Biografia completa

It was only natural for the daughter of a classical singer with the St. Louis Symphony to study piano and dance. The influence of growing up around music greats like her cousin Robert McFerrin, the first African American Soloist for the Metropolitan Opera, inspired her to dream large as Valerie became a company member of The St. Louis Ballet Company performing with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at The Powell Symphony Hall. She subsequently studied Performing Arts at Stephens College, Columbia Missouri and later with Alvin Ailey in New York. While touring with The Andrea True Connection as a singer/dancer, she was discovered by a talent agent that lead to her roles in feature films such as Mambo Kings with Antonio Banderas and Armand Assante along with television guest star spots in ABC and CBS television comedy sitcoms and television dramas as well as numerous national print ads for the likes of KEA Cosmetics, Michèle Lamy and 7 UP to name a few. She also appeared in national commercials ads and numerous music videos. In music, Valerie began taking session work as a vocalist for various demos and recording projects before joining Madame X a three girl Pop and R&B group. The group soon was signed by Sylvia Rhone, Atlantic Records VP to the label. The Madame X award winning album debuted with a #4 Billboard R&B Hit, "Just That Type of Girl" and other Billboard charting songs like "I Want Your Body". The Madame X original CDs are cult collected. While working with an array of bands and artists such as Morris Day and Phillip Bailey she toured with legendary Motown singer, Mary Wilson appearing in Monte Carlo, Hong Kong and Las Vegas Caesars Palace before joining Herb Reed the founding member of the 1950s famed group The Platters. She toured extensively worldwide as a featured singer in his Platters show appearing regularly at The Nugget, Westbury Music Fair and Foxwoods Resort, and Casino as well as appearing on the Doo-Wop 50 Special and Multi-Platinum selling Doo-Wop 50 CD Box Set released on both Time Warner and Rhino Records. In addition, the group performed during an arena tour with legendary Motown artists The Temptations and The Four Tops with stops at the O2 Arena London and the Metro Arena Manchester.