Melba Moore

Melba Moore, a versatile singer and actor, has had a storied career spanning Broadway, recording, and screen work. From her breakout roles in Hair and Purlie to her chart-topping hits in the '80s like "Love the One I'm With (A Lot of Love)," Moore's four-octave vocal range and collaborations with artists like Kashif have solidified her as a key voice in post-disco R&B. Despite her success as a recording artist, Moore also found fulfillment as a music teacher and continued her stage and screen work, with notable performances in Les Misérables and her autobiographical one-woman musical Sweet Songs of the Soul.

Born to a musical family in New York City, Melba Moore's career began with Broadway success before transitioning to recording hits like "This Is It" and "Lean on Me" in the '70s. She later found commercial success in the '80s with EMI and Capitol, recording a string of Top 20 R&B singles with producers like Kashif and Paul Laurence. Moore's career continued to evolve with gospel projects and collaborations with artists like Phil Perry, leading to the release of her first solo secular album in nearly 30 years, Forever Moore, in 2016.