Long Beach Pride Parade Grand Marshal Thelma Houston :: She Never Left Us

"Don't Leave Me This Way" began its life on Thelma Houston's third album "Any Way You Like It" back in 1976, hitting both the Billboard and Club Play Singles charts in 1977 and winning her the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the Grammys that same year.

A former Long Beach resident, having grown up there with her three sisters, Houston has an affinity for the area and is thrilled to be chosen as Grand Marshal for the weekend's festivities. "I am thrilled to return to Long Beach and to be a part of one of the world's largest gay parades," said Thelma Houston. "We have been supporting each other for so long that
I consider the LGBT community my family and I love that fact that I can continue to give back."

We're thrilled to have her back as well and doubly so, because she's taken a minute out of her busy schedule to chat with The Rage Monthly.

What have your LGBT fans meant to you over the years?

My LGBT fans have been the most loyal to me and I feel after the '70s, '80s into the '90s, 2000s and today, the LGBT community has kept me working nonstop, regardless of me having a hit record or not. My popularity with them was never based on hit records.

Why do you think there is such a special connection?

I support them because they support me! I believe in all the issues and
strongly support LGBT rights such as marriage, anti-bullying, adoption, Stonewall and fighting the AIDS epidemic.

Please tell me about how "Don't Leave Me This Way" came to you, and why you think it became such an anthem to the LGBT community?

Well the song came to me by way of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, who originally recorded it. Also Suzanne daPasse at my label Motown Records who thought the song would make a great one for me, because it was designed to be a disco hit. Motown asked me to add my energy and vocal to it and thankfully, people felt the emotion of the song when I sang it. It really came along at a time when the DJs played songs that were very popular in movies and "Don't Leave Me This Way" was highly featured in the huge hit, "Looking for Mr. Goodbar."

What propelled you to become involved in the HIV/AIDS fight?

It was because, back in the day when AIDS did not even have a name and my friends were dying, I started going to so many funerals. A lot of us banded together to help our sick friends with the basic necessities, just to keep them going. We just did what needed to be done to help out our friends and this was way before any AIDS organizations were around.

What's your favorite part about performing at an LGBT event?

Because everybody knows the lyrics to my songs and I know they are gonna dance! Also, the energy is always amazing and I always love performing "Don't Leave Me This Way."

Thelma has decided that the timing was right to launch her brand new show called "Thelma Houston: Motown, Memories & Me!" The show features non-stop classic Motown songs we all know and love, along with tributes to her gospel roots and the legendary Jimmy Webb, who wrote and produced Thelma's debut album "Sunshower."

For more information on the show, on the legendary Thelma Houston who is celebrating 47 years in music, as well as her many other concert performances, visit her facebook page or go to thelmahouston.com