{{short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{about|the R&B singer|the jazz pianist|Melissa Morgan}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians --> | name = Meli'sa Morgan | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Joyce Melissa Morgan | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|12|6}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-jIXAQAAMAAJ&q=meli%27sa+morgan+shelly+garrett|title=Who's Who Among African Americans|publisher=Gale / Cengage Learning|edition=21|location=University of Michigan|year=2008|first=Kristin B.|last=Mallegg|isbn=9781414400204}}</ref> | birth_place = Queens, New York, U.S. | origin = New York City, New York, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|R&B|soul|pop}} | occupation = Singer–songwriter | instrument = Vocals | years_active = 1982–present | label = {{hlist|Capitol|Pendulum|Orpheus|}} | associated_acts = {{hlist|Shades of Love|High Fashion|Melba Moore|Janet Jackson|Kashif|Freddie Jackson|Miki Howard}} | website = }} '''Joyce Melissa Morgan'''<ref name="Ebony">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m8wDAAAAMBAJ&dq=joyce+meli%27sa+morgan&pg=PA140|title=Introducing: Sultry Singer Meli'sa Morgan|magazine=Ebony|date=April 1988|page=140|volume=43|issue=6|issn=0012-9011|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company}}</ref> (usually spelled '''Meli'sa'''; born December 6, 1964) is an American R&B/Soul singer–songwriter. Morgan had a string of urban contemporary hits from the mid–1980s to the mid–1990s. Most notable include her cover version of Prince's "Do Me, Baby", which the single reached RIAA gold certification on July 8, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=RIAA: Meli'sa Morgan's "Do Me, Baby" Single Is Certified Gold |url=https://www.rnbjunkieofficial.com/2025/07/riaa-melisa-morgans-do-me-baby-single-certified-gold.html#google_vignette |language=en}}</ref> (1985),"Do You Still Love Me" (1986) and "Still in Love with You" (1992).
== Early life == Born in Queens, New York, Morgan got her start in the music industry while singing with a church gospel choir called the Starlets of Corona. Morgan cites Chaka Khan as a major influence.<ref name="Ebony" />
==Career== ===1982–1992=== Her initial chart entry was as the lead singer of the dance group, Shades of Love. They had a single entry at #26 on ''Billboard'' magazine's Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1982 with "Body to Body (Keep in Touch)." This was re-popularized in 1994 by new remixes and reached number 1 on the same chart. That same year, music entrepreneur Jacques Fred Petrus asked her to join his newly created studio group, High Fashion, that featured Morgan and two other New York vocalists, Eric McClinton and Alyson Williams. High Fashion's sole hit, "Feelin' Lucky Lately," reached #32 on the US Black Singles chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=High Fashion|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/7122926/high-fashion/chart|accessdate=December 11, 2016|magazine=Billboard|date=July 10, 1982|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222090326/http://www.billboard.com/artist/7122926/high-fashion/chart|archive-date=22 December 2016}}</ref> In 1983, Morgan left, and was replaced in the group by the jazz vocalist, Marcella Allen. Morgan worked as a backing singer with Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, and Melba Moore.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Record News|magazine=Sounds|date=December 14, 1985|page=6}}</ref>
As a solo artist, she topped the R&B chart with her cover version of Prince's "Do Me, Baby" for 3 weeks,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/melisa-morgan-mn0000407331/biography|title=Biography: Meli'sa Morgan|last=Wynn|first=Ron|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=May 30, 2010}}</ref> (the title track from her debut album) which also became her only ''Billboard'' Hot 100 entry, peaking at number 46 in 1986.<ref name="VF">{{cite web|title=Meli'sa Morgan Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography|url=https://www.musicvf.com/Meli%27sa+Morgan.art|website=Music VF|access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref>, The album was certified gold by the RIAA in May of 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Do+Me+Baby#search_section |website=RIAA}}</ref>. She also had a top 5 R&B single with "Do You Still Love Me" from her debut album.<ref name="VF"/> She had several solo hits on the US dance chart as well, including "Still in Love with You," which hit #3 in 1992.<ref name="VF"/>
A verse from Morgan's 1986 single "Fool's Paradise" was re-vamped, with modified lyrics, by Mary J. Blige as the chorus to the 1996 Jay-Z single "Can't Knock the Hustle."
===2005–present=== After a lengthy hiatus, Morgan released her fifth solo album, ''I Remember''. The first single, "Back Together Again", a song originally recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, received moderate airplay on urban contemporary radio stations during early 2006 and peaked at number 46 on Billboard's R&B chart.<ref name="VF"/> The follow-up singles included "I Remember," "Will You?," and "High Maintenance" which were released in September 2006. New material by Meli'sa Morgan can be heard on a German release by Cool Million, which features Meli'sa Morgan on lead vocals on the opening track "Sweet Baby."
In 2014, Morgan was honored with an Unsung Heroine Award by the National R&B Music Society<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoopusanewspaper.com/SCOOP9262014.pdf|title=National R&B Society 4th annual black tie gala, award ceremony|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905053203/http://www.scoopusanewspaper.com/SCOOP9262014.pdf|archive-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> at Resorts Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.
Morgan was featured on an episode of TVOne's Unsung which aired in 2015.
On May 28, 2024, Morgan scored her first gold album, for the 1986 debut album entitled, "Do Me Baby." It was certified gold by the RIAA for sales reaching over 500,000 units.<ref>{{cite web |title=R&B star Meli'sa Morgan finally gets her gold after 37 year wait |url=https://www.soultracks.com/first-listen-melisa-morgan-gold-record |website=SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews |access-date=6 June 2024 |language=en |date=31 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Meli'sa Morgan's Debut Album Is Now Certified Gold |url=https://www.wbls.com/news/melisa-morgans-debut-album-is-now-certified-gold/ |website=WBLS |access-date=6 June 2024 |date=1 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/melisa-morgan-scores-her-first-riaa-certification-with-debut-album-do-me-baby/ar-BB1nlBua |website=www.msn.com |access-date=6 June 2024}}</ref>
On July 8, 2025, Morgan received a RIAA gold certification for her debut single, "Do Me Baby".<ref>{{cite web |title=Meli’sa Morgan celebrates RIAA Gold for ‘Do Me Baby’ nearly 40 years later |url=https://www.wjbf.com/news/melisa-morgan-celebrates-riaa-gold-for-do-me-baby-nearly-40-years-later/ |website=WJBF |date=27 July 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== Morgan was married to playwright, writer, and director Shelly Garrett from 1993 until 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MroDAAAAMBAJ&dq=meli+sa+morgan+shelly+garrett&pg=PA37|magazine=Jet|date=June 14, 1993|title=Making Wedding Plans|page=37|volume=84|issue=7|issn=0021-5996|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected chart positions |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" width="200"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br><ref name="Billboard 200">{{cite web |via=Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117222611/https://www.billboard.com/artist/melisa-morgan/chart-history/tlp/|archive-date=November 17, 2021|url-status=dead|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/melisa-morgan/chart-history/tlp/|title=Meli'sa Morgan Album & Chart History (Billboard 200)|publisher=Billboard.com|accessdate=October 19, 2021}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US R&B<br/>/HH<br><ref name="Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums">{{cite web |via=Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117221928/https://www.billboard.com/artist/melisa-morgan/chart-history/blp/|archive-date=November 17, 2021|url-status=dead|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/melisa-morgan/chart-history/blp/|title=Meli'sa Morgan Album & Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)|publisher=Billboard.com|accessdate=October 19, 2021}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''Do Me Baby'' |style="font-size:12px;"| *Released: 1986 *Label: Capitol *Format: LP, CD, cassette | 41 || 4 | * RIAA: Gold<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=MELI+SA+MORGAN&ti=&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section|title=US Certifications > Meli'sa Morgan|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=May 29, 2024}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''Good Love'' |style="font-size:12px;"| *Released: 1987 *Label: Capitol *Format: LP, CD, cassette | 108 || 11 | |- ! scope="row" | ''The Lady in Me'' |style="font-size:12px;"| *Released: 1990 *Label: Capitol *Format: LP, CD, cassette | — || — | |- ! scope="row" | ''Still in Love with You'' |style="font-size:12px;"| *Released: 1992 *Label: Pendulum *Format: LP, CD, cassette | — || 38 | |- ! scope="row" | ''I Remember'' |style="font-size:12px;"| *Released: November 8, 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/i-remember-mw0000258102|title=I Remember - Meli'sa Morgan - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=August 7, 2017}}</ref> *Label: Lu Ann/Orpheus Music *Format: CD, digital download | — || 96 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Love Demands'' |style="font-size:12px;"| *Released: July 13, 2018 *Label: Goldenlane *Format: CD, digital download | — || — | |- | colspan="6" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |}
===Compilation albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Album details |- ! scope="row" |''Do You Still Love Me?: The Best of Meli'sa Morgan'' |style="font-size:12px;"| *Released: June 18, 1996<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/do-you-still-love-me-the-best-of-melisa-morgan-mw0000081124|title=Do You Still Love Me?: The Best of Meli'sa Morgan - Meli'sa Morgan - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=August 7, 2017}}</ref> *Label: Razor & Tie *Format: CD |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of singles as a group member, with selected chart positions, showing year released ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Artist ! rowspan="2"| Album |- |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br>R&B<br>/HH<br><ref name="Billboard - High Fashion">{{cite web |via=Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222090326/http://www.billboard.com/artist/7122926/high-fashion/chart|archive-date=December 22, 2016|url-status=dead|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/7122926/high-fashion/chart|title=High Fashion Album & Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)|publisher=Billboard.com|accessdate=7 August 2017}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br>Dance<br><ref name="Billboard - Dance - Shades of Love">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/shades-of-love/chart-history/dsi/|title=Shades of Love Album & Chart History (Dance Club Play Songs)|publisher=Billboard.com|accessdate=August 29, 2022}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| "I'm in the Prime of Love" | 1978 | — || — ! scope="row"| Business Before Pleasure <small>(stylised as B.B.P.)</small> | {{n/a}} |- ! scope="row"| "Feelin' Lucky Lately" | rowspan="2"| 1982 | 32 || — ! scope="row"| High Fashion | ''Feelin' Lucky'' |- ! scope="row"| "Keep in Touch (Body to Body)" | — || 1 ! scope="row"| Shades of Love | {{n/a}} |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of singles as a lead artist, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="4"| Chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Certifications ! rowspan="2"| Album |- |-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br><ref name="Hot 100">{{cite web|via=Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117154838/https://www.billboard.com/artist/melisa-morgan/chart-history/hsi/|archive-date=November 17, 2021|url-status=dead|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/melisa-morgan/chart-history/hsi/|title=Meli'sa Morgan Album & Chart History (Hot 100)|publisher=Billboard.com|accessdate=October 19, 2021}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br>R&B<br>/HH<br><ref name="Billboard - R&B">{{cite web|via=Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117182104/https://www.billboard.com/artist/melisa-morgan/chart-history/bsi/|archive-date=November 17, 2021|url-status=dead|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/melisa-morgan/chart-history/bsi/|title=Meli'sa Morgan Album & Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)|publisher=Billboard.com|accessdate=October 19, 2021}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br>Dance<br><ref name="Billboard - Dance">
* For "If You Can Do It: I Can Too": {{cite web|via=12ft.io|url-access=subscription|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/1988-02-20/|title=Dance Club Play Songs|date=February 20, 1988|publisher=Billboard.com|accessdate=August 29, 2022}} [https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/1988-02-20/ Alt URL] * For "Still in Love with You": {{cite web|via=12ft.io|url-access=subscription|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/1992-06-06/|title=Dance Club Play Songs|date=June 6, 1992|publisher=Billboard.com|accessdate=August 29, 2022}} [https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/1992-06-06/ Alt URL] </ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK<br><ref name="uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/23538/melisa-morgan/|title=UK Charts > Meli'sa Morgan|website=Official Charts Company|accessdate=2010-06-05}}</ref>
|- ! scope="row"| "Do Me Baby" | rowspan="1"|1985 | 46 || 1 || — || — | * RIAA: Gold<ref name="RIAA"/> | rowspan="4"| ''Do Me Baby'' |- ! scope="row"| "Do You Still Love Me?" | rowspan="3"|1986 | — || 5 || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Fool's Paradise" | — || 24 || — || 41 | |- ! scope="row"| "Now or Never" | — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Deeper Love" | rowspan="3"|1987 | — || 74 || — || — | | ''The Golden Child'' |- ! scope="row"| "If You Can Do It: I Can Too" | — || 2 || 27 || 86 | | rowspan="4"| ''Good Love'' |- ! scope="row"| "Love Changes" <small>(with Kashif)</small> | — || 2 || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Here Comes the Night" | rowspan="2"|1988 | — || 17 || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Good Love" | — || — || — || 59 | |- ! scope="row"| "Can You Give Me What I Want" | rowspan="2"|1990 | — || 33 || — || — | | rowspan="2"| ''The Lady in Me'' |- ! scope="row"| "Don't You Know" | — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Still in Love with You" | rowspan="3"|1992 | — || 9 || 3 || — | | rowspan="3"| ''Still in Love with You'' |- ! scope="row"| "Through the Tears" | — || 18 || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "I'm Gonna Be Your Lover (Tonight)" | — || 68 || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Tell Me (How It Feels)" <small>(with Mike Stevens)</small> |1995 | — || — || — || —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Tell Me (How It Feels)" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 39 on the UK R&B Singles Chart.<ref name="uk"/>}} | | rowspan="2"| ''Joy'' |- ! scope="row"| "Searchin'" <small>(with Mike Stevens)</small> |1996 | — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Believe In Yourself" <small>(with Soul Switch)</small> |1999 | — || — || — || — | | {{n/a}} |- ! scope="row"| "How" <small>(with JT Taylor)</small> | rowspan="1"|2000 | — || 82 || — || — | | rowspan="1"| ''A Brand New Me'' |- ! scope="row"| "Don't Say Love" <small>(with Soul Switch)</small> | rowspan="1"|2003 | — || — || — || — | | {{n/a}} |- ! scope="row"| "Back Together Again" <small>(with Freddie Jackson)</small> | rowspan="1"|2005 | — || 46 || — || — | | rowspan="2"| ''I Remember'' |- ! scope="row"| "I Remember..." | rowspan="1"|2006 | — || 86 || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Sweet Baby" <small>(with Cool Million)</small> | rowspan="2"|2015 | — || — || — || — | | {{n/a}} |- ! scope="row"| "So Good" | — || — || — || — | |{{n/a}} |- ! scope="row"| "Footprints of an Angel" |2022 | — || — || — || — | | {{tba}} |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |}
==See also== *List of number-one dance hits (United States) *List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
==Notes== {{reflist|group=upper-alpha}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4956}} *{{facebook|MissMelisaMorganM3/}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Melisa}} Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:American soul musicians Category:American dance musicians Category:Musicians from Queens, New York Category:American soul singers Category:American contemporary R&B singers Category:African-American women singer-songwriters Category:American women singer-songwriters Category:21st-century American women singers Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters Category:21st-century African-American women singers Category:20th-century African-American musicians Category:20th-century African-American women Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)