Elisabeth Withers
Singer & actress Elisabeth Withers has become known for her acclaimed, starring role in the hit Broadway show The Color Purple, which opened in December 2005 and is still going strong (American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino has joined the cast). Impressively, Withers was nominated for a 2006 Tony Award for her role as Shug Avery. Now in addition, Withers is building a career as solo recording artist, scoring two R&B chart hits from her debut album release, It Can Happen To Anyone, which was released in January (2007) on Blue Note Records.
Withers has had two singles on the Billboard R&B chart – first the sexy midtempo cut “Be With You,” followed by the soulful ballad “Simple Things.” Notably, she is also a skilled songwriter who co-wrote both of these singles (with New York-based writer/producer Toby Gad), and she co-wrote or wrote eight of the songs on her CD.
In a new interview, Wither recalled how she got her start in the music business, and how she landed her role in The Color Purple (which is co-produced by Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey). She also talked about writing and recording the songs for her debut album, and why she decided to sign with CEO Bruce Lundvall at Blue Note Records (the renowned jazz label which also releases Norah Jones’ CDs). And lastly, when asked, she gives advices to young artists and performers who are trying to break into the music and stage industries.
Withers was born and raised in Joliet, IL, where she was one of four children, all of whom have grown up to be college-educated and successful. “My parents were strict – we had to be accomplished in our education and graduate from college,” explained Withers. Following her high school years (she attended the Chicago Academy for the Arts), she moved to Boston to attend the Berklee College Of Music, which had offered her a scholarship. Withers said that it was at Berklee that she first developed her songwriting skills.
After graduating from Berklee in 1997, Withers moved to New York City to pursue her music career and seek gigs, while also attending New York University (NYU). By the time she graduated from NYU in 2000 (with a Master’s Degree in Music Composition & Education), Withers had caught the attention of hit writer/producer Tony Moran (whose credits include Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston and Luther Vandross). She started doing session vocal work for Moran, which led to her recording (under the alias “Elle Patrice”) and co-writing with Moran two dance club hits, “Rising” and “Emotions.”
Elisabeth Withers with writer/producer, Toby Gad.
Withers continued to work successfully as a vocalist and songwriter, but it wasn’t until 2005 that she got her big break with The Color Purple. “I had wanted to take a year off because I just had a baby daughter,” she recalled. “But then Valerie Simpson (of the renowned songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson) called and said Quincy Jones was looking for someone to play Shug Avery. She and Nickolas (Ashford) had recommended me to play her. Then three days later I got a call from the Bernard Telsey talent agency, which is a big agency in New York. They asked me to audition in front of the show’s director and producers. Then after I had auditioned, they called me to say I got the job.”
From that point on, Wither kept an extremely busy schedule with the show and later with her album project. “For the first eight months of The Color Purple, I’d be performing eight shows a week, breast-feeding my baby, and writing songs. Also, by then I had been contacted by several record labels, and I decided to sign with Bruce Lundvall at Blue Note Records. When I met Bruce, and when I did my showcase, it felt right for me. Bruce never tried to change me – he just loves good music.”
Soon after, Withers began recording her debut album, It Can Happen To Anyone. She co-wrote seven songs with hit writer/producer Toby Gad (whose credits include Fergie, Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias), who produced the album. Besides the chart singles “Be With You” and “Simple Things,” other key songs on the CD include the contemporary urban cuts “The World Ain’t Ready” and “Somebody,” plus the melodic old-school “Next To You,” which Withers wrote by herself.
Now with the release of her album, Withers is enjoying success on two fronts: as a promising recording artist and as a top Broadway performer. “Things are going well – I just finished a mini-tour to promote my album, and my contract with The Color Purple was extended for another year,” said Withers. “The producers of the show have been terrific about letting me take time off to promote my album, and I’m happy that they’re selling my CD at the concession stands at the theatre.”
Lastly, when asked what advice she would give to young artists and performers, Withers said: “Stay true to yourself. There will be people who like what you do, and those that don’t like what you do. Be true and work hard. Be prepared for auditions, and be open to different ideas – don’t be afraid to try new things.”
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