Meet Musical Legend, Register for Discussion of Moore’s New Memoir
MELBA MOORE
By Mary Ann Bourbeau
RED BANK – Tony Award winner and four-time Grammy nominee Melba Moore is coming to the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center in Red Bank for a meet-and-greet fundraiser. Attendees will receive a copy of Moore’s newly released memoir, “This Is It: Marvelous and Getting Better,” written by Moore and Kevin E. Taylor.
“I’m looking forward to meeting all at this wonderful event taking place at the T. Thomas Fortune Center,” Moore said. “There’s such a rich history here that deserves recognition. As for my memoir, I hope that sharing the life lessons I learned and wrote about will help others attain their goals and dreams in life.”
A VIP Meet-and-Greet begins at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 9. Tickets are $50. Light refreshments will be served. At 4:30 p.m., Moore will be in conversation with Gilda Rogers, executive director of the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center, tthomasfortuneculturalcenter.org/ discussing her life and book, followed by a book signing. This portion of the event is free and open to the public but registration is required.
The R&B sensation is known for a string of hits, including “You Stepped into My Life,” “Falling,” “Lean on Me,” “Love’s Comin’ at Ya,” “Read My Lips,” “Living for Your Love” and “A Little Bit More.” The 80-year-old star was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has been nominated for the New Jersey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.
“Melba Moore’s music is an important part of the soundtrack of my life,” Rogers said. “I’m so excited for her to be here!”
Moore’s love of music began as a child. Her mother was a singer and her father wrote, performed and arranged songs. She took piano lessons but found she excelled more vocally.
After graduating from Arts High School in Newark, she earned a degree in music education from Montclair State University in 1970. Her career took off even before graduation when, in 1969, she landed a role in the Broadway production of “Hair,” replacing Diane Keaton. The following year, she starred in “Purlie” alongside Cleavon Little and Sherman Hemsley. Moore returned to Broadway in 1996 in the role of Fantine in “Les Misérables.”
Throughout the years, she appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, including “The Fight- ing Temptations” with Beyoncé and Cuba Gooding Jr.
“I grew up listening to Melba Moore in the ’70s,” Rogers said. “As a young Black woman, she was someone I really appreciated – the talent she possessed – her voice was amazing. I grew up in Elizabeth and she was from Newark, so it was like she was someone reachable as well as inspiring.”
“It’s not often we have someone of her talent and stature in our midst,” Rogers said. “She’ll tell her story and talk about the ups and downs in her life, speaking to the older generation who know her work. But the younger people can sit in the midst of her greatness, look to the history and recognize the work she put in to see that, if she can do it, they can, too. It’s a meaningful event, and not just for Black people.”
VIP tickets are limited and can be purchased by visiting tthomasfortuneculturalcenter.org. Registration for the free book discussion can be found through the same link.
T. Thomas Fortune was an American orator, civil rights leader, journalist and editor of the na- tion’s leading Black newspaper, The New York Age. The mission of the T. Thomas Fortune Cultur- al Center is to uphold the social justice and civil rights legacy of its namesake through education, the arts, public programming, and community outreach. Donations to the nonprofit organization are welcome.
An event that had been set for May 9, a screening of the documentary, “The Quilters of Gee’s Bend,” has been rescheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, May 17, with a discussion to follow. The film, based on a 2002 book by John Beardsley, documents the unique and vibrant quilt-making tradition of the African American community in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, which was handed down from their enslaved ancestors. It showcases the bold, improvisational designs made from recycled materials and celebrates the quilters’ creativity, resilience and cultural heritage. This event is free, but registration is required.
For more information about these events, visit tthomasfortune-culturalcenter.org. The T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center is at 94 Drs. James Parker Blvd., Red Bank.
The article originally appeared in the April 23 – April 29, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
