Emotional, original and distinctive vocals. Powerful and passionate. Great arrangements.

14 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Jazz Vocals, EASY LISTENING: Mature



Details:

Marlaâs career started when she joined PASLA (Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles) with her daughter, Angela, and studied at the Mafundi Institute and Watts Writers Workshop. She later joined the Zodiac Theatre and performed in several well received productions including Medea, Amen Corner and The Gingerbread Lady. After a few bit parts, Ms. Gibbs landed the plum role of âFlorenceâ in The Jeffersonâs where she gained international notoriety. After The Jeffersonâs 9th successful season, Ms. Gibbs landed a spin-off series, Checking-In. It was interrupted by a writerâs strike and never recovered and she returned to The Jeffersonâs. Soon after, her daughter Angela produced the award winning Christine Houston play 227 in which Ms. Gibbs was cast as the lead by noted Director Ed Cambridge. The play was such a smashing success that Ms. Gibbs purchased the TV rights. After The Jeffersonâs was cancelled, she along with Norman Learâs Embassy TV, sold and helped produce the series for NBC. 227 became a five-year hit series now in syndication on TV One.

Marla is an eight time NAACP Image Award winner, four time Emmy Nominee, eight time Family TV award winner, Essence Woman of the Year, Frances Williamâs Women in Theatre West Award winner, Special Black Emmy Nominee honoree, Winner of two CEBA Awards, and a host of National and Local honors. In 2000, Marla received a Best Supporting Actress award from The Southern California Method Fest. Her other credits include TVâs ER, Cold Case, The Dave Chappelle Show, Listen Up, The Nick Cannon Show, Judging Amy, Touched By an Angel, Arliss, The King of Queens, Dawsonâs Creek, and several voice-overs for HBOâs Happily Ever After Animated Series for Children and Disneyâs 1,001 Dalmatians. Marla recently hosted a special for HGTV called âThe Dish on Kitchens.â Her most recent series work is a recurring role on NBCâs daytime drama Passions. She spent several seasons on ABCâs The Hughleyâs, playing the mother of D.L. Hughley and was Arsenio Hallâs mother on Martial Law. Marla recently starred in the feature films Stanleyâs Gig and The Visit. Other recent film credits include The Brothers, Foolish, Lost and Found, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, Border to Border, and Up Against the Wall. Marla appeared in Eve Enslerâs Play âThe Vagina Monologuesâ in New York City and completed a role in the not yet released film âTwo for Paula.â She recently starred in the New Theatre Restaurantâs dinner theatre production of Neil Simonâs Proposals.