For accomplished South African songstress Belinda Davids, starring in “The Greatest Love of All” is the culmination of a life-long connection with the superstar to whom she pays homage.
In 2013, Davids beat almost 15,000 other hopefuls to take on the dream role and it was her own eternal love of Whitney Houston that prepared her for the show. Exposed mainly to R&B and gospel as a child, Davids was innately drawn to Houston’s musical style. Singing professionally from her early teens, Houston’s songs became a fixture in Davids’ live shows.
When did you realize that you could sing?
Belinda Davids: I realized I could sing from a very early age but was wholly mesmerized by the vocals of Whitney Houston, when I heard her doing vocals on a Teddy Pendergrass tune called “Hold Me,” when I was 8 years old. I knew then that I wanted to sing just like her and that singing was something I wanted to do as a full-time career.
Is this an impersonation or a tribute show?
BD: This is most definitely a tribute show. The objective is to recreate the experience of going to a Whitney show, so all the lights, equipment, staging, and LED screens are designed to recreate exactly what one of her shows would have been like during her heyday. We have an incredible 7-piece band and four amazing dancers as well. It is a full-blown production, which has toured the globe since 2012.
What influence did Whitney Houston have on you both personally and musically?
BD: We all grow up with idols and as an impressionable 8-year old who aspired to be a singer, she ticked all the boxes for me as a template for my future self. Naturally I immersed myself in her music and vocal stylings, but also adopted a lot of her fashion sense and even cut all my hair off at one stage to emulate her look — much to my mothers’ disappointment!
What’s the easiest and most challenging Whitney song to sing?
BD: The easiest song is, “The Greatest Love of All” because I have been singing it for so long. The most challenging is probably, “I Have Nothing,” because it covers a wide vocal range and has some tricky phrasing.
What can you tell us about the show, “The Greatest Love of All?”
BD: We bring a high caliber of musicianship, dancers and show production that is unheard of in the world of tribute shows. We have an amazing technical team, as well as all the performers on stage, who work tirelessly to make the show the best and this comes across in the production. If you are a Whitney Houston fan, you will love the show and even if you are not, the level of production will have you blown away that you will still leave elated. We are the biggest and most successful Whitney Houston touring production in the world, and with good reason.
To purchase tickets for the performance at the Chevalier Theatre in Medford on Oct. 12, visit: www.chevaliertheatre.com
