Today we’d like to introduce you to Susaye Greene
Hi Susaye, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Houston, Texas. Parents moved to Denver, Colorado, where they became two of America’s first black DJs. My sister Jade was the 6th child in America to be diagnosed with Lupus. When Jade passed we moved to Los Angeles. I was already developing my voice to become a professional singer.
We moved to NYC where I began doing commercials, got an agent and dug deeper into my vocal training and my painting skills. I won city wide prizes for both. I was put forward by my school choir to sing with Harry Belafonte on his “Streets I have Walked” album, and I was invited to sing with a small group of classmates on the popular tv show “Bell Telephone Hour”. We did two episodes. After that Mr Belafonte invited my mother and I to his office in Manhattan and asked if I could be a part of his next world tour as a soloist.
My father would not allow it because I was 13; too young, in his estimation to travel with an orchestra.
I began going to a private school Professional Children’s School designed for kids who were ballet dancers, ice skaters, in show business, and still wanted a college preparatory education.
I began high school at Andrew Jackson High School, where thankfully I was able to live more of a normal experience, a cheerleader, involved in civic school elections and yet I was still training vocally and singing in varying jobs in the Catskills Mountains, performing with big name comedians.
I entered Performing Arts High School majoring in Drama, studying voice and diction and even fencing.and ballet.
My parents divorced and my mother, brother and I went back to LA, where I signed with Venture Records, That was the beginning of my songwriting career, where I was mentored by the brilliant Leon Ware. I left Venture Records, to audition for The Genius Ray Charles, and went to work for him for the next 4 1/2 years, traveling the globe! I recorded with Ray and the Raelets, getting standing ovations around the world for my solo performances, singing My Funny Valentine, ( my performance at the Salle Pleyel in Paris, with Ray playing the piano can be found on YouTube) People, and other standard greats or duetting with Ray as well.
I felt confined though I did adore traveling, when I decided to leave Ray’s show, I recorded a song with the group The New Birth called “Until It’s Time For You to go” which became their 1st million seller. I was not a member of their group, but sang the lead and began a cult following because of that great song, written by Buffy St Marie, which is still requested.
I went to audition for Stevie Wonder after calling Motown on a whim and his brother answered the phone. (My Magical Life) I sang Stevie’s song “You and I” for him and later that night I found myself singing it at a Grammy Party with Stevie playing the piano for me. We found ourselves to be extremely compatible song writers and began writing many songs together. We wrote “ I Can’t Help It” together, Michael Jackson sang it on his “ Off the Wall” album, and has become his most covered song in his entire discography. While in Wonderlove, I sang with Deniece Williams and we wrote her 1st million seller: “Wanna Be Free”., which launched her brilliant global career. I’ve been blessed with songs. With the advent of hip hop, I have had hundreds of samples made from my songs.
After traveling with Stevie Wonder for a few years, I was asked to join the illustrious Supremes. Singing globally and recording we travelled 11 months on the road. Mary Wilson, Scherrie Payne and I were considered the most musical of all the groupings of Supremes and Cashbox Magazine deemed us the Most Promising Act. With my 5 octave range, we developed a new sound for Supremes. I sang lead on “ High Energy” which became #1 on the dance charts and most recently, the UK Guardian deemed “one of the Top 20 best Supremes’ songs ever.” When Mary decided to go solo, Motown recorded
Scherrie and I as”Partners” and we wrote, arranged and produced our album with Gene McDaniels. The fans lobbied for years for this album to be re- released and it was.
I went on Stevie Wonders “In Square Circle tour and stayed in London 10 years. I sang the lead on jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine’s “ album Journey To The Urge Within”. I toured all over Europe singing “Children of the Ghetto’” making jazz popular again throughout Europe to young audiences, making Jazzwise Magazine’s list “ 100 Jazz albums that shook the world”.
I’ve continued to write and perform having produced 2 albums for myself. “No Fear Here” and “Brave New Shoes” and working on a 3rd now.
During COVID’s lockdown I co founded Capital Code. Co with tech genius Anitha Vadavatha to help best serve underserved communities around the globe. I have been a judge for the Raw Science Film Festival for years and was an advisor to Canada’s Team Plan B, in the $30 million dollar Google Lunar X Prize competition, to put a privately funded rover on the moon!
Documentary work: I was featured in “20 Feet From Stardom” which won an Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary, The BBC’s Soul America” “ Ray Charles In The Holy Land” filmed in Israel, Jonny Caplan’s NFTme series about the culture of NFTs., and Most recently in the not yet released Ray Charles Documentary.”
I have traveled the globe most recently with the Former Ladies of the Supremes and now I am on a quest to bring art to the metaverse through art and photography with my partner; gallerist James Bacchi., in our MetaComtemporary gallery and to build my SupremeXtreme game development and accessories line.
Last fall I became a number 1 international best selling author for the second time, co authoring “ Radical Freedom” for Jessica Hughes Creative Lifebook
Series.
Now, of course, I am on an entrepreneurial adventure, doing quantum collapses with CXFormula., to bring all of my experience and creative products to the world. I am living my best life, indeed’
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are always challenges in life and career. Women struggle to balance family, husbands and children and a career. Luckily I work from home mostly unless I’m traveling.
It is no mean feat to be a thought leader, an advocate for women, an entrepreneur, a creative person as well as raise grandchildren to be useful productive kindhearted and respectful people. Nevertheless, deep thinkers persevere and rise to the occasion, in spite of anyone or any difficulty. Life is short and if you desire to change the world, you can. You must love yourself to love others. You must strive to do good things and be a good example. Otherwise, the future holds only empty promises for all of us.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a creative to the bone. I paint digitally, in water color and oil, pen and ink; whichever strikes my fancy. I love traditional art as well as futuristic flights of fancy. Color is my dreamscape and my passion. I write fiction and non fiction. I am a serious person who strives to be a solution magnet for the many issues our world has. I write, produce and arrange music, I take introspective thoughtful photographs. I love nature and paint voraciously. I am a close up and personal human who examines all of my interests passionately. I am never bored and I am my own best company.
I am most proud to have been lauded by the Motown Museum recognizing me as an innovator and world changer. That is but one of my accomplishments but it is beautiful to be appreciated by your peers. What sets me apart is my belief that I can accomplish anything I am passionate about; my destiny puts me where I need to be, according to God’s will. I am therefore I create. I create for myself to the highest standard that I can achieve and that others feel my passion and intent because of my confidence in what I do.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I believe in research, in listening and understanding. I believe in respect for other’s ideas even if they are not my ideas. We don’t have to agree; only to respect. Those who are starting out must educate themselves and then do what their heart and soul tells them is right for them. Who knows us better than ourselves? My path has been brilliant. UPS and downs and ups again! How can I complain? I have lived a fabulous life as a free thinking person!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://link.tree/susayegreene
- Other: @ susayeg.bsky.social
Image Credits
Philippe Lee
Randi Childs
Jo Davis
Susaye Greene
