Broadway star Heather Headley records debut album, `This Is Who I Am'

Jet, Oct 28, 2002

Singer-actress Heather Headley, who won a Tony Award for her starring role in the Broadway musical Aida, is now winning new fans and rave reviews for her debut soul CD, This Is Who I Am.

The CD's first single He Is celebrates strong good men and is racing up the charts. The sizzling video also is in heavy rotation on cable music stations.

The CD, produced by today's hottest hit-makers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin, Shep Crawford, D'Influence and others, demonstrates why Heather is a musical winner.

Heather co-wrote several songs on This Is Who I Am, including the upbeat Fallin' For You, Sunday and the moving Sista Girl. Jamaican dance hall maser Chuckie Star joins her on Fallin' For You.

On every track, ballad and up-tempo, Heather used one formula for selecting her songs. "My brain has to connect with my heart and my voice," she says. "It's a simple test. I know in 12 bars if I can sing the song or not."

Born in Trinidad to the pastors of the Barataria Church of God, she studied communications and musical theater at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

In 1997, the talented performer originated the role of Nala in Broadway's smash musical The Lion King.

She later starred in the title role of the hit Broadway musical Aida, the classic story of a Nubian princess written by Elton John and Tim Rice. She went on to win a Tony Award for her performance in Aida.

For Heather, who's accustomed to the stage, the recording studio posed its own unique challenges. "It's so meticulous. I would have to close my eyes and picture an audience."

Reflecting on her debut recording she notes, "I want this to be an album people can listen to now and 10 years from now, something that exhilarates people."