Podcasts about Harlettes

Legendary singer/songwriter Manchester is celebrating her fifty-year career with a new album RE:View.  Following her stint as a founding member of Bette Midler's Harlettes, Melissa's tremendously successful solo career brought her critical and commercial acclaim, garnering her nineteen Billboard charted hits.  She's known for “Midnight Blue”, but she received her first Grammy nomination for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance in 1979 for the Peter Allen/Carole Bayer Sager-penned “Don't Cry Out Loud.”  She went on to win the Grammy in that category four years later for the disco hit “You Should Hear How She Talks About You.”   Melissa has had her songs recorded by Barbra Streisand, Roberta Flack, Alison Krauss, Kenny Loggins and many others. In 1980, she made history, by being the first artist EVER to have TWO Academy Award nominated songs in a single year, “Through The Eyes Of Love (from Ice Castles)” and “I'll Never Say Goodbye (from The Promise), and she was the first to perform both songs in the same Oscar telecast.  Her charge into film continued with music for several other films including The Great Mouse Detective, Lady and the Tramp II, Dirty Girl, and Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls. In 2023, Melissa embraces her multi-faceted five-decade career with the release of her 25th album, RE:VIEW, a collection of her classic hits, revisited and reimagined. #singersongwriter #music #newmusic #newalbum #barrymanilow #bettemidler #kennyloggins #duets #musical #funnygirl #legand #musiclegend #musiclegacy

Legendary singer/songwriter Manchester is celebrating her fifty-year career with a new album RE:View.  Following her stint as a founding member of Bette Midler's Harlettes, Melissa's tremendously successful solo career brought her critical and commercial acclaim, garnering her nineteen Billboard charted hits.  She's known for “Midnight Blue”, but she received her first Grammy nomination for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance in 1979 for the Peter Allen/Carole Bayer Sager-penned “Don't Cry Out Loud.”  She went on to win the Grammy in that category four years later for the disco hit “You Should Hear How She Talks About You.”   Melissa has had her songs recorded by Barbra Streisand, Roberta Flack, Alison Krauss, Kenny Loggins and many others. In 1980, she made history, by being the first artist EVER to have TWO Academy Award nominated songs in a single year, “Through The Eyes Of Love (from Ice Castles)” and “I'll Never Say Goodbye (from The Promise), and she was the first to perform both songs in the same Oscar telecast.  Her charge into film continued with music for several other films including The Great Mouse Detective, Lady and the Tramp II, Dirty Girl, and Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls. In 2023, Melissa embraces her multi-faceted five-decade career with the release of her 25th album, RE:VIEW, a collection of her classic hits, revisited and reimagined. #singersongwriter #music #newmusic #newalbum #barrymanilow #bettemidler #kennyloggins #duets #musical #funnygirl #legand #musiclegend #musiclegacy

A career spanning 50 years, singer-songwriter, actress, recording artist, Grammy award-winning MELISSA MANCHESTER has multiple albums and counting. She has recently released her 25th album, Re:View for which she has re-recorded several of her charted hits. Melissa credits the stage for helping her grow and evolve as an artist and believes her songs have become reflections of that growth. She tells us that through the pandemic, she found herself in a deeply thoughtful space and used it to reflect on her music. Manchester's hit song, Don't Cry Out Loud, is, she says, a reflection of her own experiences. The song speaks of a girl who is an awful lot like her, who is trying to hide her tears, and who is trying to find joy and strength in the face of sadness.    Melissa Manchester is an independent musician who has been creating music for five decades. Her songs reflect the current events and social issues going on in the world, such as the importance of frontline workers and the impact of the presidential election. Manchester believes in the power of music and how it can be used to evoke emotion, inspire, and create meaningful conversations. She also believes that music has a mystical quality and can be used to tell stories and connect people in a unique way. In this episode, Melissa talks about how she undertook a six month song writing course with Simon and Garfunkel's Paul Simon while attending New York University. She speaks about her early life in a musical family and how she was always destined to become a songwriter and performer. Melissa Manchester is a wonderfully energetic artist with roots firmly planted in music. Her unique experience growing up with a musician father in the Metropolitan Opera and a mother in the fashion industry fostered her love for music and it grew and developed as she began her career singing jingles for commercials. This was a road that took her alongside musicians like BARRY MANILOW. In 1980, Manchester became the first singer to have two movie themes nominated for Academy Awards (Ice Castles and The Promise); two years later she achieved her highest Billboard singles chart placement with the number five hit "You Should Hear How She Talks About You," which won a Grammy for Best Female Vocal Performance. She also created a group called The Harlettes singing backup for Bette Midler. During our chat Melissa speaks glowingly about her friend BETTE MIDLER. Melissa's songs have been recorded by Barbra Streisand, Roberta Flack and Kenny Loggins, to name a few. Her writing partnership with CAROLE BAYER-SAGER is legendary. She has composed music for the animated features The Great Mouse Detective and Lady And The Tramp II, the sequel to the Disney classic. In addition to composing the scores for the theatrical musicals I Sent A Letter To My Love and Sweet Potato Queens, MELISSA also co-wrote the radio mainstays “Midnight Blue”, “Come In From The Rain” and “Whenever I Call You Friend.” Melissa celebrated her tenure as Artist In Residence at Citrus College with the release of her 21st album, The Fellas, a tribute to the iconic male singers who set the platinum standard for pop music. In November 2021, Melissa was inducted into the Great American Songbook Foundation's Hall of Fame and in December 2021, she had the pleasure of saluting her longtime colleague, Bette Midler, on The Kennedy Center Honors awards telecast. Melissa's 25th album, RE:VIEW is a celebration of her fifty-year career, features fresh takes on several of her nineteen Billboard-charted classic hits. A career sprinkled with creative endeavours, a Grammy win and several Academy award nominations, please join us as Melissa shares her incredible journey this week.  For more information about Melissa Manchester head to her website: https://melissamanchester.com/ To get in touch with me with feedback, comments or any requests for future interviewees, please head to my website www.abreathoffreshair.com.au I hope you enjoy the episode

For Video Edition, Please Click Here and Subscribe: https://youtu.be/0W-s75LaXK0 Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Charlotte Crossley better known as Charlo got her start singing in the choir at Metropolitan Community Church at the tender age of seven. She continued music education in elementary school learning the piano and clarinet and continued until she graduated from South Shore High School. At fifteen, she got her start in theater with roles in West Side Story and the Three Penny Opera at the Young Men's Jewish Community Center where she was encouraged by the director to audition for HAIR, The Musical: the American tribal love-rock musical by Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt McDermott's, which was opening a Chicago company. She was performing eight shows a week. While it was hard work for young Charlo, but being the center of attention was second nature to the burgeoning star. She continued with the Chicago Company, traveled to Las Vegas, and ultimately went on the Tony Award-winning production's first national tour. After moving to New York City, she joined the original Broadway cast of Jesus Christ Superstar, rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice which later won a Tony Award. Charlo later met and toured with Bette Midler and Barry Manilow, which opened many doors that led to recording for CBS Records with the highly coveted trio of backup singers formerly known as The Harlettes with Sharon Redd and Ula Hedwig. Her music credits include working with the likes of Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Lainie Kazan, Muddy Waters, Sister's Love, Boz Scaggs, and Hiroshima. She has also appeared on the big screen in films including The “Preachers Wife,” “Beaches,” “Sister Act 1,” ...

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://youtu.be/E7zIgjSP0PY CHARLOTTE CROSSLEY, nicknamed "Charlo", is an American singer and actress, best known for her roles in the musical theatrical productions of Hairspray, The Color Purple, Jesus Christ Superstar, as a member of the Harlettes in Bette Midler's Clams On The Half-Shell Revue, and for her appearance in 20 Feet from Stardom. https://www.instagram.com/charlofortierhttps://www.facebook.com/charlo.crossleyfortier.7 AVA NICOLE FRANCES is an award winning, 18 - year old singer, actress, and cabaret veteran. Singing professionally since age 10, Ava has wowed audiences in San Francisco, Los Angeles and NYC. Her most recent show Mutual Admiration (with Charlo Crossley) will premiere in NYC on May 1 at 54Below and Ava is proud to announce her London debut on May 17 in Triple Threats at The Crazy Coqs. ULA HEDWIG has an amazing career that has covered every aspect of the entertainment industry from TV to film to theater to concerts and recordings. She has shared the stage with some of the greatest artists of the entertainment industry. She has been part of Redd, Hedwig and Crossley and lead singer of Bette Midler's infamous Harlettes. Her backup vocals can be heard on the following recordings Mascara: See You In LA Lead singer w/Luther Vandross and David Lasley, Darlene Love, Carly Simon, Judy Collins: Phoebe Phoebe Snow: Blondie, Olivia Newton John: The Rumor Rosanne Cash, Boz Scaggs: Tim Curry, Bernadette Peters, Melissa Manchester, Gary US Bonds: Dedication, Weather Girls: Big Girls Don't Cry Noel Paul Stookey, David Lasley: Raindance and more!

Amidst other intense developments there were also insane distractions and one of these was Bette Midler. We adored her and wanted, more than anything, to sing backup for her. Did it happen? Listen and see. I have a Patreon page! Please check it out. If you make a small pledge you'll get to see photos and clips from my journals and hear a bit more about some of the stories. This is a fun way that I can share visuals with you. Check it out HERE. Or at patreon.com/dianathebard If you want to hear more on any particular subject, or if you want to ask a question or simply connect, you can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dianathebard or email me at bardofhudson@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Sharing WHUR 96.3 FM Rankin Memorial Church's Guest Pastor Rev. Dr. Renita Weems who preached on Ancestors Geneology about Harlettes, Scoundrels and Nobodys.

I  had the pleasure to sit down with the iconic Paulette McWilliams. Ms. McWilliams has been in the music industry for over 50 years and is still going strong. Not only has she sung background for Luther; but she was the original lead female vocalist for Rufus and introduced Chaka Khan to the group. She was also one of @Bette Midler's Harlettes; sung lead with Marvin Gaye, Johnny Mathis, and appeared on Quincy Jones's gem "Mellow Madness". Her background credits read like the Who's Who's of the music industry, from @David Bowie to Billy Idol to Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, to @Jennifer Lopez and Steely Dan, and that's a mere drop in the bucket. Paulette McWilliams is LEGENDARY!!!! Tune in to this episode and hear the back story behind Paulette's interaction with all these great artists as she navigated the music industry for more than 1/2 a century.Listen and subscribe to the BAAS Entertainment Podcast on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Podchaser, Pocket Casts and TuneIn. “Hey, Alexa. Play the BAAS Entertainment Podcast.”

Even though Luther Vandross passed over 15 years ago, his music and legacy still lives on. In this episode, Arif St. Michael and I; Wanda T was on vacation, scratch the surface of the thousands of artists that have been influenced by Luther's greatness. From Freddie Jackson to Will Downing to Rueben Studdard and Lalah Hathaway Luther Vandross has inspired some of the world's top entertainers. Tune in has we discuss these artists and more. If this isn't enough, I also had the pleasure to sit down with the iconic Paulette McWilliams. Ms. McWilliams has been in the music industry for over 50 years and is still going strong. Not only has she sung background for Luther; but she was the original lead female vocalist for Rufus and introduced Chaka Khan to the group. She was also one of Bette Midler's Harlettes; sung lead with Marvin Gaye, Johnny Mathis, and appeared on Quincy Jones's gem "Mellow Madness". Her background credits read like the Who's Who's of the music industry, from David Bowie to Billy Idol, to Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, to Jennifer Lopez and Steely Dan, and that's a mere drop in the bucket. Paulette McWilliams is LEGENDARY!!!!Clips from our incredible conversation are also be included in this episode; with the full conversation to be released in the near future.Download, subscribe, listen and enjoy!!!

Melanie Taylor was one of Bette Midler's legendary Harlettes for nearly a decade, and has performed on the Grammys, the Emmys, The Voice, and the Academy Awards, to name just a few notable appearances. She has worked with artists such as Steven Tyler, Jennifer Hudson, Barry Manilow, Steve Perry, Quincy Jones, David Foster, John Mayer, Joe Walsh, Stevie Wonder, Donna Summer, 30 Seconds to Mars, Chaka Khan, Ashford and Simpson, Billy Preston, Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Billy Joel, Sheryl Crow, Michael McDonald, Tears for Fears, Michael Bolton, Patti LaBelle, Ronnie Spector, Nickelback, Jeffrey Osborne, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Steve Tyrell, Brian Wilson, The Offspring, Dionne Warwick, Melissa Manchester, Dave Koz, Deepak Chopra, and she is the first female vocalist to sing with the legendary rock band Aerosmith on their "Music From Another Dimension" album and tour in 2012.Terry Wollman is a Billboard charting American Jazz/Pop musician, music director, guitarist, producer and composer. He has performed with an array of artists including Billy Preston, The 5th Dimension, Wilson Phillips, Al Jarreau, Joan Baez, Joe Walsh, Keb' Mo', Little Richard, Gerald Albright and Eartha Kitt. Terry's TV credits include stints on Scrubs, The Tonight Show, The Late Show, and The Byron Allen Show.Althea Waites is an internationally acclaimed concert pianist, praised by the Los Angeles Times for “superb technique and profound musicality.” Ms. Waites has a long and distinguished history of championing new music by American composers and has received several honors and commendations for her work. She has also been guest soloist for National Public Radio's Performance Today, KQED in San Francisco, KCET/Los Angeles, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Geneva Conservatory of Music in Switzerland, Wigmore Hall in London, Merkin Hall in New York City, concerts for the UC/ San Diego World Music program in Indonesia, Phillips Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to name a few.@therealmelanietaylorwww.melanietaylorartist.comwww.terrywollman.comwww.altheawaites.com@thecareermusician@nomadsplace

Melanie Taylor was one of Bette Midler's legendary Harlettes for nearly a decade, and has performed on the Grammys, the Emmys, The Voice, and the Academy Awards, to name just a few notable appearances. She has worked with artists such as Steven Tyler, Jennifer Hudson, Barry Manilow, Steve Perry, Quincy Jones, David Foster, John Mayer, Joe Walsh, Stevie Wonder, Donna Summer, 30 Seconds to Mars, Chaka Khan, Ashford and Simpson, Billy Preston, Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Billy Joel, Sheryl Crow, Michael McDonald, Tears for Fears, Michael Bolton, Patti LaBelle, Ronnie Spector, Nickelback, Jeffrey Osborne, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Steve Tyrell, Brian Wilson, The Offspring, Dionne Warwick, Melissa Manchester, Dave Koz, Deepak Chopra, and she is the first female vocalist to sing with the legendary rock band Aerosmith on their "Music From Another Dimension" album and tour in 2012. Terry Wollman is a Billboard charting American Jazz/Pop musician, music director, guitarist, producer and composer. He has performed with an array of artists including Billy Preston, The 5th Dimension, Wilson Phillips, Al Jarreau, Joan Baez, Joe Walsh, Keb' Mo', Little Richard, Gerald Albright and Eartha Kitt. Terry's TV credits include stints on Scrubs, The Tonight Show, The Late Show, and The Byron Allen Show. Althea Waites is an internationally acclaimed concert pianist, praised by the Los Angeles Times for “superb technique and profound musicality.” Ms. Waites has a long and distinguished history of championing new music by American composers and has received several honors and commendations for her work. She has also been guest soloist for National Public Radio's Performance Today, KQED in San Francisco, KCET/Los Angeles, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Geneva Conservatory of Music in Switzerland, Wigmore Hall in London, Merkin Hall in New York City, concerts for the UC/ San Diego World Music program in Indonesia, Phillips Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to name a few. @therealmelanietaylor www.melanietaylorartist.com www.terrywollman.com www.altheawaites.com @thecareermusician @nomadsplace

Let's give it up for all the ladies this week as we dedicate this episode to Women in Hip Hop and in LIFE! We are joined this episode, by the Mercedes Ladies of the bay AKA The Femme Deadly Venoms! This is an all female hip hop collective that TRULY embodies and fully represents hip hop culture and has been holding it down in the Bay Area for the past decade. We also celebrate Kamala Harris for being the first female VP and for having the suffer through her name being mispronounced by white people on the news for the next four years. But don't worry we give you little lil Harlettes and Hussies your ratchet, as LiL MC reads off her Sex list on the air…. and if you want to find out what that means well.. you're just going to have to tune in and find out. 

Grammy-Award winning singer, songwriter, and actress Melissa Manchester set sail from Tokyo to San Francisco, sharing tales from her early days of singing jingles, backup for Bette Midler as part of the Harlettes and her story of how a conversation with her writing collaborator Carole Bayer Sager about their personal relationships at that time led to the hit “Midnight Blue.” Melissa’s illustrious career spans more than four decades and is sure to inspire any lover of the arts. Tune in and find out how she nabbed all four Beatles’ autographs at age 14 (hint: a travel advisor was involved!), plus many other highlights from the life of this prolific artist. Read more about this episode.

Sidebar With John Duran: FIRST SEGMENT – Telephone interview with MICHAEL WEINSTEIN, Founder of AIDS Health Care Foundation – from ACT UP Activist to running the largest HIV organization in the world. SECOND SEGMENT – The legendary CHARLO CROSSLEY! She was one of Bette Midlers original Harlettes.   She’s also from the movie Sister Act and toured in Hairspray as Motormouth Mabel. THIRD SEGMENT – STUDIO ONE FOREVER! – two original bartenders from Studio One Gary Mortimer (in studio) and Michael Koth (calling in from Palm Springs), Robert Bazan, - Studio one memorabilia collector and former patron and Marc Saltarelli – producer of documentary Studio One Forever!  (Both in Studio also) FOURTH SEGMENT – ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ- Palm Springs Pride Grand Marshal of the parade and festival will be calling in to talk with us!

How do you go from majoring in communications to touring the world as a one of Bette Midler's Harlettes? Carol Hatchett chats about what she learned working with the likes of Bette Midler, Tina Turner and Sheila E., what compelled her to move from Chicago to Los Angeles, and golden wisdom she gives to her own students. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theworkingsinger/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theworkingsinger/support

Sharon Redd - Somebody Save The Night SImple Dj Friendly Edit By PetkoTurner DL >> https://hypeddit.com/track/qfzlb4 THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST DISCO CLUB SONGS EVER. BEST GROOVE, SOUNDING, ARRANGMENT, MOOD, PRESSURE, LYRICS, COOLNESS AND ATMOSPHERE FOR A DISCO CLUB DANCE NIGHT CONSOLIDATED AND PACKED IN ONE JAM. In the midst of mounting a comeback in the early 1990s, Redd died of pneumonia on May 1, 1992. Dance Music Report magazine reported that her death was AIDS-related. Sharon Redd was born in Norfolk, Virginia to Gene Redd and Katherine Redd. Gene Redd was a producer and musical director at King Records, and her stepfather performed with Benny Goodman's orchestra. Her brother Gene Redd Jr. was a songwriter and producer for Kool & the Gang and BMP. Her sister Pennye Ford is also a singer with two albums to her credit and known for her work as the main singer for Snap!. She began her recording career with four singles in 1968 for the United Artists label, three written and all four produced by songwriter and record producer Bobby Susser. Susser chose the Hank Williams song "Half As Much" to be Redd's first single. Redd's vocals, against Susser's heavy-bass track, made her presence very quickly known to R&B radio stations. Redd, as a budding actress, got a major break when she starred in an Australian production of the rock musical Hair. She was among a troupe of young African-American imports to the Sydney production, a group which notably included Marcia Hines. Redd appeared in the production from its June 6, 1969 premiere through 1971. As Redd was becoming famous in Australia, she was interviewed by Barry Sloane on a 1971 episode of "GTK". Her popular adverts for Amoco led to her own television special. Redd and Hair co-star Teddy Williams were asked to leave Australia by the Immigration Department in April 1971 for reasons they believed were race-motivated. Aside from Hair, Redd also appeared in Ti-Jean and His Brothers and, in 1974, traveled to London to star in an American production of The Wedding of Iphigenia. In 1977 Redd played the role of Sherrye in the U.S. television sitcom "Rhoda".[9][10] 1978 also saw Redd feature as a guest in the musical Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. In the mid-1970s, Bette Midler was looking to replace Merle Miller and Gail Kantor, both of whom had left after Midler's 1973 tour to pursue their own interests. Midler auditioned over 70 performers, but Redd landed the job, becoming one of Bette's Harlettes. Aside from performing as a Harlette, Redd also provided backing vocals for Carol Douglas ("Burnin'" and "Night Fever") and Norman Connors ("You Are My Starship"). Having ended their association with Midler, Redd, Charlotte Crossley, & Ula Hedwig released an LP, Formerly of the Harlettes, in late 1977. In 1979, Redd recorded the disco hit "Love Insurance," released by Panorama Records under the name Front Page, her own vocals going uncredited. But she soon signed a recording contract with Prelude Records, and Redd became the label's most successful artist. Her first album, 1980's self-titled Sharon Redd, was closely followed by two more—Redd Hott (1982) and Love How You Feel (1983). Redd placed several songs on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, including "Beat the Street," "In the Name of Love," and "Love How You Feel." After these releases, Sharon Redd returned to her successful career as a background vocalist, most notably with the group Soirée, which also included among its members Luther Vandross and Jocelyn Brown. Following the UK top 20 success of a re-recorded "Can You Handle It", she recorded a single entitled "All the Way to Love", with Les Adams. The song remains unreleased. This was to be her last solo recording. In 1993, Pennye Ford dropped the 'e' from her name and released the album Penny Ford, which featured a duet with her sister entitled "Under Pressure."

Sharon Redd - Somebody Save The Night SImple Dj Friendly Edit By PetkoTurner THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST DISCO CLUB SONGS EVER. BEST GROOVE, SOUNDING, ARRANGMENT, MOOD, PRESSURE, LYRICS, COOLNESS AND ATMOSPHERE FOR A DISCO CLUB DANCE NIGHT CONSOLIDATED AND PACKED IN ONE JAM. In the midst of mounting a comeback in the early 1990s, Redd died of pneumonia on May 1, 1992. Dance Music Report magazine reported that her death was AIDS-related. Sharon Redd was born in Norfolk, Virginia to Gene Redd and Katherine Redd. Gene Redd was a producer and musical director at King Records, and her stepfather performed with Benny Goodman's orchestra. Her brother Gene Redd Jr. was a songwriter and producer for Kool & the Gang and BMP. Her sister Pennye Ford is also a singer with two albums to her credit and known for her work as the main singer for Snap!. She began her recording career with four singles in 1968 for the United Artists label, three written and all four produced by songwriter and record producer Bobby Susser. Susser chose the Hank Williams song "Half As Much" to be Redd's first single. Redd's vocals, against Susser's heavy-bass track, made her presence very quickly known to R&B radio stations. Redd, as a budding actress, got a major break when she starred in an Australian production of the rock musical Hair. She was among a troupe of young African-American imports to the Sydney production, a group which notably included Marcia Hines. Redd appeared in the production from its June 6, 1969 premiere through 1971. As Redd was becoming famous in Australia, she was interviewed by Barry Sloane on a 1971 episode of "GTK". Her popular adverts for Amoco led to her own television special. Redd and Hair co-star Teddy Williams were asked to leave Australia by the Immigration Department in April 1971 for reasons they believed were race-motivated. Aside from Hair, Redd also appeared in Ti-Jean and His Brothers and, in 1974, traveled to London to star in an American production of The Wedding of Iphigenia. In 1977 Redd played the role of Sherrye in the U.S. television sitcom "Rhoda".[9][10] 1978 also saw Redd feature as a guest in the musical Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. In the mid-1970s, Bette Midler was looking to replace Merle Miller and Gail Kantor, both of whom had left after Midler's 1973 tour to pursue their own interests. Midler auditioned over 70 performers, but Redd landed the job, becoming one of Bette's Harlettes. Aside from performing as a Harlette, Redd also provided backing vocals for Carol Douglas ("Burnin'" and "Night Fever") and Norman Connors ("You Are My Starship"). Having ended their association with Midler, Redd, Charlotte Crossley, & Ula Hedwig released an LP, Formerly of the Harlettes, in late 1977. In 1979, Redd recorded the disco hit "Love Insurance," released by Panorama Records under the name Front Page, her own vocals going uncredited. But she soon signed a recording contract with Prelude Records, and Redd became the label's most successful artist. Her first album, 1980's self-titled Sharon Redd, was closely followed by two more—Redd Hott (1982) and Love How You Feel (1983). Redd placed several songs on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, including "Beat the Street," "In the Name of Love," and "Love How You Feel." After these releases, Sharon Redd returned to her successful career as a background vocalist, most notably with the group Soirée, which also included among its members Luther Vandross and Jocelyn Brown. Following the UK top 20 success of a re-recorded "Can You Handle It", she recorded a single entitled "All the Way to Love", with Les Adams. The song remains unreleased. This was to be her last solo recording. In 1993, Pennye Ford dropped the 'e' from her name and released the album Penny Ford, which featured a duet with her sister entitled "Under Pressure."

Born in New Orleans on New Year’s Day to a classical pianist mother and a family of artists, Melanie Taylor’s rich, eclectic musical heritage has helped guide and define her own artistry ever since. As a recording artist for Capitol Records, with the dance music duo, Bardeux, Melanie landed a Top Five single on the Billboard Dance charts. Melanie’s holiday CD, This Christmas, weaves an artfully unique tapestry of her favorite Christmas songs and her latest CD, entitled “The Road I’m On”, is an inspired combination of originals and covers of fresh arrangements with her own unique spin.As one of Bette Midler’s infamous and legendary Harlettes for nearly a decade, Melanie Taylor has been seen twirling and singing on the Emmy Award winning, “Diva Las Vegas”, and with Barry Manilow on his Emmy Award winning special, Manilow: Music and Passion.Melanie has been an in-demand featured vocalist on major world tours, film and television, and shared the stage with such artists as David Foster, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, Donna Summer, Barry Manilow, Chaka Khan, Ashford and Simpson, Billy Preston, Chris Botti, Barbara Streisand, Ray Charles, Elton John, Billy Joel, Sheryl Crow, Michael McDonald, Jackson Browne, Sarah McLachlan, Tears for Fears, Michael Bolton, Patti LaBelle, Ronnie Spector, Jeffrey Osborne, Brian Wilson, Jim Belushi, Sheena Easton, Paula Abdul, Jeff Barry, Dionne Warwick, Melissa Manchester, Carole Bayer Sager, Dave Koz, Willie Nelson, Deepak Chopra, Joe Walsh, Steven Tyler, and as the first female vocalist to sing with the legendary rock band Aerosmith on their Music From Another Dimension album and tour in 2012.

As one of Bette Midler’s infamous and legendary Harlettes for nearly a decade, Melanie Taylor has been seen twirling and singing on the Emmy Award-Winning HBO Special Diva Las Vegas, as well as a 6-week sold-out engagement at Radio City Music Hall, and in a millennium photo essay in Rolling Stone magazine.  Melanie has been a featured vocalist on tours, TV, and shared the stage with such artists as John Mayer, Barry Manilow, Stevie Wonder, Sarah McLachlan to Aerosmith’s Summer Tour 2012.

This week, Alec sits down with Rosie O'Donnell who says she “never wanted to be a talk show host … I wanted to be on Broadway…I wanted to be a Bette Midler backup singer, one of the Harlettes.” And for over three decades, Rosie has done a lot of things – she's been a standup comic, a Star Search contestant, an actress, a talk show host, a philanthropist, an activist, a magazine editor, a blogger, a Broadway and television producer, and above all, a mom to five. The latest child, Rosie tells Alec, "rebirthed" her. On changes in the acceptance of gay actors during the arc of her long career now, she says, "To think that in my lifetime, in my career, that you can be an out performer/actor playing against type – Neil Patrick Harris playing a womanizer on that show, being out and married with twin boys – and it doesn't hurt your career. It doesn't do anything. So in a way it's the most beautifully astounding, inspirational thing that I can think about in my 51 years of living." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Marc Shaiman talks to long-time friend and collaborator, Jenifer Lewis, about their upcoming show together at 54 Below, their secret "language" developed over 30 years of friendship, and the story behind the new song "The 11 o'clock Number".  From Broadway’s Eubie to Hairspray, television’s Jackie’s Back to Strong Medicine, and film’s What’s Love Got to Do With It, Beaches, Cars and The Princess and the Frog, Jenifer Lewis, one of Bette Midler’s most infamous Harlettes, is a force of nature whose voice is as distinctive as her take no prisoners sense of humor.  This new show, running for only 7 performances July 24-28th, marks the diva's return to the New York cabaret scene after a nearly twenty year absence. For more information and tickets, visit 54below.com

The multi-talented Andre De Shields describes the development of his new one-man show, "Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance", and why it may be a work-in-progress for several years to come. He also talks about growing up in a family of 11 children in Baltimore and why he was unexpectedly the one to make a career in entertainment; his undergraduate years at the University of Wisconsin, including an infamous production he described as "the nude Peter Pan," directed by Stuart Gordon (who would later create the Organic Theatre in Chicago and direct the film "Re-Animator"); why he had to sleep in a public park in order to secure his first professional role in a show he'd never seen -- "Hair"; why he can lay claim to being the man who made Bette Midler's back-up singers, The Harlettes, dance; how the process of elimination ended up yielding him the title role in "The Wiz"; why it was Jackie Onassis who revealed to him and his castmates in "Ain't Misbehavin'" that they were in a hit; whether he'd tackle the multiple roles of director, choreographer, bookwriter, songwriter and star of "Harlem Nocturne" if he had to do it all over again; his thoughts on African-American actors taking on traditionally Caucasian roles, having had the opportunity to play Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman" and "Our Town"'s Stage Manager; why he feels that the musical "Play On!" was misunderstood; and the incredible liberation of his big number in "The Full Monty". Original air date - February 1, 2010.

The multi-talented Andre De Shields describes the development of his new one-man show, "Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance", and why it may be a work-in-progress for several years to come. He also talks about growing up in a family of 11 children in Baltimore and why he was unexpectedly the one to make a career in entertainment; his undergraduate years at the University of Wisconsin, including an infamous production he described as "the nude Peter Pan," directed by Stuart Gordon (who would later create the Organic Theatre in Chicago and direct the film "Re-Animator"); why he had to sleep in a public park in order to secure his first professional role in a show he'd never seen -- "Hair"; why he can lay claim to being the man who made Bette Midler's back-up singers, The Harlettes, dance; how the process of elimination ended up yielding him the title role in "The Wiz"; why it was Jackie Onassis who revealed to him and his castmates in "Ain't Misbehavin'" that they were in a hit; whether he'd tackle the multiple roles of director, choreographer, bookwriter, songwriter and star of "Harlem Nocturne" if he had to do it all over again; his thoughts on African-American actors taking on traditionally Caucasian roles, having had the opportunity to play Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman" and "Our Town"'s Stage Manager; why he feels that the musical "Play On!" was misunderstood; and the incredible liberation of his big number in "The Full Monty". Original air date - February 1, 2010.