When singing sensation and actress Melba Moore started in the entertainment industry over 42 years ago, she blazed trails as the first Black woman to replace a white actress in a lead role on Broadway and as one of the first Black women to win a Tony Awar
When singing sensation and actress Melba Moore started in the entertainment industry over 42 years ago, she blazed trails as the first Black woman to replace a white actress in a lead role on Broadway and as one of the first Black women to win a Tony Award.
Television shows and a slew of albums and hits, including "This Is It" and "Love’s Comin’ At Ya," followed, and she also received a few Grammy nominations.
The wave of success kept a smile on the New York native’s face for awhile until poor fiscal management, a divorce and a jail stint forced her to make a series of comebacks, as told in an upcoming episode of "Unsung" on the cable channel TV One.
Moore spoke with Defender about the opportunity to finally “get her story told properly.”
Born to musicians, Moore was destined to share her natural gift with the world.
In 1967, she landed a role in the musical "Hair" and soon replaced actress Diane Keaton as the lead in the stage play. Three years later, she was cast in "Purlie," which earned her a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.
Things appeared to be going well until Moore realized she was left penniless by her advisors and was forced to go on welfare. She briefly wallowed in despair then picked herself up and started over again, she said.
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