Melba Moore, three-time Grammy-nominated singer, actress, and Hall of Famer, spoke about her latest endeavors.
Helen Keller once said: “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart.” This quote applies to Melba Moore.
Women Songwriters Hall of Fame induction
Moore was recently inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame (WSHOF). She was one of 12 honorees celebrated for her songwriting contributions at the 2025 WSHOF ceremony, which was held in Washington, D.C. “That was unbelievable,” she admitted.
“First of all, I was on with some incredible other songwriters, and it’s really the first time that anybody has paid attention to my songwriting. So, I was really impressed, and it was a very nice award, and an incredible affair,” she elaborated.
54 Below shows
This past July, Moore performed two shows at 54 Below in New York City. “54 Below was unbelievable,” she said. “I guess it was a little bit unusual because I don’t usually write my shows, but that was a special occasion. I didn’t have an opportunity to get somebody else to write it for me, so I did.”
“So, I think it was better because I know myself better than other people do, perhaps, and that show got some really, really good reviews,” she said.
“It was sold out, and people were responsive, so it could not have been better,” she added.
Her 54 Below show earned a rave review from Digital Journal.
2025 New York Fashion Week
Moore will be walking the Fashion Week runway on September 16th for Daniel’s Leather New York at nearly 80 years old. “I’m hoping to be able to do it. I’ve been so busy in the studio; I’m trying to get some time to get out to do it,” she said.
Melba Moore — The ‘Woman of Life Human Rights Award’ recipient
This past summer, Al Bartel, the Chairman of the World Human Rights Network, presented Moore with the inaugural “Woman of Life Human Rights Award,” thus cementing her place not only as a musical icon but also as a global voice of healing and peace. “That was great,” she said.
Moore on her Tony Award win and three Grammy nominations
This recognition adds to Moore’s extensive list of accolades, which include a Tony Award, three Grammy nominations, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “I’ll never forget those feelings,” she said. “They were a long time ago. I hope to get some more so that I can get a new sense of excitement of what the feeling is about.”
“So, you don’t want to forget it, and if people stop talking about it, I will remind them of it. So, those were incredible experiences in my life and they’re not common,” she acknowledged.
“When I got those experiences, I wasn’t used to the Grammy Awards or anything. When I got the Tony award, I didn’t even know what that was. So, they were beyond exciting,” she added.
Melba Moore on her Hollywood Walk of Fame star
On earning her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, she expressed, “Oh my goodness, it was just absolutely amazing. It was fabulous. Of course, everybody knows about the star, but it’s another thing to get it, especially since you can work very, very hard in this industry and still not get it.”
“There’s a whole bunch of processes that you have to go through in order to meet the requirements. So, I’m very, very, honored. I understand it’s at least amongst the highest honors you can get in America or perhaps in the world,” she said.
“Also, the main thing, is they can’t take it back. It’s permanent,” she said with a sweet laugh.
Key to longevity in music
Regarding the key to longevity in music, Moore said, “Oh, I can’t believe the time has gone like this, I really just can’t. I’m amazed that it has been 50 years.”
“I mean, it just doesn’t feel like that kind of time has passed by,” she noted.
The digital age
On being an artist in the digital age, she said, “It has been an adjustment, but I really am glad that my partner, Ron Richardson, who manages me and works with me, and really is a hands-on person in regard to the digital aspects of the industry.”
“It has been quite an adjustment, and it’s taken us for about 15 years on a daily basis, staying independent and watching it grow. 15 years ago, I tried to get a website and all the things like that, but nobody else was quite ready yet,” she acknowledged.
“So, we stuck with it, and because of the social networking and the huge followers you can have, and of course, it’s the mainstream now. One person can have a million followers,” she explained. “It is hugely different, and right now, I’m doing very well in it.”
“So, I think it’s fabulous, but if you’re not doing well, you can kind of say, ‘well, God, what happened?’ How did I get left in the dust? It’s not easy for everybody to make the adjustments,” she observed.
“It’s there for everybody, but you have to figure out what to do and get the right team to help you manage because it’s not something one person can do by themselves,” she said.
“I think the digital age has become good for everybody, regardless of your choice of art or music or what your age is. There’s a place for everybody. So, of course, I think it’s fabulous,” she added.
Success
Regarding her definition of success, she said, “Success means adjusting and continuing to adjust. Try to get used to this, but don’t get too used to it because you don’t know how it’s going to change.”
“I mean, right now everybody’s happy about and concerned about AI, artificial intelligence, because any gift can also be misused. People are concerned that their identities are out there doing things and it’s not them,” she elaborated.
“So, I don’t know what other kinds of advancements are already in the works that are going to be fabulous for us, but we’ll have to be very careful, very careful,” she added.
Message for her fans and supporters
For her fans and supporters, she expressed, “Thank you so much. Please don’t change a thing. Just keep adding to numbers and adding to generations, adding to cultures, adding to the human family.”
“It is just so fabulous to be at this stage of the game, still going and be surrounded by so much genuine love,” she said, effusively.
For information on Melba Moore, follow her on Instagram.
