Thelma
Houston
This
Grammy Award winning artist, with over 20 albums, is a legend
who has crafted an outstanding career, ever since her very first
album, and she shows no signs of slowing down. "I have so
many things I want to do", she says with typical enthusiasm
and energy.
Whether she's
appearing in Tokyo, Las Vegas or London, Thelma brings audiences
to their feet with her dynamic, energetic stage show. This globe
trotting Diva logs over 200+ live performances annually. The ever-soulful
songstress is enjoying every moment of her uber-successful career:
"I still feel a tremendous excitement about performing",
says an upbeat Houston, "It's such a part of me, and something
I have to do!” And perform she does! Thelma recently rocked
Rockefeller Center on NBC’s Today Show’s, dazzled ABC-TV’s
“Motown 45” and glittered at ABC-TV’s “The
Disco Ball”. Along with Aretha Franklin and Mary Wilson,
she raised the roof on the TV specials, “Love, Rhythm and
Blues,” “Soul Superstars,” "Old School Superstars"
all for PBS. Thelma’s also had the pleasure of performing
with Stevie Wonder on the syndicated special called 'Motown Christmas'”
On June 23rd
(2005) Thelma accepted NBC’s offer to perform on their hot
new music show called 'Hit Me Baby, One More Time'. She performed
with 4 other acts and ended up being the overwhelming favorite
and winning $20,000.00 for her favorite charity, AIDS Project
LA.
The legendary
Nile Rogers called upon Thelma to be his 'special guest' for a
sold out concert at the world famous Hollywood Bowl. Thelma was
also asked by CHER to tour on her 'Farewell' concert tour and
recently headlined with her “Band” at Harrah’s
Casino in Las Vegas and with the San Diego Symphony.
Thelma claimed
the top of the Pop, R&B and Dance charts with her high-powered
rendition of "Don't Leave Me This Way". This classic
gold record gave Thelma the distinction of being the first solo
female artist at Motown to win the Grammy Award for "Best
R&B Female Vocal Performance". The song has taken on
a life all it’s own, and has become one of the 'defining'
songs of the disco era, and has been licensed to well over 400
CD compilations, including the soundtrack for the movie 'Miss
Congeniality 2'” Thelma was recently inducted into the 'Dance
Music Hall of Fame' in New York City and was honored as an 'Apollo
Legend' on the hit TV show, 'Showtime at the Apollo' for her amazing
career in music.
Known for
her emotive style and passionate delivery, Thelma showed her musical
versatility with the jazz-flavored, Top 20 hit "If it’s
The Last Thing I Do". She recorded many albums with soul
legend Jerry Butler at Motown before scoring further success at
both RCA and MCA.
While at
MCA she worked with producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, to
record the Top 20 R&B hit, "You Used To Hold Me So Tight."
Thelma lent her talents to a rousing gospel-flavored version of
Bill Withers' "Lean On Me", with gospel greats, The
Winans, featured in the hit movie of the same name. An outstanding
song writer, Thelma co-wrote "Be Yourself", the title
track for Patti LaBelle's critically acclaimed, best selling album
of the same name and "The Night I Fly" for the hit film
"54"” Thelma recently received the honor of recording
(with the London Symphony Orchestra) an incredible duet with music
great Roger Daltry (of the Who) of the classic Beatles song "Let
It Be"”
Thelma Houston’s
first album, "Sunshower" was produced by legendary Jimmy
Webb and hailed by critics as a triumphant debut from a rising
new star. "I've been singing since I was three," says
the Mississippi-born native who moved to Long Beach, California
when she was ten. "My baby-sitter was the piano player at
our church and would play hymns and I'd sing them. After that
I started singing in church myself and anywhere else I could!"
Like so many other great performers who began their musical journey
in church, Thelma's obvious vocal talent resulted in an early
recording career in gospel music with the renowned gospel group,
the Art Reynolds Singers.
Thelma was
recently cast in the “Lead” role of Madam ZinZanni in
the pre-Broadway run (performing with the Seattle and San Francisco
cast) of 'Teatro ZinZanni'” Her burgeoning skills as an actress
first became apparent in films such as "Death Scream",
"The Seventh Dwarf", "And God Created Woman”,
with Rebecca DeMornay and Oprah Winfrey's, "Beloved".
Some of Thelma's television credits include guest parts on "Cagney
& Lacey", "Simon & Simon" and "Fairy
Tale Theater."
Thelma toured
Australia with the Broadway musical "Fame". Rave reviews
and SRO crowds from Sydney to Perth kept Thelma touring the country
for nearly a year. She also starred in the musical "Big Otis’s
Jump Up Blues Revue” by Tony Award winning director, Otis
Sallid (Smokey Joe’s Cafe).
Known as
a humanitarian for her ongoing support for a charitable causes
and her tireless efforts in the battle against AIDS, the City
of West Hollywood proclaimed, Wednesday, Jan. 29th 2003 "Thelma
Houston Day".
What’s
next for this music legend? "I’m currently working on
recording an album of 'Classic' songs, and a CD of original dance
music because the fans of dance music have been so loyal to me
over the years. Also possibly a jazz album and gospel album to
remind people of my musical roots". As Thelma reflects on
her success she continues “I used to see success in a whole
different light, but you know what, I feel blessed because I’ve
never stopped working and I love what I do. I can truly say that
I appreciate my career and sometimes it really feels like I’m
just getting started".
|
