Soul Train Cruise Spotlight: STEPHANIE MILLS
Stephanie Mills learned a long time ago that home can be found anywhere you are loved. Whether it’s the Apollo Theater, the Broadway stage, or the top of the R&B and pop charts, Mills’ fans welcome her home every time she steps onto a stage. The powerhouse singer will soon have the Caribbean Islands to call home when she joins The O’Jays, The Whispers, Billy Ocean, special guest Smokey Robinson, and the rest of the all-star lineup that will make up 2016’s Soul Train Cruise.
The talented singer, songwriter, and actress first garnered national attention as a teenager with her beautiful rendition of “Home,” the track that would become her signature song while playing the role of Dorothy in the Broadway smash hit The Wiz, an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. According to Mills, the once-in-a-lifetime role laid a strong foundation for what has become a long and illustrious career: “I don’t think that anyone knows where their career is going to go, but the moments from my early career are still a part of my life to this day. After The Wiz happened, I knew I had really made it.”
Born in 1957 in Brooklyn, NY, Mills perfected her voice while singing gospel music at Brooklyn's Cornerstone Baptist Church. At age nine, she appeared in the Broadway play Maggie Flynn. Mills went on to win The Amateur Hour talent contest six weeks in a row at the heralded Apollo Theater. This early success led to her selection as the opening act for the Isley Brothers, eventually leading to a friendship with lead singer Ronald Isley. Mills' debut album, Movin' in the Right Direction, was recorded for ABC Records in 1974. The following year she earned the role of Dorothy in The Wiz. Her touching rendition of the ballad "Home" was a showstopper that captivated audiences for several years.
While her performance in The Wiz displayed her superb acting skills, it was, and always has been, Mills’ enchanting singing voice that established her as a true superstar. She has had numerous R&B hits, including "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love," "I Feel Good All Over," "(You're Puttin') A Rush on Me," and "Something in the Way (You Make Me Feel).” The song that audiences most identify with Mills, however, is her million-selling single, "Never Knew Love Like This Before." All in all, Mills has compiled an incredible five gold albums: Whatcha Gonna Do with My Lovin', Sweet Sensation, Stephanie, If I Were Your Woman, and Home.
Mills is looking forward to calling the Soul Train Cruise her home from January 30 - February 6, 2016. When she first heard that Tony Cornelius would continue the vision of his father, the legendary Don Cornelius, Mills was immediately thrilled at the concept: “I was on Soul Train in the very early part of my career and Don Cornelius was really, really good to me. I would not be the artist I am today without him. I thought the cruise was a fun idea. I’m convinced that Don would be proud of Tony for all the work he is doing and for keeping the Soul Train empire going.”
Some of Mills’ favorite moments from her previous stints on the Soul Train Cruise include meeting her devoted fans, heating up the disco dancefloor, and watching the numerous other talented acts perform. For Mills, the Soul Train Cruise offers the familiarity and good vibes often found at home: “It is so great that all the acts come together like this. I’ve done shows with a lot of the artists who will be on the cruise, and have known them for several years. It is very much like a family reunion.”