Vivian Reed

Vivian Reed a.k.a. “Ms. Bubblin’ Brown Sugar,” never made the splash in the record industry that she did as a Broadway actress. The talented New York native is the daughter of Lucille, and the late Clyde Reed. She starred in Bubbling Brown Sugar on Broadway, as Queenie, and with off Broadway productions in Toronto, Paris, and other cities. Her acting acumen, earned the vivacious actress, a Tony nomination, the Drama Desk Award (outstanding feature actress in a musical), Outer Circle Critics Award, the NAACP Award, and many more honors. In the early 90′s she won a Tony for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for The High Rollers Social and Pleasure Club. She began recording in the 60′s and enjoyed her highest charting single “Yours Until Tomorrow,” in 1968 on Epic Records who released Vivian Reed, in 1969 hot on its heels. Another single “Let Me Be Yours Til Tomorrow,” made a little noise primarily in the New York City area. Her next LP was the soundtrack Brown Sugar, on H & L Records in 1976, then Another Side, on United Artists Records in 1979; a second United Artists album Ready and Waiting dropped in 1980. They all sold poorly, and the single releases didn’t shake em’ up either. Other than her debut on Epic, and her United Artists’ albums, the first produced by Jeff Lane, Vivian’s recordings were MOR affairs that had little chance with contemporary audiences. While her recording career stagnated, she kept singing and as recently as 1996 was part of a Rhythm & Blues Revue with Freda Payne & Bunny Sigler. She has appeared in the top night clubs all over the world; an avid church goer, Vivian is attempting to revitalize her dormant recording career in the gospel field. ~ Andrew Hamilton