At only nine years, she won The Amateur Hour talent contest at the Apollo Theatre which directly led to her opening for The Isley Brothers.

In 1975, she won the lead role in the hit Broadway musical The Wiz, playing Dorothy for a number of years as well as featuring on the original cast recording.

She has had 10 Billborad #1 hits including I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love, I Feel Good All Over, (You're Puttin') A Rush On Me, Something in the Way (You Make Me Feel),  Home (from The Wiz)  along with the million selling single, Never Knew Love Like This Before as well as  five gold albums.