Melony Watkins was born in Omaha Nebraska, to the parents of Jean Watkins and Melvin Corbino
(musician) and the granddaughter of Rev. Jodie Louis Reagan and Hazel Reagan. The importance of religious and spiritual values were instilled in her at a very young age along with her other siblings, Linda Taylor, of Miami, Fl, Toni Watkins of Dallas, TX, Kim Hill and Althea Watkins of Omaha, NE, and brother Mario Corbino of , Oakland CA, also a vocalist. She was a member of the Salem Baptist Church pastored by the late Rev. J. C. Wade Sr. and a member of the church choir. She was also a member of the Elks Drum and Bugle Corp. and later became a member of the Bryant Center Drill Team.
My mother knew at the tender age of seven she was born to sing. She was reprimanded on several occasions for standing on top of the vacuum cleaner in front of the mirrored fireplace with the cord as her microphone singing and then not putting the vacuum where it belonged, just a typical child.
During high school she entered into the Act-So contest singing Endless Love by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie. Still at a young age Melony sang acappella during Talent Night Hannibal Lounge and was requested to leave after her performances because she was under age. James Glass, Michael Maroney and Doc hosted the event and were very instrumental in helping to get her career started. They realized Melony had a genuine talent and decided to have the band “Entertainment With A Touch Of Class” (ETC) play during her performances.
After becoming of legal age she began performing at The 20”s, The Allen Show Case, The Chateau, The Ranch Bowl, The Horny Bull, The Back Street Lounge, The Playboys Club, The Grapevine Lounge and Offutt Air Force Base. Melony performed with local bands such as Destiny, and as a lead female vocalist with ETC.
Melony left Omaha after high school embarking on her professional singing career and traveled on the road for several years. She sang with various bands, La Rose, Center Stage and Big Time. She finally ended her on the road travels and moved the Minneapolis, Minnesota where she joined the Bodine Brothers Band and recorded demo tracks in Flight Time Studio’s. She performed locally and also traveled to Canada, Austria and Switzerland where she opened the show for Prince’s sister Tika Nelson. Melony also has the opportunity to be the opening talent for the Stylistics, Ja Rule, Jaheim, Midnight Star and Betty Wright with a band called Swerve. She was allowed to share the stage with Eddie Levert, George Clinton, Parliament and the Funkadelics, Rachael Ferrell, Richita Lewis and Calvin Keys. She also performs at weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties and other special events.
During a few visits back in Omaha, she received a call from the minister of music Jay Terrell of the Salem Baptist Church to sing a solo during church service. This particular Easter Sunday is so clear to me even today. The church was at full capacity and on Easter there was always a stage installed for the children to step up on to recite their Easter speeches. Melony had her heart into the song and had the entire church mesmerized. While performing she had a bad habit to standing on chairs, tables and counters, what ever she could do to get the audience motivated. I’ve always teased her about being only 4’9” and weighing a buck twenty-five and assured her even though we can see you we can hear you. This particular Sunday she then decided she was going to step up on the children’s stage. My thoughts were don’t get up there you are not in the club. She put one foot on the stage and stepped down.
Melony is a mini Tina Turner power house with a lot of energy and a powerful voice with some dynamite choreography that will make you tired just watching her. She is a charismatic professional who can captivate any audience with her powerful voice and her musical sensitivity. Once you leave her performance you will never forget her. She has a free spirit, great stage presence and a beautiful personality to go along with it.
In 2002 Melony moved to Dallas, Texas and was the lead female vocalist with Don Deigo and Band and later sang with The Chemistry Band. In 2003, Melony competed and won the nationally television talent show, 30 Seconds of Fame and received $25,000 for her stellar performance. She sings various genre of music R & B, Gospel, Jazz, Blues, Rock & Roll and Country & Western. Melony was born to sing and is still pursuing her musical career to achieve world wide recognition through live performances and recordings.
Musicians that inspired her were Josephine Baker, Sarah Vaughn, and Billie Holiday.
Melony is honored to be selected as an inductee and will cherish the memory and the beautiful legacy.
I have a small video library, cassette tapes and CD’s that date back to 1988 to the present, and I’m still her #1 fan.
Written By Toni Watkins
