Editors and Publishers:Please consider for your publications and websites free of charge. | | |
MEDIA CONTACT:
Carrie L. Williams
404.397.7667
09.29.25
| | All photos are courtesy of David Josef and Ron Richardson | | |
The Creative Synergies of
Tony Award Winner/4-Time Grammy Award Nominee Melba Moore
with Boston’s Fashion Design Legend David Josef
A Look Into Their Decades-Long Contribution To Human Rights-Artistry In America
| | |
ATLANTA --
When a star like renowned singer/actress Melba Moore performs, audiences get transformed into another world through a variety of carefully designed elements, including the lights, the set, and the dress. But rarely does one get the deeper understanding of what an iconic performer such as Ms.Moore undergoes to sustain an enduring, lasting image – and legacy – for the listening and viewing world.
The creative synergies between Ms. Melba Moore and Boston fashion designer-legend David Josef are beyond artistry between performer and designer. Their ongoing creative engagement has been furthering a larger commitment both share – a world for all – through their artistic gifts. In doing so, their legacy of giving back to others is bringing a fresh sense of purpose and vision for the next global generation of performers and designers.
At Ms. Moore’s recent performance in Atlanta at the end of August, she was honored with an inaugural “Woman of Life” human rights award. “No matter what adversity she has faced,” affirmed Al Bartell, Chairman of the World Human Rights Network, ”Ms. Melba Moore has faced it as a woman, expressed in the vulnerability and undauntable strength of her womanhood. She has given of her life, giving life to others. We see her ‘Woman of Life’ essence as a world class human rights expression.”
At the end of October, Mr. Josef will also be receiving an honor with a human rights emphasis. The Boston Arts Academy Foundation will be honoring him at ”The Power of Art to Transform Well-Being”. In interviews with both Ms. Moore and Mr. Josef, the two shared about how a human rights core value has been at the heart of their lives, their work, and how their creative synergies have brought forth musical performances and fashion experiences that have touched and changed people’s lives.
| | |
“Free Speech for Thee but Not for Me”
David grew up being bullied. He sewed his own clothes from the time he was 7 years old. By his 14th-15th birthday, in the early 1970’s, he was depressed, a social outcast for being gay. It was around that time that he found an album at a local record store of Melissa Manchester’s – “Home To Myself”. The cover of the album spoke to him, and he bought it. “That album kept me from hurting myself,” shares David. “I have literally known Melissa Manchester since then, nearly all of my life – and she is a long-standing client and dear friend of mine.” By the time he was 24, he was curating the Christmas store windows on New York City’s Fifth Avenue. For David, through his personal challenges in human rights, it has woven a thread of love with his clients throughout the fabric of his entire career, spanning 43 years.
| | | | Ms. Moore speaks about how she grew up in a home where she was taught to give back. “In our family structure,” Melba explains, “we were to share our gifts, our home, our lives with others. I was taught it is our duty to help. I have always tried to help others – women and children in shelters, youth in their education, and seniors in our nursing homes.” Growing up in a family of musicians, Melba took on musical goals, surpassed those musical goals, and then went on to set even higher musical goals. She was the first African American actress to be given the lead role being played by a Caucasian actress in a Broadway musical – “Hair”. She was given then-Diane Keaton’s role, breaking a significant color barrier on Broadway. The following year, Melba received a Tony Award for her part as Lutiebelle, in the 1970 Broadway musical “Purlie” -- at the age of 24. | | |
Both Melba and David acknowledge that although they were richly blessed with talent and gifts young in life, they have worked hard throughout their careers, with nothing being given to either of them. Yet, both express immense satisfaction with their decades of longevity in their artistry.
And both have nothing but compliments to share about one another’s humanitarian efforts – and how their work together is, well, truly not work.
| |
|
“It’s Not A Job – We’re Both Givers”
Ms. Moore expressed the unique, synergistic, artistic interactions between the two of them in this way:
“With both of us having the discipline of the arts, there’s a certain level you desire in your work. But it’s not a job. And we don’t see it as a hobby, either. We’re very intentional. We could be a pain in the ass, but we choose differently, in our expression, how we want to create with each other – and we get high respect for each other. We both have a heart-giving nature – we’re both givers.
“Just as I am his ‘muse’ – he inspires me, in wearing his creations. We’re amazed at each other. We’re very, very diverse from each other. Yet, we’re like architects, collaborating. And neither of us are wrong. We’re living, breathing human beings. It’s a gift that God gives – human fellowship. And I want to see each moment as different. It’s at the heart of artistry – a loving, breathing piece of art. David and I are allowing the creative forces to ‘flow’. And whatever ‘this’ is, it’s not just the dress itself. It’s like the experience, ‘you’ve never had that conversation before’.
“I actually become a model. He’ll see things that I don’t see – but we finish together. ‘Ms. Moore,’ he’ll say, ‘you look like a queen’ – and I am a queen! That’s the creativity in the clothing.”
| | |
Mr. Josef adds this about their collaborative artistic synergy:
“Working with Melba is so beyond joyful. Her dresses become part of her performance. I’ll work with her manager Ron Richardson to get all of the details about a performance, the stage, the program, etc., and begin envisioning the performance, including the camera angles, the steps, the temperature of the stage, and so on. I factor in what I need to do, what I need to ‘engineer’ into the dress, and then I play with it. With every style, with every photographer, an iconic performer like Melba creates herself again. I will stand with Melba in front of a mirror and be with her as she creates how she will be in the performance, what she wants to give to the audience, in this creation, until it feels right to her. She’ll tell me, ‘I trust you’, and we both love what gets created.
| | | "When I experience that a client needs my work, and is trusting in me – it humbles me. It gives me goosebumps, every time.” | | |
“I Know Why I’m Here”
Both Ms. Moore and Mr. Josef are at the height of their professional prime. What matters most to both accomplished artists is their purpose – and what they want to leave to others as their contribution.
“I’m old enough,” reflects David, “to see the journey – and yet, I’m still ‘young enough’ to be blessed in continuing to enjoy my work being out in the world. I really see my purpose as being to lift others, to lift up other people. It’s about what my talent can bring to others. My Jewish clients tell me that’s ‘bashert’– what’s ‘meant to be’.”
Ms. Moore shares her desire to continue to create a personal touch with those who follow and love her music and her performances in the digital marketplace. And, she emphasizes, there is a strong need to continue to build back, support, and advance arts advocacy, agreeing that the arts empower human rights.
| | |
“We’re in a transition. It used to be about recording companies. Now, it takes a different strategy – it’s been evolving for the past 15-20 years. It takes partnering with people, and lots and lots of videos. We need to meet our young artists and our youth where they are. I am committed to doing Master classes with the youth, and being able to answer their questions, to share the wisdom I have been gaining in my life’s experiences.”
The honors that Mr. Josef will be receiving at the Boston Arts Academy Foundation’s October 23rd event take place almost within one week of Ms. Moore’s 80th birthday. Both lightly commented that they are coming to grips with their senior citizen status in life, and how important taking care of oneself is, both mentally and physically. But, in doing so, they both express a desire to continue being relevant over the next decade, and more.
Ms. Moore’s last two releases – “Imagine” (2022, 2023) and “No Filter”(2025) – are breathtakingly full of vitality and promise, for both young and old alike, as modern anthems of hope, unity, and self-expression.
| | |
And Mr. Josef – he's looking forward to giving back to his loving husband Daniel Forrester for 45 years of navigating their marriage and their clothing fashion business, all at the same time.
“Look what God is doing!” David exclaims. “We know the blessings. And we never take it for granted.” Pausing for a moment, David chuckles, “ I’ll look at my Daniola, and crack up. I’ll tell him, ‘We’re just two schmucks!’ -- and it's a good thing.
"It keeps us humble. It keeps us from getting a big head. Getting this honor is lovely – but it’s embarrassing! I just want to give back. I started giving back when I was 14, raising money for MS in my backyard for Jerry Lewis.
“I haven’t silenced that part of me – and I wouldn’t change a thing.”
| |
To contact Ms. Moore for booking: Ron Richardson, Manager, 347-658-8159
Social Media: @melba1moore on Instagram
To contact Mr. Josef: david.josef.fashions@gmail.com
Social Media: @davidjoseffashion on Instagram
| | |
Excerpt of lyrics from original song "Imagine" on Melba Moore's "Imagine" album
Can you imagine….
Imagine…
A place of hope... A place of peace…
Imagine if love filled every street…
No more hate… We’d all be free…
Imagine how pure this world could be…
Can you imagine…
Oh yeah…
Can you imagine…
Imagine a love displayed…
Causing disloyalties to be erased…
And within our hearts… and in our minds…
Love was a true virtue of our times…
If we follow the script of love(we’d have the cure)…
Can you imagine?
Disloyalty would be no more(joining hands in peace)…
A place of love… A place of peace…
Imagine if love filled every street…
No more hate… We’d all be free…
Imagine how pure this world could be…
| | |
"Visible personal milestones advance human rights recognition. If we reflect over the span of human history, achievements have often occurred from courageous thought and action. Often out of the enduring efforts of an inspiring human being."
-- Chairman Al Bartell, World Human Rights Network
| | | | |
