MelbaJoyce

Melba Joyce was born in Dallas, TX and grew up under the musical influence of her mother and grand parents. Her father, Melvin Moore, a prominent vocalist with the jazz and swing bands of his era, including Dizzy Gillespie, was also one of Melba's influences. After moving to Los Angeles, Melba was noticed by musicians and opened for Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. She is a graduate of Antioch University West in Los Angeles, California. In addition to jazz vocal appearances, Melba appeared in the Tony Award-winning Broadway show Black and Blue, as understudy to all three principal characters: Linda Hopkins, Ruth Brown, and Carrie Smith. She starred in the launching of the show's world tour. Melba appeared in major and minor cities in the world from Amsterdam to Beijing, London and Bordeaux; to New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, and Little Rock, Arkansas. Melba Joyce toured war-torn fields of Vietnam to entertain the troops, an experience that raised her social conscience. When Melba returned, she was a panelist for the Congressional Black Caucus of Women in Jazz Forum. She produced the first Women in Jazz Festival at Harlem's Schomburg Center for Black Culture; and became a principal in the Day of the Child Series for UNICEF. With funding from the National Endowment For The Arts, she produced Jazz For Special People, a musical education series for the handicapped.

www.melbajoyce.net

www.wijsf.org