The last few years have challenged Terisa Griffin but the multifaceted woman has persevered.
The next few months are filled with milestones including her March 23 debut at Freedom Hall’s Nathan Manilow Theatre in Park Forest where Victor “Dizz” Blackful is the venue’s cultural arts supervisor.
“I promise they will leave full. Emotionally, they will be moved,” said Griffin of Forest Park.
Terisa Griffin – The Songbird of Soul coincides with March being Women’s History Month.
“I decided, because this is the month of the woman, I would highlight some of my favorite women in this show. There’s some amazing women that have made marks in the music industry,” said Griffin about featuring songs by singers including Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone and Nancy Wilson.
“We’re in an age where we forget to give respect to women who paved the way for us. We need to take that step back. It’s great that we move forward but we need to be respectful of how we got here and look back at what made us great.”
The show includes Orland Park resident Christian Allison (keyboards) and Chicago residents LaDerrick “LA” Williams (lead guitar), Joewaun “Jay Red Bass” Scott (bass) and Quin Anderson (drums).
The concert also features original songs by Griffin, who has released three full-length albums: 2006’s “My Naked Soul,” 2011’s two-disc “Soulzophrenic (Personalities of Soul)” and “Soulzophrenic Dance,” and 2015’s “Revival of Soul.”
“It’s gonna be a fun show. I didn’t pick anybody I didn’t love,” said Griffin, who cited Phyllis Hyman’s “Meet Me on the Moon” as one of her favorite songs to perform.
Audiences came to know Griffin when she sang backup for Diana Ross on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 2000.
Griffin also competed on Season 3 of “The Voice” in 2012, when she performed Adele’s “Someone Like You,” Miami Sound Machine’s “Conga” and Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love for You.”
“I remember meeting the most amazing singers from different walks of life, from country to hip-hop to rock, just amazing singers I will forever be connected to,” Griffin said.
Her career has included singing backup and touring with Patti LaBelle and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jerry Butler, producing one-woman shows through her company My Naked Soul Productions and supplying 6,800 foot lockers to college-bound students through her nonprofit Better Love Yourself.
“I have to look back on my life and look at those things and be grateful,” said Griffin, who counts being featured on Terry Hunter’s classic house track “Wonderful” among her accomplishments.
She is looking forward to hosting the Wonderful Woman Weekend 2024 celebration from March 29 to 30 at Chicago Marriott Oak Brook and releasing her fourth album, “More Than a Woman,” via USB download in June at City Winery in Chicago.
Co-written by Michael Logan Sr. of Country Club Hills, the 11-track album includes work by the late Greg Landfair (guitar) and the late Khari Parker (drums).
“I had a lot of death in my musical family. It shook me so I had to readjust emotionally,” Griffin said.
“We are a world that needs to remember life is precious.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Terisa Griffin – The Songbird of Soul
When: 7:30 p.m. March 23
Where: Freedom Hall’s Nathan Manilow Theatre, 410 Lakewood Blvd., Park Forest
Tickets: $36-$40
Information: 708-747-0580; freedomhall.org
