Black Music Spotlight: Celebrating Legendary Trailblazer Stephanie Mills

As with every Black Music Month, UB is presenting artist spotlight features, to celebrate the legends!

Stephanie Mills is a household name, as she began her career performing as a nine year old child.

Stephanie Mills has one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music, an ultra-soulful songstress whose onstage energy and power inspires standing ovations wherever she performs.

She is a legendary Grammy and America Music Award winning recording artist with five best-selling albums and 10 Billboard #1 singles.

Stephanie Mills transcends musical generations with her songs and incredible live shows.

UB spoke to the legend in 2012 for Black Music Month, also included in this piece.

Over the span of a 50 year illustrious career, Stephanie Mills has distinguished herself as an actress and performer who is as at home on the Broadway stage as she is in the recording studio.

Hit records such as “I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love,” “Home” and “Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin’’” have become enduring classics.

Stephanie’s critically acclaimed appearances in shows like the four-time Tony Award-winning “The Wiz” and “Your Arms Too Short To Box With God” have assured her of a consistently loyal following among fans, industry insiders and critics alike.

The loyalty that she has inspired in her audience has seen her through a career filled with accomplishments and achievements.

Stephanie Dorthea Mills, the fifth of six children, was born on March 22, 1957 in Queens, New York, to Joseph Mills and Christine Mills but she was reared in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.

At an early age, she sang gospel music at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Bedford–Stuyvesant.

Her vocal abilities became evident early on and by the age of nine, she was mesmerizing crowds in her first Broadway musical “Maggie Flynn,” sharing the stage with co-stars Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy.

Other early credits included appearances in such pop culture classic, shows like “Captain Kangaroo,” “Wonderama,” “The Electric Company” and “String” (presented by the Negro Ensemble Company in New York City).

For six consecutive weeks, an eleven-year old Stephanie won the famous Amateur Night at the renowned Apollo Theater and a first recording, “I Knew It Was Love” landed her the much-coveted role of Dorothy in the Broadway musical “The Wiz” at the age of fifteen.

A highlight of each performance was her moving rendition of the beautiful ballad “Home,” which quickly became her signature song.

In 1974, the 17-year-old released her debut album, “Movin’ in the Right Direction”, for ABC Records.

For five years, Stephanie wowed packed houses with her amazing vocal gift and after making albums for ABC and the legendary Motown, she signed with 20th Century Records in 1979.

She was teamed with the new production/songwriting duo legendary James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, and together they made pop and R&B gold.

Her 1980 duet with Teddy Pendergrass, “Two Hearts,” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained charted for 19 weeks.

At that time Stephanie had garnered three Grammy award wins.

In 1981, she released the self-titled album Stephanie Mills, and received an American Music Award for “Best Female R&B Vocalist.”

Stephanie recorded “Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin’” and by 1984, she had climbed the charts with major hits: “Sweet Sensation,” “Keep Away Girls,” “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore?” and “The Medicine Song.”

Plus the gold single “Never Knew Love Like This Before,” her biggest pop hit, peaking at #6.

Stephanie scored three best-selling albums in a row with “Whatcha Gonna Do…With My Lovin’?”, “Sweet Sensation” and “Stephanie” in the span of just two years.

The ‘80s were a golden period for the petite vocalist: signed to MCA Records, Stephanie was responsible for a string of hit singles and albums.

The 1987 album “If I Were Your Woman” was #1 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart and was a Top 30 pop best-seller.

Stephanie Mills received the NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Female Artist” for her singles, “I Feel Good All Over” and “Home.” Both songs peaked at #1 and stayed charted for 18 weeks in 1987 and 1989.

The lead from the follow-up album, “Something In The Way You Make Me Feel,” written and produced by Angela Winbush, became her third #1 R&B single.

“I’d say this album is one step beyond the last one,” Stephanie stated to Billboard. “I felt that I was going in the right direction with ‘If I Were Your Woman’ and I wanted to continue along that path. This time I concentrated more on getting the right kind of up-tempo material because people always know I’m going to come through with strong ballads.”

The new album was divided evenly between a “Lovin‘” side, featuring production work by Winbush, Gene Griffin, Nick Martinelli, and LeMel Humes) then a “Partyin‘” side with production by Mills with Sami McKinney & Kevin Phillips, late great Gerald LeVert & Marc Gordon, and Timmy Gatling & Alton “Wokie” Stewart.

The singer’s decision to rerecord “Home” from “The Wiz,” with background vocals by Take 6, was inspired by the tragic loss of “Wiz” producer Ken Harper and songwriter Charlie Smalls. “I never wanted to sing the song again [after performing it so many years on Broadway], but it took on such a different meaning for me because I remembered just how wonderful [Ken’s and Charlie’s] music and songs were. But, it wasn’t easy recording it because all the memories came flooding back.”

Stephanie stated then that her concerts helped create a core following. “Most people don’t see that there’s a real emotional, vulnerable side to me, but when I get up there and sing on stage, I get a chance to release that. Even when I’m recording, I make a conscious effort to create that same kind of atmosphere. My audiences know that if they come to one of my shows, they’re going to get all I can give.”

From 1989 to 1991, Stephanie Mills was married to Dino Meminger. They had one son, Farad Mills. They divorced in 1991.

Returning to the stage, Stephanie toured the country in the early ‘90s with “The Wiz” and in the past decades, she has appeared in a number of highly-acclaimed roles in such shows as “Children Of Eden,” “Ragtime,” “Play On” (a tribute to Duke Ellington’s music), “His Woman, His Wife” and “Black Nativity.”

The recipient of NAACP Image Awards, Stephanie’s multi-faceted career has also included recurring roles in popular television soap operas “Search For Tomorrow” and “One Life To Live.”

In 1994, Stephanie returned to her gospel roots with “Personal Inspirations,” an album that won praise with both gospel and secular audiences, netting her “Stellar Award” and “Dove Award” nominations.

Stephanie marked a return to recording in 1999 with the dance track “Latin Lover,” produced by Masters At Work and in 2000, she did a duet with BeBe Winans for his album “Love And Freedom.”

Stephanie’s music has frequently been sampled and in 2001, she was a special guest on the late rapper DMX’s “The Great Depression” album, reprising the vocals from her first 1979 hit “Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin’” for the track “When I’m Nothing.”

Following a dazzling performance at comedian “Sinbad’s Soul Festival” in Aruba, Stephanie began touring again in 2001 and wowed audiences on shows with artists, The O’Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, The Isley Brothers, Carl Thomas and at festivals that have included Mary J. Blige, India.Arie, Alicia Keys, Babyface and Smokey Robinson.

“It’s been wonderful being back onstage and singing songs from all parts of my career. So many people have asked me when I would have a new record out and I would just say ‘soon.’ I was surprised because, so many times, people forget about you if you don’t have a new release! But then after the birth of my son Farad last year, I felt revitalized. I felt like singing and performing again”, stated Stephanie.

“I think I’m more creative musically and when I do a lot of my material now, I can relate to it more than ever. The experiences in life make you sing differently. And,” she added, “One of the results of having my child has been that it’s definitely made my voice stronger. I can sing higher and hold notes longer…”

In 2004 Stephanie returned to music, with her new album “Born for This!” The album reached #25 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

In 2018, she was honored at the 3rd Annual Black Music Honors at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville for her artistic contributions.

In 2021, she released the single “Let’s Do the Right Thing” prompted by the murder of George Floyd.

That year she also battled legendary Chaka Khan in a Verzuz.

Last year Stephanie returned to Broadway in Hadestown.

This year Stephanie has headed out on the road with other legends; Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight, on “The Queens: 4 Legends, 1 Stage” tour. The tour has been getting rave reviews!

Pus Stephanie Mills has returned with a high-energy dance remix to the classic hit “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, an Ashford & Simpson original.

In our 2012 Black Music Month interview with Stephanie Mills, she speaks about her incredible musical legacy, being able to maintain in a forever changing industry and why she doesn’t like TV One‘s “Unsung.”

Plus she talks her biggest obstacles she’s faced, who she wants to record an album with, her feelings on loosing Michael Jackson & Whitney Houston and so much more!

UrbanBridgez.com: One thing about your albums is they’re always very few guest appearances, has that been on purpose or do you just record & whatever happens, happens?
Stephanie Mills: I just record and whatever happens, happens. The thing about guest appearances is sometimes it’s hard to get people that you may want to get. Sometimes I don’t even think about having a guest, I get in such a zone of what I want to talk about and for the album to be me. But I would like to do an album with like Chaka (Khan), Anita (Baker) and Patti (LaBelle). I would love for all four of us to do an album together.

UrbanBridgez.com: That would be incredible!
Stephanie Mills: Oh yes, that’s why it’s a dream of mine. I would like to tour with those ladies as well, I think we would have so much fun.

UrbanBridgez.com: Alot of people don’t realize you’re a Brooklyn girl!
Stephanie Mills: Yes! Born and raised in Brooklyn, absolutely!

UrbanBridgez.com: How do you think growing up in Brooklyn helped prepare you for a career in entertainment?
Stephanie Mills: You know what, growing up in Brooklyn wasn’t tough like I assume it is now. With people fighting with guns and everything. Just being a Brooklyn girl and having all of my sisters and brothers, it taught me to be strong and secure in my thinking and what I wanted to do. I think being in the business young taught me that too because I’ve been in the business since I was 9 years old. So I think me doing that and going away from the business and then coming back, not staying in it consistently. I would go away and then come back, I think that was healthy for me.

UrbanBridgez.com: You’ve had such an amazing career, how have you managed to maintain your desire to continue on in a forever changing industry?
Stephanie Mills: Oh yeah, it hasn’t always been easy. There were times that I didn’t want to be in the industry because it’s so tough, it’s brutal! I really see how people fall prey to drugs and things like that. I was never into drinking or hanging out, but I do understand how some of our artists can fall prey to that. I think my strong family foundation, I have a really strong family support. That has kept me going and on a good path and to not totally loose my mind in this business. Because you know you can (laughs). It’s so crazy in this business but my family support and belief and with them it’s not about the industry it’s about me being healthy and doing what I love to do. That’s what it’s always been about.

UrbanBridgez.com: Your catalog of music is just simply amazing, I’ve always wanted to know what are some of your most memorable songs and favs that you’ve recorded?
Stephanie Mills: Oh my god, I would have to say Starlight is one of my favorites. The other day I was just listening to Lost in The Night Games and I was like wow that is really a good song (laughs). You know when you listen to it now, it’s like wow that was really some good music. I absolutely love Give It Half A Chance and I put that in the show and I also put Starlight in it and Power of Love. There’s alot of songs, because Angela (Winbush) and I are such great friends, there are alot of songs that when I listen to now; because when I’m getting ready to tour I go back and listen to my songs and sing them. So that I am close to the way people have heard them on record. Those songs are the ones that I really love!

UrbanBridgez.com: Home will always be your song, like the one people instantly think of Stephanie Mills no matter who’s singing it. With so many of your industry friends who have passed in recent years and months, do you dedicate it to them when you perform it live now?
Stephanie Mills: I absolutely do! Matter of fact the last ending of the song has changed and it’s a devotion to them. Michael’s (Jackson) death was really hard for me and Whitney’s (Houston) was extremely hard. I still can’t believe that they’re gone and they were just so young. I mean 48 and just 50, but that’s what this industry can do to you if you allow it. I’m just thankful that I’ve been strong enough to withstand all of it. Some people are not as strong, but I’m happy that I was but it hasn’t always been easy.

UrbanBridgez.com: You recently made headlines by stating that you will never do TV One’s Unsung…
Stephanie Mills: Oh never..never…never, I don’t like it. I don’t feel like I’m Unsung, I don’t like the title and I’ve watched it. I’m such a private person, I’m 55 years old. I don’t think now I would allow my life to be exposed like that. You know we’re living in a time, when I came through it was about privacy. Entertainers only talked about their music careers and all of that. You wasn’t followed around and there wasn’t all these reality shows. Now everything is just…anything goes! I just don’t like that.

UrbanBridgez.com: I love the way you explained that, because now it makes perfect sense. I mean when I was younger we had no connection to the artists, outside of putting a stamp on an envelop and sending off a fan letter.
Stephanie Mills: Yeah it was private and honestly I don’t think the audience really even wants to know all of that drama. I really think they want to know your music and think that your life is not like that. I think it’s a little too much information these days.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s your thoughts on the current state of R&B, from radio to some of the newer artists?
Stephanie Mills: You know I think they’ve made less R&B, don’t you? Do you think they’ve made Rap music R&B?

UrbanBridgez.com: Yes!
Stephanie Mills: What true R&B artists is really out there? Really, I mean there are very few like Ledisi…

UrbanBridgez.com: Leela James, SWV….
Stephanie Mills: Yeah and who else? Because like Mary J. Blige is mainstream, Beyonce’ is mainstream, Rihanna is mainstream. Chris Brown is and all the other black artists who are really, really at superstar status are mainstream artists. So for R&B I really don’t know, I think that Rap is R&B today. If that makes any sense and I love Lil Wayne, I love Jay-Z, I love listening to them. I love some of the rap, I can’t listen to it all day, but I love listening to some of them. I think that’s the new R&B. I mean you have Keyshia Cole and Monica and Brandy. I’m very happy they came back out and they’re doing R&B. But Brandy is kind of mainstream also, but I like their new song. I don’t know, there really isn’t any R&B to really speak of. You know with Gerald LeVert gone, there is no one really holding up that male R&B like Teddy (Pendergrass) did, you know what I mean? Even though Teddy was mainstream too but he was such a strong R&B male. Gerald was doing that and he’s gone, so there isn’t anybody really doing that now.

UrbanBridgez.com: You stated in a recent interview you thought you was going to be the Mrs. Jackson…
Stephanie Mills: Oh yes, you couldn’t of told me I wasn’t going to be married to Michael Jackson (laughs)! I was so in love with him at the time and that was early on. We were babies, he was 18-19, 20-21 at the most. We dated for awhile and that was at the beginning of his career. Of course girls are more mature than boys so it was like yeah I’m going to be Mrs. Michael Jackson. But it didn’t happen, but I still loved him towards the end. We didn’t have much contact in the end and when he became huge, we didn’t. I still loved him, I just think that he was very misunderstood and I think the pain of what he went though as far as all of the accusations that were on him just broke his heart. I really do believe that.

UrbanBridgez.com: Yeah, it’s such a sad story. What’s been one of your biggest obstacles you’ve had to face in this industry that has helped shaped you into the artist you are now today?
Stephanie Mills: I’ve always been one of those types of artists that didn’t want to follow the pack. I was not one where they could easily say Stephanie do this or do that. I’ve always kind of danced to my own tone. I actually asked to get out of the business. I was being managed by Left Bank Management at the time in the early 90’s and I was tired. I’d had a record contract my entire life and I just wanted to do some normal things. I just wanted to live a normal life and I got out of my contract with MCA. Now I have my own company but I haven’t been with a record company since then. My obstacles have always been that I didn’t want to follow and do what everybody else was doing. I just wanted to do my own thing, just sing and do my shows and do it when I wanted to do it. In the business what happens to artists is you’re only looked at as a product! Sometimes that’s too painful to bare for alot of artists. I think for Whitney is was too painful for her to bare she was really a product and for Michael. That’s something that you really, really have to adjust to and kind of get it under your skin. You do realize it when you’re at that level. When I was at that level when Never Knew Love was winning the Grammys and stuff, you’re really a product and it’s too much to bare!

UrbanBridgez.com: Crazy Industry!
Stephanie Mills: Yes it is, but I love it, I love it! I love it because I’m doing it sort of on my own terms and move it like I want to move it. I’m able to be a mom and be at home and have quiet time. Then I’m able to come out and sing and enjoy myself. I truly love singing and entertaining! But I don’t like the grind of the entertainment business. I don’t like the games of the industry and the business…I don’t like the business of the business in the entertainment industry. The singing and the fans is absolutely wonderful!

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s the best part about being a mom?
Stephanie Mills: Oh my god! The best part is that you’re nurturing this little person and the person is like a canvas, my son is like a canvas. When he came into this world, it was just blank. Now to put my love and my knowledge and my protection and everything that I know on him and let him learn on his own. My son is an A student and he plays the piano and to see him develop into his own person at 11 years old is just magnificent to watch. It’s just incredible, I’m sure your mother would tell you that there is no love greater than the love of a mother or father. My mother use to tell me that and I never understood it and until you become a father you won’t truly understand it. I really didn’t understand it until I became a mother. The love is just…I would let a train hit me for my son. There are just things a mother would do that no one else would do for a child.

UrbanBridgez.com: You’re performing at the Essence Music Festival next month, give the fans a little tease on what we’re going to see once you hit the stage?
Stephanie Mills: Yeah, I’m excited! I’m going to sing all of my hits, I’m going to look cute and sing all of my hits (laughs)! I’m doing two nights, last year I did two shows in one night. I can’t do no two shows in one night this year and the reason why I can’t is because I like to give my all. If I’m doing two shows in one night, I have to monitor myself and not give my all. This time I told them, I would come back, but I need to do two nights. So I can give my audience everything in one night and the next night do the same.

UrbanBridgez.com: Do you have any desire or plans to do anymore Broadway?
Stephanie Mills: I would love to! I would love to do a show that I wrote. I’ve been directing some plays recently and I would love to do a show that I wrote and direct it. I absolutely love theater. It’s taught me every good thing that I know about the stage I learned from doing theater.

UrbanBridgez.com: Is There anything else you would like to leave with your fans?
Stephanie Mills: I love them! Please let them know how much I appreciate and love them. I see all of the tweets on Twitter and Facebook messages, I see them all! I want them to know that I so appreciate it!

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with Stephanie Mills!