*Rhythm and blues singer Meli’sa Morgan is preparing to drop a new album in time for Valentine’s Day 2005. Best known for her gospel tinged revamping of Prince’s “Do Me Baby,” Morgan has a new record deal, but she isn’t quick to reveal which label is handling her affairs.


“I have a new record deal and I am working with the same people that I worked with on my first album,” she says coyly. “I can’t tell you which label it is, because we are keeping it a secret. Hopefully the record will be out in time for Valentine’s Day next year.”


Morgan rode the Billboard R&B Singles charts in the mid 1980’s straight into the early 1990’s with 11 entries - among them, “Do You Still Love Me,” “Fool’s Paradise,” “Deeper Love,” “If You Can Do it: I Can Too,” “Love Changes (with Kashif),” “Here Comes the Night,” “Can You Give Me What I Want,” “Still in Love With You,” “Through the Tears” and “I’m Gonna be Your Lover (Tonight).”


The Queens, New York native got her start in the business while singing with a church gospel choir.

“I began singing in the church with a gospel choir called the Starlets of Corona, New York, she said. “We traveled all over the metropolitan areas of Washington. There was a music director who taught me how to harmonize and how to develop phrases. I learnt a lot from her.”


Morgan was a member of a vocal trio called High Fashion, which also included singers Alyson Williams and Erick McClinton. Her association with that studio outfit came about as the result of a session she did with the group Change.

“The producer was forming a group called High Fashion and he asked me to join,” she said. “We really did one gig and that was basically it.”

High Fashion scored a chart hit with “Feelin’ Lucky Lately,” which peaked at number 32 on the R&B chart.


Meli’sa would later on sing background for artists including Chaka Khan, and Whitney Houston for her debut album. Morgan’s big break came in 1985 when the then President of Capitol Records wanted a female singer to cover the Prince classic “Do Me Baby.”

“I was really complying with the label boss’ request to sing the song,” said Morgan. “I felt no pressure at all in doing the song. Actually I heard the song maybe once or twice before. We got the lyrics and I just went and did the recording. I wanted the song to have more of a gospel feel to it, sorta putting my own spin on the song.”


Her version of “Do Me Baby” shot to the top of the R&B charts where it stayed for three weeks. The single peaked at number 46 on the pop charts and catapulted Morgan into the spotlight.


With four albums to her credit, she says the industry has helped to shape her in a number of ways.

“For starters the industry has made me a little bit more wiser and smarter,” she said. “I really enjoy being a female singer and the accolades and the response from the audience is really tremendous. I try to be the best I can no matter what.”


Morgan will perform tonight at an event held by Gay Men of African Decent (GMAD), a non profit organization championing the quality of life for the black gay community. The invitational affair, to be held at New York’s Brooklyn Museum of Art, will honor the legacy of GMAD founder Charles Angel during its annual Angel Award Ceremony. A pre and post reception, silent auction and musical excerpts from the hit Broadway play “The Lion King” will be featured in addition to a live performance by Morgan.


“Í feel blessed to perform for GMAD,” Morgan said. “With all the separatism in this world, its heartwarming to know that an organization exists like GMAD which offers gay men a place to go where they are encouraged to embrace what they are about. If nothing else, that is a wonderful thing.”

(Kevin Jackson, who writes EUR's weekly "Reggae Updates From Jamaica" column, can be reached at: MYfeedback@eurweb.com.)

Harlepolis said:

It's about time, she has such a great distinctive singing voice. I love her remake of Love Changes. I have her CD with all the hits.

Yeah, I only have that compilation album. I wish Capitol remaster her albums(esp Good Love & Do Me Baby).