"FREE" (TATYANA ALI) FROM THE DENIECE WILLIAMS JUKEBOX MUSICAL "IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE"
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- The Big Audition Scene: "FREE"(written by Deniece Williams, Susaye Greene, Nate Watts, Hank Redd/originally recorded by Deniece Williams) is performed by Tatyana Ali with dance support from Elon Cox and Angela Jordan//"IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE: A LOVE STORY (FEATURING THE SONGS OF DENIECE WILLIAMS" is a musical set to the hits of the legendary Grammy-wining pop, soul & gospel singing icon starring Tatyana Ali (TV's "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and "Love That Girl"). Conceived, written, directed and produced by Emmy-winning tv producer Michael Ajakwe Jr. ("Entertainment Tonight", 'Talk Soup", "Martin", "Sister Sister", "Eve", "Love That Girl", "Unsung" and the upcoming "Basketball Wife"), Ajakwe crafted a fictitious story set in the 1970s and in the hometown Deniece Williams hails from (Gary, Indiana-- same as the Jackson 5) and weaved fact with fiction, creating a wholly original story about the family church act that replace the Jackson 5 when they left for the fame and fortune of Motown in 1969. It's a girl group and, like the Jacksons, their Michael's name is Lucy. When she comes of age, she wins an opportunity to cut a circular record, goes to Los Angeles and gets caught up in the secular world of success, love and betrayal. The play was set to 14 tunes by one of the playwright's favorite artist's (Deniece Wiliams). Besides Ali, who played the title role of Lucy Monroe, singer-actor Johnny Gilmore played her loving but unsophisticated hometown boyfriend, Derek Delaney played his conspiracy-theorizing best friend, and Kosmond Russell played Lucy's Los Angeles svengali Cedric Spin who would transform her from gospel-singing innocent to budding worldly ingenue. Ali's sister who made up the Monroe clan included Makeda Tene, Trisha Mann, and Chante Carmel. The Monroe parents were played by Darius Dudley and Sonja Maia Harper while Lucy's cross-town rival who takes up with her man which precipitates her decision to leave for what L.A. and stardom have to offer is the indelible Chrystee Pharris. The band consisted of Musical Director bassist Scott Allen, guitarist Darryl Spencer, saxophonist Eugene Chapman, piano/keyboard player James Johnson. The smooth plus background vocals you hear in each song are Shana Williams, Brenda Dickerson, and Demecka Jackson. Debbie Smith was the Hair/Make Up Supervisor, Peter Wise was my Casting Director (and was responsible for bringing me the incredibly-talented Ali), and MADONNA GRIMES was the show's Choreographer. "If You Don't Don't Believe" ran at the Zephyr Theater in Hollywood for 6 weeks in 2004 to sold-out houses and was nominated for 8 NAACP IMAGE AWARDS FOR THEATER in 2005 including Best Actress (Tatyana Ali), Best Supporting Actor (Kosmond Russell), Best Supporting Actress (Trisha Mann), Best Supporting Actress (Sy Smith), Best Musical Director (Scott Allen), Best Choreographer (MADONNA GRIMES), Best Musical (Mike Ajakwe Jr.), and Best Director (Mike Ajakwe Jr.) winning for Best Musical Director (Scott Allen). Deniece Williams-- who Ajakwe would later write and produce a one-hour NAACP Image Award-winning documentary on for cable channel TV One's "Unsung" music series-- was also a co-producer on the project and worked closely with the band and singers.
Happy Birthday 🎂 Tatyana On January 24th 2024 Hope You Have A Wonderful Blessed Beautiful Birthday Love You Always And Forever 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
If there is ever a movie about Deniece Williams she should play her
she sang that song very well. she could sing good.
Boy did she grow up to be a beautiful young lady!
You really got me from the begining..Than I really said hold up she really jamming!! Outstanding!
.
That was nice.... Her voice has a beautiful tone.😎
I envy the lucky audience who got to see this musical in person 🙂
Beautiful ❤
Wow. She has a beautiful voice!!
Denise Williams would be so proud. T did great.
Sang Tatyana. She has vocally grown. I wish she would continue to do music again
I said that very same thing!!! She's grown vocally!! Didn't know she could had that higher range
Go on now Tatyana, you bad to the bone! Sang that song!!!!
Aw right now Tatyana!👏👏
Wow. I didn't know she could sang like that . Nice!!
She killed this song
Good job Ms. T! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Singing "Free"(LIVE) is not easy!
Impressive....
Daddy Phil would be so proud!
Good Hope FM....Radio at it's very best in 90s with Dmetri Jegels
Nossaaaaa q perfeição sem palavras pura raiz perfeito.
Good singing!
This is amazing! Shes sooo good!!
wow! what a voice doing a perfect version
Good job
Très belle voix et j'aime bien le petit clin d'oeil aux Jacksons
Nice
Didn't know Mami sang always liked her from Fresh Prince nice voice
#SANGING FOR DAYS
💕💕💕💕👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Wow didn’t know she had that kinda range
She reminds me of Shanice.
On point with that assessment.
Yes i was about to same that , I have always stated that....... even both of them have a little Janet Jackson too
she remind me of her cousin chilli of tlc. thats right. theyre related.
She’s not related to chilli but they are both east Indian and black
Where online can I watch the full show ? I would love to see more.
Sing it Ashley!!! Lol
That’s what I came to comment 😂
Glad I scrolled thru first.
Sing Ashley Banks.
Not bad at all, Tatyana.
Wonder why she never switched from acting to singing. I knew she could hold a note but looks like she could sang !
She had a big hit song “Daydreaming” produced by Darkchild back in 99’ and released an album after. She said she didn’t like the music industry as being an artist was too tiring
Look up her album Kiss the Sky. It's timeless. No skips. I think she's releasing Christmas music this year, too. Possibly an album?
She sang..but..background singers too loud..she held her own
Background singers are drowning her out and that's not cool.