ABOUT ME
Like the fancy graphic at the top of this page states, I am an actor, writer, singer and teacher...sometimes all at the same time!
I started singing and acting career in Chicago, but in 2002, I moved to New York area and made my stage debut Off-Broadway in director David Tobin’s acclaimed review, "Pure Gospel America" and shortly thereafter toured with the musical "If This Hat Could Talk" directed by Tony Award winner George Faison with the music by Joe Coleman. I'm a singer/songwriter; composer; lyricist; instrumentalist (piano); with influences in Gospel, R&B, rock and classical music. In Chicago, I was happy to be chosen as The Cotton Club’s “Best Young Vocalist”.
In Chicago, I was honored to have studied and performed with my mentor, Dr. Lena McLin and have also recorded & produced alongside R. Kelly (another story for another day) as well as my dear friend, Grammy award winner and Universal artist Malik Yusef appearing on his 2003 debut album "The Great Chicago Fire". I also appeared in its video along with Kanye West, Common, Twista and Ron-E-Ron.
As a soloist, I have been blessed to shared the stage with and opened for artists such as, Ashford & Simpson, Danny Boy (Death Row Records), Chanté Savage (MCA), Isaac Hayes (honoring R. Kelly), Mighty Blue Kings, Youth Edition, David Josias (imi Records) and John Oats (Hall and Oats) and more. I was opening act at Gospel Fest ’99 and The Bernie Mac HBO Showcase. My band opened for the legendary Koko Taylor at The House of Blues as well as the band “Chicago”.
As far as film and television goes, I have appeared in a number of films, including the featured role in the acclaimed "Converging with Angels", named one of the best entries in the 2002 Montreal Film Festival and The Chicago Reader humbly honored my singing in the 2003 premiere of the stage drama "Valerie Loves Me" as “gritty and golden.”
Starting in 2008, I was able to put all of my talents to good use as the co-creator, [with Vinnie Favale] on the Book, Music and Lyrics of "Hereafter Musical". I co produced and performed on the soundtrack which was released in 2010. In 2011 we launched one of THE most successful fund raising campaigns in the history of Kickstarter and in 2012, "Hereafter Musical" made it's off-Broadway debut at Theater 80 in the East Village [which I also starred in.] We had a second off-Broadway run at the Snapple Theater in 2014.
"Hereafter Musical" had a successful run in Buenos Aires (in Spanish as "Quién Retiene a Quién") in Fall 2017. It returned in 2018 by popular demand.
I am co-starring in the "Hereafter Musical" movie starring Academy Award nominee Danny Aiello and featuring MGM legend Arlene Dahl and renowned film critic and actor Rex Reed. It is currently in post-production with a planned release of Fall 2021. One of the movie’s songs “It’s Christmas Time” was featured in the Broadway show Home For the Holidays, which ran at the August Wilson Theatre from November through December 2017.
In addition to all of the above, I work with my muse, Arlene Dahl.
But enough about me, let's talk about YOU!
My Career In Pictures
"If This Hat Could Talk"Theater program for "If This Hat Could Talk". | "If This Hat Could Talk"Cast photo with Paul Blankinship and Carol Dennis | "If This Hat Could Talk"Cast photo with Carol Dennis |
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"If This Hat Could Talk"With Joe Coleman, writer of the music and lyrics of "If This Hat Could Talk" and member of the Platters. | Capitol RecordsAt the famed Capitol Records recording studio in Los Angeles. | Capitol RecordsAt the famed Capitol Records recording studio in Los Angeles. |
"If This Hat Could Talk"With Carol Dennis | RecordingWith Malik Yusef, Grammy award winning writer and producer (Beyonce, Common and Kanye West among more). I appeared on his 2003 debut album "The Great Chicago Fire" | "If This Hat Could Talk"With George Faison, the Tony Awrad winning director of "If This Hat Could Talk" |
"If This Hat Could Talk"With Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, author “Open Wide the Freedom Gates” also known as “the Godmother of the civil rights movement." | ChicagoWith my mentor and teacher Reverend Dr. Lena McLin. Lena is the founding pastor of Holy Vessel Baptist Church and a pillar of Chicago’s South Shore community. | StylistWith Roger Waters [I was his stylist for a documentary.] |
CBS Photo ShootWith Vinnie Favale [Photo: Jeff Staab] | Kickstarter CampaignFrom our record breaking Kickstarter campaign in 2012 | "Hereafter Musical"First reading of "Hereafter Musical" at Roy Arias Theatre in NYC [2010] |
"Hereafter Musical"With Deborah Tranelli at the first reading of "Hereafter Musical" at Roy Arias Theatre in NYC [2010] | NJ Star Ledger Photo ShootPhoto shoot for Ne Jersey Star Ledger magazine piece in 2012. | Promo CardPromo card using a promo from the "Waiting" music video shoot in 2012. |
"Hereafter Musical"From the Theater 80 production of "Hereafter Musical" in NYC, 2012. | "Hereafter Musical"Cast photo of "Hereafter Musical" premiere at Theater 80 in NYC in 2012. | "Hereafter Musical"Reunited with Paul Blankenship, my co-star from "If This Hat Could Talk" at the 2012 Theater 80 production of 'Hereafter Musical" |
"Hereafter Musical"Reunited with Paul Blankenship, my co-star from "If This Hat Could Talk" at the 2012 Theater 80 production of 'Hereafter Musical" | "Hereafter Musical"With Vinnie Favale on closing night from the Theater 80 production of "hereafter Musical" from 2012. | "Hereafter Musical" PremiereWith Arlene Dahl and Vinnie Favale at the "Hereafter Musical" premiere in the Snapple Theater |
IMG_1006With Vinnie Favale and Arlene Dahl on a beautiful NYC afternoon. | "Hereafter Musical"Promo card from the Snapple Theater production of "Hereafter Musical", NYC, 2014. | "Hereafter Musical"From the Snapple Theater production of "Hereafter Musical", NYC, 2014. |
"Hereafter Musical"From the Snapple Theater production of "Hereafter Musical", NYC, 2014 [with Paul Blankenship.] | "Hereafter Musical"From the Snapple Theater production of "Hereafter Musical", NYC, 2014 [with Paul Blankenship.] | Live From NYCPerforming at in NYC during the MMNY parks summer concert series. |
Live From NYCPerforming at in NYC during the MMNY parks summer concert series. | Live From NYCPerforming at in NYC during the MMNY parks summer concert series. | Live From NYCPerforming with the band I put together for a private event at the Cutting Room in NYC. |
The Cutting RoomPerforming with the band I put together for a private event at the Cutting Room in NYC. | Ashford & Simpsons Sugar BarPerforming at Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar in NYC | Keane KidsWith one of my favorite students Tiana. |
Keane KidsTeaching the song "Hereafter" to the students at PS 383 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn | Keane KidsTeaching the song "Hereafter" to the students at PS 383 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn | "Hereafter Musical"Recording studio with Danny Aiello |
"Hereafter Musical"Recording "Goodbye" with musical theater legend Marnie Nixon | "Hereafter Musical"Recording "Goodbye" with musical theater legend Marnie Nixon | "Quien Retiene A Quien"Standing in front of Teatro Metropolitan SURA with Vinnie Favale in Argentina where our "Hereafter Musical" was adapted into Spanish as "Quien Retiene A Quien" |
"Quien Retiene A Quien"The poster for Teatro "Quien Retiene A Quien" in front of Metropolitan SURA in Argentina where our "Hereafter Musical" was adapted into Spanish. | "Quien Retiene A Quien"Standing in front of Teatro Metropolitan SURA with Vinnie Favale in Argentina where our "Hereafter Musical" was adapted into Spanish as "Quien Retiene A Quien" | "Quien Retiene A Quien"Standing in front of Teatro Metropolitan SURA in Argentina where our "Hereafter Musical" was adapted into Spanish as "Quien Retiene A Quien" |
"Quien Retiene A Quien"Standing in front of Teatro Metropolitan SURA in Argentina where our "Hereafter Musical" was adapted into Spanish as "Quien Retiene A Quien" | "Quien Retiene A Quien"Performing a special encore of "Someday" on closing night of "Quien Retiene A Quien" in Argentina with the entire cast! | "Quien Retiene A Quien"Performing a special encore of "Someday" on closing night of "Quien Retiene A Quien" in Argentina with the entire cast! |
"Quien Retiene A Quien"Performing a special encore of "Someday" on closing night of "Quien Retiene A Quien" in Argentina with the entire cast! | "Hereafter Musical"Production still form the "Hereafter Musical" movie. | "Hereafter Musical"With Danny Aiello in a production still form the "Hereafter Musical" movie. |
"Hereafter Musical"With Danny Aiello in a production still form the "Hereafter Musical" movie. |