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R&B singer Morgan ready to do it again

Posted on: Sunday, 15 January 2006, 14:58 CST

By Gail Mitchell

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Meli'sa Morgan acknowledges that it has been a struggle reintroducing herself to the music-buying public.

"People know the name and my music," says the singer whose sultry delivery took the Prince-penned "Do Me Baby" to No. 1 on the R&B charts in 1985. "But when they see my face, they'll say, 'That's not Meli'sa Morgan. She's older than that."'

Morgan dismisses all the old-school/new-school talk with the declaration that "class begins now" in the opening to her first album in more than 10 years. Released November 8 by Orpheus Music/LuAnn, "I Remember ..." is clicking with the adult audience. She finished 2005 with a readers' choice award from Web site soultracks.com as best female vocalist.

That success is largely due to the album's first two singles: a duet with longtime friend Freddie Jackson on the Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway gem "Back Together Again" and current slow-jam single "I Remember ..." The former peaked at No. 25 on the Adult R&B chart, while the title track is No. 26 this week.

Also featured on the album are Morgan's takes on such classic tunes as Aretha Franklin's "Ain't No Way" and Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing."

Morgan -- whose R&B hits in the '80s and early '90s include "Do You Still Love Me?," "Still in Love" and "Love Changes" (a duet with Kashif) -- says the new album grew out of her belief that the true art of soul music is missing in the new generation.

"There's a whole market of people 25-plus who love these types of songs," says Morgan, a former backup singer for Chaka Khan. "They want the same thing but in newer versions. I'm just trying to bring soul back to R&B with a fresh spin on it."

Mary J. Blige has already done her part. In an example of old school merging with new school, Blige samples Morgan's "Heart Breaking Decision" on "Good Woman Down," a track on Blige's new CD, "The Breakthrough." And Blige's duet with Jamie Foxx on his "Unpredictable" album is a cover of the 1987 Morgan hit "Love Changes."

During the past 10 years, Morgan has been a steady presence on the touring circuit, opening for the likes of Keith Sweat and Kem. Plans are under way for her to join Jaheim and Charlie Wilson on cross-country gigs, including stops in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Between promoting and performing, Morgan stays busy spearheading a self-named foundation that promotes educational excellence. Post-Hurricane Katrina, Morgan has been visiting shelters and giving displaced children backpacks filled with basic school necessities.

Describing her re-entry to the album world as "scary and nerve-racking," Morgan remains confident. "We're taking baby steps now. But I'll have my stride back soon. Look out, I'm coming."

Reuters/Billboard

Source: REUTERS

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