Melba Moore and The Black Academy of Arts and Letters

The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL), established in Dallas, Texas, in 1977 by Curtis King, is a cultural organization dedicated to supporting African Americans in the visual and performing arts. It fosters understanding of African, African-American, and Caribbean arts and letters. TBAAL preserves and promotes Black art and culture, offering a platform for diverse artistic expression. The organization was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2015.

NYC-born singer/actor with a 4-octave voice; broke barriers in Broadway’s *Hair*, won a Tony for *Purlie*; R&B/disco hits “This Is It,” “Lean on Me,” ’80s star via Kashif.