October 2002 October 2002

HEATHER   HEADLEY DATE OF BIRTH: October 5, 1974 PLACE OF BIRTH: Barataria, Trinidad EDUCATION: St. Vincent Girls’ Anglican School, Trinidad Northrop High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA Northwestern University, Illinois, USA CAREER:                                 Headley started piano lessons at the age of four and began competing in the performing arts at a very young age. The daughter of a preacher, Headley also began singing in her father's church in her native Barataria. She migrated with her family to Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA, when she was 15. She went on to study communications and musical theatre at Northwestern University where she performed in university stage productions. In 1996, she joined the pre-Broadway cast of "Ragtime" and, in 1997, she landed the role of Nala, the fiesty lioness, in the Broadway hit, "The Lion King." In February 1998, she successfully auditioned for the role of Aida in the musical "Elaborate Lives: The Legend of Aida" for which she received a Tony Award in May 1999. Headley also appeared in other major productions, including "Do Re Mi." Her recording credits include three group albums: "Do Re Mi" (1999 Original Cast Recording); "Aida" (2000 Original Broadway Cast); and "Dreamgirls in Concert" (2001 Actors Fund of America). On October 8, 2002, she released her first album "This Is Who I Am" and, in 2006, she released "In My Mind." AWARDS: 1999 - Tony Award for Best Actress in A Musical (Aida) 2003 - Lady of Soul R&B Soul Album of the Year ("This Is Who I Am") 2003 - Lady of Soul Best R&B Soul or Rap New Artist, Solo 2010 - Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album (Audience of One) Compiled by Ronald C. Emrit