure out how to survive,” said Moore, during an interview with Roland Martin, show host.
Moore, more than survived, is thriving, and coming to Charlotte, NC, April 22, 7:30 pm, to the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Stage Door Theatre, presented by, The Progress XChange, Inc. Joining Moore onstage, Paul Laurence, producer and songwriter, along with R&B group named, 4 P.M. (For Positive Music), from Baltimore.
Moore, the first Black Best Featured Actress TONY award winner, received the Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award at Morehouse College in Atlanta, the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her commitment to improvement within urban communities, and her star will be branded on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 2023.
“Just reach for the highest star, even though your eyes can’t see, and you would find your destiny…have the courage to reach for the impossible dream…” lyric from the cut, “The Highest Star,” from Moore’s latest album, titled, Imagine.
Moore, a New Jersey’s Montclair State alumni with a BA in Music Education, taught music at a public elementary school prior to, the Broadway stages, the movies, on radio, a television show, Grammy nominations, said, her commitment to ‘give back’ continues.
“With every show I do, I want some of the proceeds to go to something worthwhile like educating the youth and assisting victims of domestic violence,” said Moore.
The message from Moore’s album and video, Imagine, is peace, love and taking care of one another.
“Can you imagine if love filled every street….no more hate, we’d all be free…Imagine a love displayed causing disloyalties to be erased…” some example lyrics.
Laurence, wrote the songs for Freddie Jackson’s, “Rock Me Tonight, for old times sake” and Moore’s “Love’s Comin at Ya”. The 4 P.M. group, formed in 1991, by brothers Roberto Pena Jr. and Reney Pena with Larry McFarland and Martiz Ware, toured Japan, and the U.S., recently released a new single and video, titled, “Some of the Time.”
The Progress XChange, founded by Darren A. Barreto, provides high school sophomores and seniors in underserved communities the opportunity to increase the likelihood of gaining admission to college through tutoring and ACT/SAT preparation. Barreto said, for those who have the potential but don’t know how to procure those resources, led him to launch “the Xchange”.
Tickets for the charity event, prices $79.15 and $112.75, can be purchased at Carolina Tix.org
theovergroundpost 