[Program: Black Music and the Civil Rights Movement] Page: 4 of 15

                                
VOCALIST
JENNIFER HOLLIDAY~~
Since bursting onto the scene in
1981 as the electrifying star of the hit
Broadway musical ''Dreamgirls,'' the
powerful voice of Jennifer Holliday con-         t~'
tinues to mesmerize audiences.

Meanwhile, release of the second
album, "Say You Love Me," was on
the back burner, when Michael Jackson
contacted David Geffen with a request
to supply a song for the album. Release
was delayed further until Jackson's
busy schedule permitted him to deliver

the promised tune''You're The One.''
Born and raised in Houston, Texas,
Holliday started singing in her church
choir. It was there that her astonishing
voice was spawned and today many are
grateful for the phenomenon

Previously, she appeared in the road
company of ''Your Arms Too Short To
Box With God," singing in the role that
had won Dolores Hall a Tony award.
It was after a year and a half on the road
and six months on Broadway with the
show that Holliday was approached by
lyricist Tom Eyen and composer Henry
Kreiger to get involved in their project.
"That's what it was called in the
beginning - Project 19," recalls Holli-
day. In June of 1980, Holliday became
part of the project's workshop, honing
and developing the material, much of
which was written especially for her in
the role of the musical's vivacious,
vulnerable lead character.
Project 19 was "Dreamgirls," and
for her performance as Effie and her
soulful delivery of the song, "And I Am
Telling You I'm Not Going," Holliday
won a Tony and Grammy award.
Holliday took a three-month leave
of absence from the musical in
December of 1982 to begin her debut
album for Geffen Records. Released in
August 1983, "Feel My Soul" was pro-
duced by Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice
White and showcased a selection of
songs including "I Am Love," and con-
tributions from such respected com-
posers as David Foster, Ashford &
Simpson and Allee Willis.
Following the album's release,
Holliday resumed her busy schedule

ACTRESS

finishing off "Dreamgirls' " Los
Angeles run and a three month tour
with Peabo Bryson. However, work on
her second album had already begun.
Once her committments had been
fulfilled, Holliday returned full time to
her solo recording career.
Songwriters Bruce Roberts and An-
dy Goldmark, producer Arthur Baker,
and George Tobin were just a few of
those who collaborated on the upcom-
ing album.
More than a year later Holliday took
a break and began rehearsals for a new
stage musical directed by "The Wiz"
choreographer George Faison. Portray-
ing the legendary gospel singer Mahalia
Jackson, Holliday brought down houses
in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia,
Chicago and Detroit, as well as eight
other cities across the country, through
the fall of 1985. "Sing Mahalia, Sing,"
was the perfect vehicle for the power
of Holliday's voice.er

TmOMMIE STEWART

Tommnie 'te.w/art, theater professor
at Jackson State University, Mississip-
pi, has appeared in numerous films as
well as stage productions.
Her TV credits include ''The
Minstrel Man," "I Know Why The Cag-
ed Bird Sings," "Beulah Land," and
"Don't Look Back," the story~of Satchel
aStewart is a member of the Screen
Actors Guild, the National Association
of Dramatic and Speech Arts, the
Mississippi Theatre Association, and
has produced and directed several
educational documentaries.
With a B.S. in Speech and Dramatic
Art from Jackson State Univ., and a
M.A. in Dramatic Arts from the Univer-
sity of California, Santa Barbara,
Stewart also is adept in theatrical
makeup, wig and hair styling and has
an accent range which encompasses
southern, eastern, Portuguese, black
dialect, Spanish and general American.
She last was in Dallas in June 1986
as guest director of the Junior Black
Academy's Summer Youth Art In-

CO-DIRECTOR

stitute. In 1980 she served as a ,nu
tant to the Dallas Public Schools Draw a
Program.
Currently, Stewart is on leave from
Jackson State pursuing studies toward
a Ph.D. degree in Theatre Arts at
Florida State University, Tallahassee.
More recently she starred in a world
premiere production at FSU titled "Too
Much Chain to Swim With,'' and was
the presenter of two papers at the
American Theatre Association's 1986
convention in New York City.

PAT KESSEE

Patricia Keesee, the mother of three,
is a native Dallasite. A graduate of
Bishop College, Ms. Keesee currently is
working on her Master of English
degree at Texas Women's University.

She has recorded on both Brut and
Savoy Record labels. Ms. Keesee works
with the DISD Talented and Gifted pro-
gram and with the First Baptist Church
Hamilton Park Music Department.

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