National Artist Chandra Currelley Pays tribute to our "First Ladies of Song" to include Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Bessie Smith and others.

Most recently seen in the motion picture, Madea gets a Job and you probably recognize her as the singer in the nightclub "Chandra’s" in the #1 box office movie, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and as "Shirley" in Tyler Perry’s "Madea’s Big Happy Family", the stage play. Ms. Currelley is the former lead singer for the legendary recording group, the S.O.S. Band, replacing the original lead singer. She continued the band’s string of Top Twenty Billboard hits with the CD’s "Diamonds In The Raw", and "One Of Many Nights", where she wrote several songs, including the single "Broken Promises". Chandra also starred in the world premier of "Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel", and as Mother Shaw in Regina Taylor’s "Crowns".

The 2009 Gospel Choice Award nominee has performed at The White House and toured Europe and Asia leaving audiences wanting more. She has also starred in "Dinah Was", "Blues In the Night", "The Hot Mikado", "Amen Corner" (The Alliance Theatre/ Arena Stage). "Two Queens, One Castle" with T.C. Carson (Horizon Theatre),"What’s Done In the Dark", (Fox Theatre) "Slam!" "Sophisticated Ladies" and Kenny Leon’s "Rejoice".

Because of her ability to legitimately cross musical and theatrical styles, Chandra has had the opportunity to work with some of the greats from Clarence Avant, jazz legend Roy Ayers, where she recorded the duet, "Let Me Love You", to the phenomenal Tyler Perry. Television credits include VH-1, Say Yes! (TBN) , (BET) Jazz Showcase (PBS) and Good Day Atlanta (Fox), Bobby Jones Artist Showcase (The Word Network) and the upcoming Tyler Perry’s "For Better Or Worse"(TBS).

The Helen Hayes and NAACP Phoenix Award Nominee has released two solo CD’s "The Real Me" and "Love Songs", which contains the hit song "Love Again" from the movie, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman". Available at cdbaby.com, i tunes and Rhapsody.