Beatrice Melba Hill, best known by her stage name, Melba Moore is an American singer, actress, entertainer. She is the daughter of saxophonist Teddy Hill and R&B singer Bonnie Davis.
Montclair State University, Newark Arts High School
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Charles Huggins (m. 1975–1991)
Parents
Bonnie Davis, Teddy Hill
Siblings
Gwendolyn Louise Hill
Nicknames
Melba More , Moore, Melba , Melba Hill , Beatrice Melba Smith , Beatrice Melba Hill , Beatrice Hill
Awards
Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance, This Is It, Love's Comin' at Ya, You Stepped Into My Life
Nominations
Grammy Award for Best New Artist, Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, This Is It, Love's Comin' at Ya, You Stepped Into My Life
Movies
, The Fighting Temptations, more
TV Shows
The Melba Moore-Clifton Davis Show, Melba, Ellis Island
Star Sign
Scorpio
#
Quote
1
[about her breakup with Clifton Davis]: It was devastating to break up, because I thought I found the love that was going to be there for the rest of my life, and everybody would just kind of tore apart of me away.
2
[on John P. Kee]: I love John P. Kee. This song illustrates the classic power of what gospel is and conveys that there is a God and that no matter what is going on, you will be alright. Chris Davis did a great arrangement on the song which just drives you into a higher place. The chord changes just pull you up and hopefully Phil and I do too.
3
[when she paid homage to Dionne Warwick]: Dionne Warwick has a certain sound and feeling in her voice that is completely her own. She does not sound like anyone else. I tried to capture the sweet smooth charisma of her voice.
4
Music is what God allows me to do. Music was a centerpiece in my family. My parents were musicians and so were many of my aunts and uncles.
5
[who confesses about keeping the faith]: Everybody's got to have a dream. If you don't have a dream how you gonna have a dream come true? At the same time, all things come to an end and you have to be able to reinvent yourself. You either have to change or die. I just know that and I am willing to surrender before it kills me!
6
[on her true calling]: Singing is my ministry and my art. Music is what God allows me to do and the opportunity came now and it feels right! When I was asked to do this project and collaborate with Phil Perry, I said 'heck yeah!' With Phil everything is there - power, a certain freshness, emotion, artistry and an incredible range!
7
[about focusing on gospel music]: I've had such a struggle to re-direct myself. I need to find out who I am as an artist. We let God re-create us.
8
[on being a born-again Christian]: As the years went by, we saw the devastation that has come upon us because of sexual immorality. And we had no idea that our popularizing taking drugs was going to be so devastating. I regret that. But I know that, with every age, we make mistakes.
9
[when believing that "Hair," would dealt with such topics as: drugs, sexism, racism, politics, among many others]: I think it's still excellent as an example of the period. But I feel, as a mature artist now, that you have a responsibility to try to reflect the best. We have the same difficulties with gangster rap and all that: we took the lowest aspect of society and glamorized it. But again, I can't condemn. I can say, 'Please forgive me for not knowing better. Now I'll try to do better.'
10
Winning the Grammy is the highest critical accolade, which says your peers respect what you've achieved. For me, it meant I was now free to explore and grow. I always smile and say, 'I'm still here, not in the mainstream radar, but you need to catch up to me.'
Video performer: "The Other Side Of The Rainbow", "You Stepped Into My Life", "This Is It", "Falling", "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing", "Stormy Weather", "I Concentrate On You", "Air Mail Special", "Mozart", "Summertime", "Hair Medley", "Purlie", "Everything With Breath Praise The Lord", "Nobody But Jesus", "Don't Stop Prayin'", "A Little Bit More", "Lean On Jesus", "Christmas Medley" / writer: "The Other Side Of The Rainbow"
The Fighting Temptations
2003
performer: "Amazing Grace", "Rain Down", "He Still Loves Me", "Time To Come Home"
Def by Temptation
1990
performer: "Face to Face"
All Dogs Go to Heaven
1989
performer: "Let Me Be Surprised"
Space Riders
1988
performer: "Love's Comin' at Ya"
The 59th Annual Academy Awards
1987
TV Special performer: "Take My Breath Away"
Soul Train
1986
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
New American Bandstand 1965
1986
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Bad Boys
1983
performer: "Don't Go Away"
Purlie
1981
TV Movie performer: "Purlie", "The Harder They Fall", "I Got Love", "He Can Do It"
Yesterday's Hero
1979
performer: "Pick Me Up, I'll Dance"
Hair
1979
performer: "Three-Five-Zero-Zero"
A Sensitive, Passionate Man
1977
TV Movie performer: "My Sensitive, Passionate Man"
Top of the Pops
1976
TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Cotton Comes to Harlem
1970
performer: "Ain't Now, But it's Gona Be", "My Salvation", "Black Enough"
The 24th Annual Tony Awards
1970
TV Special performer: "I Got Love"
Sesame Street
1969
TV Series performer: "Yakety Yak - Take it Back" - as Tibi the Take it Back Butterfly
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Unsung
2009
TV Series documentary archival photos - 1 episode
Hair, Let the Sun Shine In
2007
TV Movie documentary photos
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Melba Moore: Live in Concert
2007
Video
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Lord Help Us
2007
Video
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Sensitive, Passionate Man
1977
TV Movie title song vocalist
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Melba Moore: Live in Concert
2007
Video producer
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
VH1 Rock Docs
2010
TV Series special thanks - 1 episode
American Experience
2008
TV Series documentary special thanks - 1 episode
Eyes on the Prize
1990
TV Series documentary special thanks - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Shapes of Rhythm: The Music of Galt MacDermot
Documentary post-production
Herself - Interviewee: Singer
Unsung Hollywood
2016
TV Series documentary
Herself
Why the Face
2016
TV Series
Herself
The Artists Music Guild Presents: The 2015 AMG Heritage Awards 5th Year Spectacular
2016
TV Movie
Herself - Performer
Unsung
2009-2015
TV Series documentary
Herself
Praise the Lord
2002-2013
TV Series
Herself
All Night with Joey Reynolds
2011
TV Series
Herself
Showbiz Talk
2011
TV Movie
Herself
The Mo'Nique Show
2010
TV Series
Herself
Hair, Let the Sun Shine In
2007
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Melba Moore: Live in Concert
2007
Video
Herself
Legends Ball
2006
TV Movie documentary
Herself
2002 Trumpet Awards
2002
TV Special
Herself
Behind the Music
2001
TV Series documentary
Herself
The 12th Annual Black Achievement Awards
1991
TV Special
Herself
Ebony/Jet Showcase
1986-1990
TV Series
Herself
Good Morning America
1990
TV Series
Herself
Great Performances
1989
TV Series
Herself
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
1989
TV Movie
Herself
Christmas with the Stars: An International Earthquake Benefit
1989
TV Movie
Herself
The 10th Annual Black Achievement Awards
1989
TV Special
Herself
Lou Rawls Parade of Stars
1986-1988
TV Series
Herself
The New Hollywood Squares
1988
TV Series
Guest Appearance
Solid Gold
1986-1988
TV Series
Herself
Soul Train
1972-1988
TV Series documentary
Herself / Guest
Showtime at the Apollo
1987
TV Series
Herself / Herself - Guest Host
The 59th Annual Academy Awards
1987
TV Special
Herself - Performer
The 4th Annual Black Gold Awards
1987
TV Special
Herself
The 44th Annual Golden Globe Awards
1987
TV Special
Herself - Presenter
Happy New Year, America
1986
TV Special
Herself
Let's Go Mets
1986
Documentary short
Herself
New American Bandstand 1965
1986
TV Series
Herself
Nightlife
1986
TV Series
Herself
Morning
1985-1986
TV Series
Herself
Fame, Fortune and Romance
1986
TV Series
Herself
The 3rd Annual Black Gold Awards
1986
TV Special
Herself - Co-Host
Night of 100 Stars II
1985
TV Movie
Herself
Formule 1
1983
TV Series
Himself
Top of the Pops
1982-1983
TV Series
Herself
Broadway Plays Washington on Kennedy Center Tonight
1982
TV Movie
Herself
The All-Time American Songbook
1982
TV Movie
Herself - Singer
Macy's 54th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade
1980
TV Movie
Herself
WWF Club
1980
TV Series
Herself (1983)
Horas doradas
1980
TV Series
Herself
The Tim Conway Show
1980
TV Series
Herself
The Beatrice Arthur Special
1980
TV Movie
Herself
The 2nd Annual Black Achievement Awards
1979
TV Special
Herself
Captain Kangaroo
1979
TV Series
Herself
Dinah!
1975-1979
TV Series
Herself
The Mike Douglas Show
1970-1979
TV Series
Herself - Vocalist / Herself
The Midnight Special
1979
TV Series
Herself
Soul Alive
1977
TV Series
Herself
Numéro 1
1976
TV Series
Herself
The Bobby Vinton Show
1975
TV Series
Herself
NBC Special Treat
1975
TV Series
Herself
The 20th Annual Obie Awards
1975
TV Special
Herself - Presenter
Black Journal
1975
TV Series
Herself - Co-Host / Herself
Flip
1971-1974
TV Series
Herself
Opryland U.S.A.
1973
TV Special
Herself
The Carol Burnett Show
1972
TV Series
Herself
The Dick Cavett Show
1972
TV Series
Herself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1970-1972
TV Series
Herself
The Melba Moore-Clifton Davis Show
1972
TV Series
Herself - Co-Host
Engelbert with the Young Generation
1972
TV Series
Herself
The David Frost Show
1970-1971
TV Series
Herself
The Ed Sullivan Show
1970
TV Series
Herself - Singer
The 24th Annual Tony Awards
1970
TV Special
Herself - Performer and Winner: Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
$30 Thousand
