News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Jennifer Holliday to Record Track on LYSISTRATA JONES Album!

By: Apr. 05, 2012
Get Access To Every Broadway Story

Unlock access to every one of the hundreds of articles published daily on BroadwayWorld by logging in with one click.




Existing user? Just click login.

Broadway legend Jennifer Holliday has recorded a single version of "Hold On" from the acclaimed musical Lysistrata Jones. It will be included as a bonus track on show's upcoming cast album. As previously announced, Broadway Records (BroadwayRecords.com) will release the original cast recording featuring music and lyrics by Lewis Flinn on Tuesday May 15th. Advance sales are currently available at Amazon.com (http://astore.amazon.com/lyssiejones-20/detail/B007P3QXN8) and the cast will perform a reunion concert at Joe's Pub on Monday, April 9th at 7:00 and 9:30pm.

Holliday, who won a TONY award for her searing portrayal as Effie White in Dreamgirls, went on to earn a Grammy for her show-stopping performance of "And I'm Telling You, I'm Not Going." As a teenager, Flinn was in the audience to witness this performance. "It was my first Broadway show, and I met Jennifer backstage afterwards," says Flinn. "She has been an inspiration for my writing ever since, and I am beyond thrilled that she has recorded one of my songs from my first Broadway musical. Talk about coming full circle." When Holliday heard "Hold On," she was taken by the message of the song, not only how it related to her life, but the American economic climate. Flinn has written new lyrics for Holliday, but the message of the song remains the same. This recording is the first theatrical recording release from Ms. Holliday in over 25 years.

After her astonishing Broadway run in Dreamgirls, Holliday, who now resides in Atlanta, released 5 solo albums recorded with many artists including Barbra Streisand, Luther Vandross, David Foster, Paul Simon, and Michael Jackson. She was a series regular on "Ally McBeal," and made quest appearances on the TV shows "Touched by Angel," "Ellen," among others. She continues to perform solo concerts with her 14 piece band and many of America's most distinguished orchestras, including The Boston Pops, The Philadelphia Symphony, and The Cincinnati Pops to name a few. She will reprise her role as Effie this summer in the MUNY production of Dreamgirls. Charity work is also very important to Holliday. In 2000, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College for her work on behalf of mental health awareness, depression and suicide prevention. In the summer of 2007, Jennifer founded the Yolanda D. King "Achieving The Dream" Artistic Scholarship Fund in memory of her beloved friend, fellow actor, and eldest daughter of DR. Martin and Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Scholarships will be awarded to college students for books and school supplies who attend a Historically Black College or University in the field of Music, Theater and Film.

For more info, visit www.lysistratajones.com.




Videos