What a treat it was to interview singer Thelma Houston yesterday.
Of course, gays everywhere best know her for her monster 1977 hit "Don't Leave Me This Way" which for three decades has continued to be a mainstay on the dance floor. Ever since our interview, I've been singing and humming the tune and driving people nuts.
Anyway, the Grammy winner will release her first new CD in 17 years, "A Woman's Touch" on August 14 and on Saturday, performs at the annual AIDS Project Los Angeles event. The new CD has the singer peforming covers of songs all originated by male artists including Sting, Al Green, Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross. I'm especially excited about her rendition of "By the Time I Get to Pheonix."
"When they told me it had been 17 years since my last album, I said, 'You better check that again because it hasn't been that long.' But it turns out it has been since 1990."
Houstin's hiatus from recording was not intentional. She got called into MCA to talk to executives about what she thought was about future projects. Instead, she was told she was being dropped by the label.
"It was a very r\ude awakening. I always thought if you sing and get a record deal and are happy to promoite and happy to do what is requested of you after you have a big, huge hit, you can keep good vibes around you all the time. It never occured to me that I wouldnt't have a record deal."
But something very liberating happened for Houston after what could have been a low point for most.
"I discovered I could have a career without a record and it opened up possibliites of working internationally in places like Australia, all over Europe, South America and Africa. The dates kept coming and people really wanted me to work."
Houston never tires of singing her mega-hit.
"I just keep singing and they ask me if i ever get tired of doing it and i really don't. This record, "Don't Leave Me This Way" was born through the dance market. I was on Motown at the time and Suzanne DePasse, a very bright woman who had a good sense of what sounds good and what will work, she is the one who found the song. She said, "I think that will be perfect for you.' It was very melodic and it swelled and it built up. I thought it was very dramatic and great."

TOMORROW: Thelma Houston tells Out In Hollywood about how her new record deal came about, discusses her loyal gay fan base and shares why she remains committed to the fight against AIDS/HIV.

Be sure to check out the singer's OFFICIAL WEBSITE.