saw Melba Moore do it live in Broadway - was one of those star-is-born moments. That voice, range, breath control, phrasing. Good, Lord, that woman can sing!!!!
Melba Moore was "let go" from the original production of Purlie? Really? That's news to me. If anything, I'm surprised they weren't begging her to stay. She was in demand at the time - TV, recordings and two films come to mind. She was all over the place. When did she reveal this information?
My god she's incredible. Saw her do this on Broadway and all the comments here about her live performance are accurate, she blew the roof off and stopped the show. I love how she casually moves during this performance, tapping her toes at one point, seemingly casually tossing off this song. That is pure star talent: you don't see all the hard work that goes into this song.
Melba Moore, is an award winning American singer and actress. She was born in New York City on October 29, 1945. She just celebrated her 77th birthday on October 29, 2022
My mother loves Melba Moore and introduced me to her gift. I've come back here over the hears to listen to one of my favorite musicals from my childhood. Thank goodness for public television. I'm 50 years old now. I read that Melba celebrated 79 years on 10-29-22. Thank you for the joy that your wonderful voice has given me, Melba.
There was at least a partial standing ovation at the end of the whole performance. You have to remember that standing ovation were much less common in decades last than they are today, when people pop up for almost anything.
It isn't "white people in the 80s." *eyeroll* Melba frequently got standing ovations. This video is from the TV production after several takes of the same song.
I'm so glad my Mom introduced me to stage plays (as I did my children) and this was one I've never forgotten. The songs have never left my memory and Ms Melba Moore...just wow. This brought both a smile and a tear.
Happy Happy 75th Birthday Melba Moore! I can't believe you are 75 years young. You look good girl! What a singer you were and still are! You should have gone much further in your career.
My brother met Melba Moore in San Francisco @ the Fairmont Hotel & they chatted between her sets. He said she was one of the sweetest people ever & a true trouper. Listening to her & Barbra Streisand live in concert were highlights of his life as a lover of music.
I've met Melba in Dallas Texas several years ago....and your brother is right...she's so down to earth and a talent for the ages....she's a true living legend....it's a shame her ex-husband rob her for all her wealth....millions... she should be enjoying the fruits of her labor at this stage in her life....not settling for mediocre shows....but God don't sleep and I hear Charles Huggins is still being a crook with other people's money, and was now in legal trouble....what goes around, comes around....Melba may longer be wealthy, but she's still standing. 🥰❤🙏🙌
Loved this song! We did this play in High School. I loved the whole play. I saw Miss Mebla in the this role in person and when they televised it. No one has ever been able to touch her when it comes to those notes!
I was at IS 320 Brooklyn New York when I first saw this play.. Thanks to my Drama teacher... WOW...Did I want to grow up and be Melba Moore and i sang this song everyday every hour..Then they gave her the television show and I wanted to be her so I could date Clifton Davis... Love Melba Moore and got to meet Clifton Davis and he was such a gentleman. He calls me the "CAR LADY"
Hey Wendy I was in PS 40 in Brooklyn when thus came out. Our music teacher Miss Batie taught us this. BTW I went to JHS 35 after that. Never gotten a chance to see Purlie Victorious but did see Mama I wanna sing
I am so happy that someone was able to find a copy of Purlie and put it on TH-cam! Thank you so much! Purlie is one of my all time favorite musicals. I wish it would be the next show set for revival on Broadway.
I longed for Donna Summer to finally do an album of Broadway show tunes- she had every right, having spent her early years on stages. She could have done an album just as good as her friend Barbra Streisand, but hers could have had such a delicious mixture of tunes from both Black and White musicals. Hearing that voice cover those tunes would have been heaven. We still have the incredible Jennifer Holliday with us. Maybe she will finally do one someday soon.
I saw her in this play “in elementary school”, she was just as AWESOME ‘in person’ (and she did get a standing O back then). Thank you for posting the video and the great memories it brings back for me. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️❤️
Amazing performance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Melba Moore is back with a wonderful new album . Class act and still so sweet ~ Have ALL her albums . One of the BEST entertainers ever !!
WOWSERS!! This was my very first Broadway play experience and it is still my favorite. My parents drove us from DC to NYC to see this in 1970 when I was 11. Melba Moore was starring with Cleavon Little and Sherman Hemsley (Gitlow). A wonderful family outing memory.
Absolutely stunning!!! I remember that this song was actually somewhat of a crossover pop hit in the early 1970s but NO ONE could do it like Ms. Melba! Thank you so much for posting! I need to track down this entire television production now.
Melba is magnificent one of a kind and my husband Bob and I did see her in one musical after that one called Inacent Black and although the cast left a lot to be desired Melba's singing once again was excellent . It was the only performance you walked away with remembering this short lived musical on Broadway. P
I remember watching this when it premiered on television. And, just as then, I still think Melba Moore was so adorable. And, her final note on the reprise will never be duplicated or topped! Just as her dance solo during “Purlie” can not be beat! That is so hilarious, I always rewind just to watch that over and over again. Here’s the thing though. As much as I love this musical, Ossie Davis’s original “Purlie Victorious” with Ruby Dee as Lulu belle is much better! So glad to own both! Ossie Davis wrote an amazing story & message that is still loved nearly 70 years later!
When I was in school, we were able to go on field trips, to the theatre and other places that maybe we had not even thought about. It's a shame that most schools have stopped that. I saw Purlie with Melba Moore It was FANTASTIC and it made me appreciate the theatre.
Beautiful singers like her are put in the obsolete file and they bring in the trash. Meelba Moore and Ben Vereen are to of Broadways greatest treasures. Why isn't anyone writing for them. What a shame.
This is excellent; however, I highly recommend her version from the 1970 Tony Awards when she was 11 years younger (age 25) and sheer RAW talent. EXCEPTIONAL!
You mean because everyone sat up and took notice of her talent beginning her long and storied career? Or is it because of all the enthusiastic, glowing comments here? Or is it because you have such a poorly developed faculty for language, such a lack of imagination, that that often flogged and abused tripe is the best compliment you can come up with? Come on man!! Up your pathetic game!!
Omgee, I'm singing this song for my musical theatre class and this just gives me so many ideas on how to perform it vocally, she is AMAZING. Hope I can sing it as well as her....
Mmmmmh-mmmmh He thinks I'm afraid He oughta know I'm not Why should I be scared? I'm safe And sound Because I Got Love I got love I got love I got love, love, love, love, Love, love, love, love, Love! I got love I got love Sweeter than a flower, Growin' by the hour 'Cause I got love! Sunshine shine I got mine, Carve it on a willow Talkin' to my pillow 'Cause I got love Every time I'm with him I know I'm A lucky girl For the first time in my life I'm someone in this world Bye bye blues Said I can't lose I've got a jar of honey And every day is sunny 'Cause I got love! Ooh I got love I got love Sweeter than a flower, Growin' by the hour 'Cause I got love! Every time That I'm with him I know that I'm A lucky girl For the first time in my life I'm someone in this world Bye bye blues, I can't lose, no, no, I Got a jar of honey Every day is sunny 'Cause I got love! I got love! I got love! I got love, love, love, love! I got love!
I'm trying to figure out why nowadays they have the mics where you can see them sometimes they're on their head. back in the day they were no mics to be seen but yet you still heard the performers so well. Is it too taxing for the singers nowadays.
I attended the fabulous opera, "Blue" with my best friend a couple of months ago. I was kina appalled that they were all mic'd up, tho! 600 years of tradition, THIS is how we're doing it now??
We did this play in college and I went back after I graduated to help because it was back by popular demand and I think "Walk Him Up" was the best-known song for the show. I guess everyone has thier own opinions. I love the whole play.
🌹🌷BEAUTIFUL!! MELBA MOORE!!! I'VE NEVER SEEN "PURLIE", BUT MELBA MOORE WAS SINGING IN THE MOVIE, "THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS ", WITH BEYONCE, CUBA GOODING, JR., ANGIE STONE, AND THE O'JAYS🌷🌹
Iconic performances...Melba in Purlie….Stephanie in Home ...and Jennifer in Dreamgirls...untouchable performances
You mean Stephanie in The Wiz!!! ✌
The best!!! But lest not forget Phyllis in Sophisticated Ladies!
Facts
Omg Stephanie was amazing in The Wiz
instablaster...
I had the privilege of seeing Purlie with Melba Moore, Sherman Hemsley, etc. in the early 70s!
Me too! It was Melba Moore's last performance!
saw Melba Moore do it live in Broadway - was one of those star-is-born moments. That voice, range, breath control, phrasing. Good, Lord, that woman can sing!!!!
wow man as a former B way performer I can tell you that that's highly unusual.
Melba Moore was "let go" from the original production of Purlie? Really? That's news to me. If anything, I'm surprised they weren't begging her to stay. She was in demand at the time - TV, recordings and two films come to mind. She was all over the place. When did she reveal this information?
Robert Ozn ur so lucky I'd give anything to hear her sing live but idk if she still performs.
D snacks,
Here's her website: www.melbamoore.com/
Looks like her last event was Nov. 2017.
I saw her live performance on Broadway as well. It was an amazing moment in time indeed!
My god she's incredible. Saw her do this on Broadway and all the comments here about her live performance are accurate, she blew the roof off and stopped the show. I love how she casually moves during this performance, tapping her toes at one point, seemingly casually tossing off this song. That is pure star talent: you don't see all the hard work that goes into this song.
My exact thoughts
Endosso tudo que expressou, muito talento e qualidade nessa relíquia de apresentação.
4:36 What in the witchcraft!
Nope, y'all can't fool me; she's either some kind of alien or she's got some extra lungs!
This performance just brings me such joy and light -- not only is Ms. Melba singing up a storm, she truly makes you feel like you've got love, too! 😍
Melba Moore awesome voice actress and most of all extraordinary person who deserved all the accolades she received and more.
Melba Moore, is an award winning American singer and actress. She was born in New York City on October 29, 1945. She just celebrated her 77th birthday on October 29, 2022
little bitty thing, with a great big voice. Wow what a special girl. I just adore her. Melba Moore...wow!!!
Yes I grew up in east orange . And our choir perform all the songs I’m this play. Back in the 70s
My mother loves Melba Moore and introduced me to her gift. I've come back here over the hears to listen to one of my favorite musicals from my childhood. Thank goodness for public television. I'm 50 years old now. I read that Melba celebrated 79 years on 10-29-22. Thank you for the joy that your wonderful voice has given me, Melba.
That's a showstopper if ever there was one.
Loved this!! That voice.
She was great in this and her voice is made for the theater. She should of done more musicals!
She should have done what she wanted.
@bremarceasingle2332 should *have
That crowd should have gave Melba Moore a standing ovation. Melba sung the crap out of that song! What's wrong with that audience?
rodneywashington51 💯💯💯🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
White ppl in the 80’s. That’s why.
They're white
There was at least a partial standing ovation at the end of the whole performance. You have to remember that standing ovation were much less common in decades last than they are today, when people pop up for almost anything.
It isn't "white people in the 80s." *eyeroll* Melba frequently got standing ovations. This video is from the TV production after several takes of the same song.
I'm so glad my Mom introduced me to stage plays (as I did my children) and this was one I've never forgotten. The songs have never left my memory and Ms Melba Moore...just wow. This brought both a smile and a tear.
She tore that UP!!!
I saw the stage play live with her in this. it was nothing short of Awesome! The entire cast was spellbinding!!
Oh Melba.. the killer of high A's POWERHOUSE!
Shoshana Bean ought to sing this and she'll be like, Nah. I'll take it to a whistle register for the last note.
Happy Happy 75th Birthday Melba Moore! I can't believe you are 75 years young. You look good girl! What a singer you were and still are! You should have gone much further in your career.
SERIOUSLY, MS. MELBA SANG!!! How can you not love this woman?!!!
This came on PBS
My brother met Melba Moore in San Francisco @ the Fairmont Hotel & they chatted between her sets. He said she was one of the sweetest people ever & a true trouper. Listening to her & Barbra Streisand live in concert were highlights of his life as a lover of music.
I've met Melba in Dallas Texas several years ago....and your brother is right...she's so down to earth and a talent for the ages....she's a true living legend....it's a shame her ex-husband rob her for all her wealth....millions... she should be enjoying the fruits of her labor at this stage in her life....not settling for mediocre shows....but God don't sleep and I hear Charles Huggins is still being a crook with other people's money, and was now in legal trouble....what goes around, comes around....Melba may longer be wealthy, but she's still standing. 🥰❤🙏🙌
I Got Love💗💗💗
Tge first time I saw PEARLIE, i believe it was on PBS and i was 5 or 6 years old and that was the night i fell in LOVE with MELBA'S VOICE!!!!!!
Thank you so much for posting! Miss Melba is completed gifted!
Loved this song! We did this play in High School. I loved the whole play. I saw Miss Mebla in the this role in person and when they televised it. No one has ever been able to touch her when it comes to those notes!
OMG I have class, it will never be this good again, it's not available.
I had the pleasure of seeing her in the play with Cleavon Little and Sherman Helmsley here in Chicago. An absolutely astounding set of pipes!
Her middle voice is so theatre and she goes up and you’re like “whoop there’s the gospel”
Funny thing is she was raised in catholic church.
👏👏👏
I’m on the verge of tears. This. Oh my GOD. This.
Made me tear up at bit also.
I was at IS 320 Brooklyn New York when I first saw this play.. Thanks to my Drama teacher... WOW...Did I want to grow up and be Melba Moore and i sang this song everyday every hour..Then they gave her the television show and I wanted to be her so I could date Clifton Davis... Love Melba Moore and got to meet Clifton Davis and he was such a gentleman. He calls me the "CAR LADY"
Hey Wendy I was in PS 40 in Brooklyn when thus came out. Our music teacher Miss Batie taught us this. BTW I went to JHS 35 after that. Never gotten a chance to see Purlie Victorious but did see Mama I wanna sing
GO MELBA MOORE SO TALENTED
Excellence in its purest form, Melba Moores voice is golden!!!
Outstanding
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
I am so happy that someone was able to find a copy of Purlie and put it on TH-cam! Thank you so much! Purlie is one of my all time favorite musicals. I wish it would be the next show set for revival on Broadway.
Grace from Space 💯💯💯👍🏾
I longed for Donna Summer to finally do an album of Broadway show tunes- she had every right, having spent her early years on stages. She could have done an album just as good as her friend Barbra Streisand, but hers could have had such a delicious mixture of tunes from both Black and White musicals. Hearing that voice cover those tunes would have been heaven. We still have the incredible Jennifer Holliday with us. Maybe she will finally do one someday soon.
I saw her in this play “in elementary school”, she was just as AWESOME ‘in person’ (and she did get a standing O back then). Thank you for posting the video and the great memories it brings back for me. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️❤️
Wow!!! Happy Birthday 🎂!!!
Amazing performance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Melba Moore is back with a wonderful new album . Class act and still so sweet ~ Have ALL her albums . One of the BEST entertainers ever !!
Absolutely AMAZING!!!!! What a gift!
SOOOOO MUCH POWER AND RANGE FOR VERY SMALL FRAMED WOMAN
I LOVE IT
I’ve only just now discovered this, and I’m glad I did!! Truly spectacular!
THIS IS PHENOMENAL!!!!!!!!
Fiona Apple says watching rehearsals for this was one of her first memories (her father was in it).
WOWSERS!! This was my very first Broadway play experience and it is still my favorite. My parents drove us from DC to NYC to see this in 1970 when I was 11. Melba Moore was starring with Cleavon Little and Sherman Hemsley (Gitlow). A wonderful family outing memory.
YOU HAD A GREAT FAMILY. I REMEMBER WHEN MY FAMILY TOOK ME TO SEE DREAMGIRLS ON BROADWAY. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE.
YOU BETTA SANG!!!
Melba looks like Minnie Mouse. Oh, but she sings like Mighty Mouse!
She was so pretty and petite....but that voice and talent was big as the Pacific Ocean!!!😍😘🙌👍👏👏👏
I just love this woman Ms Moore and her music you must check out may God continue to Bless her but this my jam
Anika Noni Rose reminds me of Melba Moore. Two tiny powerhouses!,
Two tiny Tony-winning powerhouses, and in the same category too!
So many happy memories are awakened when I listen to this song. So great to find it on TH-cam
Absolutely amazing voice!❤❤❤
Wow!!! Love this production!!! Melba Rock!!!
Love this song so much
GLORIOUS!!!
Absolutely stunning!!! I remember that this song was actually somewhat of a crossover pop hit in the early 1970s but NO ONE could do it like Ms. Melba! Thank you so much for posting! I need to track down this entire television production now.
m4modern she did the crossover popular 1970 crossover version herself it was on her first album titled I got love
Oh Melba, you broke my heart. Perfection. I know every night was a thrill for her to perform this.
Awesome performance!!!
Thank God for TH-cam.
WHAT TALENT. GREAT SONG TOO.
Delicious Melba Moore.
Excellent.
Wow and Wow again!
Melba is magnificent one of a kind and my husband Bob and I did see her in one musical after that one called Inacent Black and although the cast left a lot to be desired Melba's singing once again was excellent . It was the only performance you walked away with remembering this short lived musical on Broadway.
P
I remember watching this when it premiered on television. And, just as then, I still think Melba Moore was so adorable. And, her final note on the reprise will never be duplicated or topped! Just as her dance solo during “Purlie” can not be beat! That is so hilarious, I always rewind just to watch that over and over again.
Here’s the thing though. As much as I love this musical, Ossie Davis’s original “Purlie Victorious” with Ruby Dee as Lulu belle is much better! So glad to own both! Ossie Davis wrote an amazing story & message that is still loved nearly 70 years later!
Super super super talented ❤❤❤❤
amazing
When I was in school, we were able to go on field trips, to the theatre and other places that maybe we had not even thought about. It's a shame that most schools have stopped that. I saw Purlie with Melba Moore It was FANTASTIC and it made me appreciate the theatre.
Thank you Soooo much for All the Rare Musical Gems you are posting! ~
4:57 😠
That woman on the second row isn't even clapping. 😠🔥🔥
Where shall we assemble the pitchfork mob? 🤷🏻♂️⚒️⚒️
Beautiful singers like her are put in the obsolete file and they bring in the trash. Meelba Moore and Ben Vereen are to of Broadways greatest treasures. Why isn't anyone writing for them. What a shame.
Thank you for finding and posting these!
Fun fact: the rocking chair was added so that Melba could charge her voice from lyric to rock belt
I miss my Mother!
so true, i am trying to do the same thing, believe it or not my mother still has the album
Love it
Where can one find the full version on "Purlie"
Garrell Woods I'm still looking
It’s on TH-cam. It’s this version above that was filmed in 1981. Just search “Purlie full musical.”
Do this peerformance give u chills cuz' it give me chills woooo
oh yes such power and excitment a true broadway belter
Love her❤️
The conductor's pushing the tempo too fast, she can't really do her thing. :(
This is excellent; however, I highly recommend her version from the 1970 Tony Awards when she was 11 years younger (age 25) and sheer RAW talent. EXCEPTIONAL!
The most underrated performance!
eno c aquaowo 💯💯💯💯
You mean because everyone sat up and took notice of her talent beginning her long and storied career?
Or is it because of all the enthusiastic, glowing comments here?
Or is it because you have such a poorly developed faculty for language, such a lack of imagination, that that often flogged and abused tripe is the best compliment you can come up with?
Come on man!! Up your pathetic game!!
A simple I like this song. It made me happy. Would state positive, relatable feelings. It would be far better than, "underated."
Oh HELL yes Melba!!!
Omgee, I'm singing this song for my musical theatre class and this just gives me so many ideas on how to perform it vocally, she is AMAZING. Hope I can sing it as well as her....
Happy 75th Birthday Melba Moore
Nothing like Melba!!! Nothing
5 people don't got love.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂❤❤ truth be told
19 people don't got love.
23 now, got no love.
32 people don't got love
Would you believe,... 33 people?
Melba was hitting them damn notes
Jennifer Hudson is gonna be singing this on Smash this season!
She did THAT
Mmmmmh-mmmmh
He thinks I'm afraid
He oughta know I'm not
Why should I be scared?
I'm safe
And sound
Because
I
Got
Love
I got love
I got love
I got love, love, love, love,
Love, love, love, love,
Love!
I got love
I got love
Sweeter than a flower,
Growin' by the hour
'Cause I got love!
Sunshine shine
I got mine,
Carve it on a willow
Talkin' to my pillow
'Cause I got love
Every time
I'm with him
I know I'm
A lucky girl
For the first time in my life
I'm someone in this world
Bye bye blues
Said I can't lose
I've got a jar of honey
And every day is sunny
'Cause I got love!
Ooh I got love
I got love
Sweeter than a flower,
Growin' by the hour
'Cause I got love!
Every time
That I'm with him
I know that I'm
A lucky girl
For the first time in my life
I'm someone in this world
Bye bye blues,
I can't lose, no, no,
I Got a jar of honey
Every day is sunny
'Cause I got love!
I got love!
I got love!
I got love, love, love, love!
I got love!
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!
Get it Miss Melba.
One but best that ever was
I'm trying to figure out why nowadays they have the mics where you can see them sometimes they're on their head. back in the day they were no mics to be seen but yet you still heard the performers so well. Is it too taxing for the singers nowadays.
I attended the fabulous opera, "Blue" with my best friend a couple of months ago. I was kina appalled that they were all mic'd up, tho! 600 years of tradition, THIS is how we're doing it now??
We did this play in college and I went back after I graduated to help because it was back by popular demand and I think "Walk Him Up" was the best-known song for the show. I guess everyone has thier own opinions. I love the whole play.
im out of breath just watching,
I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE SHE'S VERSION.
🌹🌷BEAUTIFUL!! MELBA MOORE!!! I'VE NEVER SEEN "PURLIE", BUT MELBA MOORE WAS SINGING IN THE MOVIE, "THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS ", WITH BEYONCE, CUBA GOODING, JR., ANGIE STONE, AND THE O'JAYS🌷🌹