Whether you were jamming in the clubs or singing along with your friends in school, CeCe Peniston’s “Finally” was a hit song that everyone counted as their favorite. I grew up listening to her music, so imagine my joy when I had a chance to interview Ms. Peniston. While talking with her, I learned how she got started, her upcoming projects, and even about the charities that are near and dear to her heart. I must say, it was so amazing.
Who inspired you musically?
I would say as a young child, the person I loved the most, it would be several people. It would be Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross, and I love Chaka Khan. I love Patti. If I ever got in the business, I wanted to be like Patti LaBelle because she was just one of those people that constantly grows spontaneous onstage and if something happens, she just goes with it.
I read that you got your musical start singing in church. What prompted you to begin recording albums and performing onstage?
Well basically, it’s something that I loved. I had done my first play probably when I was 11 years old. It’s something I love. I was like, “ooh, I feel at home right here” and “yeah, I know know what I’m doing in my life” and it’s something I knew I wanted to do. It’s funny, because my mother didn’t even know I could sing. I used to play the piano around the house, but I wouldn’t really sing with the piano. I would just be around the house, you know messing around. She (her mother) heard me off stage and I told her I loved it. It started the trend of me wanting to do stage forever.
Are there any artists or producers you would like to work with?
You know what’s funny? I would really love to work with Musiq Soulchild. A lot of his stuff is uptempo. I thought, “he’s the guy form of me”. His uptempo music reminded me of the flow and tones of my voice. I’d really love to work with him. The producers he works with are also great. A duet would be great too. You know how Donnie Hathaway and Roberta Flack used to do that? You don’t see too much of that in this day in time. I don’t see a lot of artists doing that. If someone else started that trend, that would be great.
I recently learned you recorded gospel music in a group called The Sisters of Glory. What inspired you to go from R&B and soul to gospel?
I feel like I already started out in gospel. For me, that’s where the beginning was. Doing different kinds of music is no big deal to me, because I’ve done it before. It’s only different for other people. They try to separate and say “you have to be this” and I’m like, “no, I really don’t; I don’t have to do that. I can be who I want”. Sometimes you throw your fishing rod right out there on the water and you kind of see what happens.
Basically, it came about because We had done a show at the Algonquin in New York. It was me with Chaka Khan, Thelma Houston, Lois Walden and Phoebe Snow. We did a small room, like 150 people because we wanted to do something intimate with the piano. And from that they were like, “hey, this is a great thing, we should do another project on Warner Bros.”. We did Woodstock. We also did an audience with the Pope out in Rome with Andrea Bocelli. It was great, it was really a great thing. We couldn’t do a lot of shows because the problem was getting everyone on the same page and on the same schedule because everybody’s still traveling around the world, doing what they do individually. So as far as us doing more shows and that, it really didn’t happen, but the project was still there.
What advice would you give to an aspiring artist?
Don’t let anyone take you off your focus. Your dreams are your dreams. Everybody may not understand your direction, but that’s ok. Whatever you choose to do is for you. If you fall, that’s ok. Fall on your back so you’re always looking forward.
Do you have any projects in the works?
A couple of projects. I have been working on a swimwear line, and actually, it’s not website ready, but I did four fashion shows last year. I’m working on a reality show. I’ve done “Celebrity Wife Swap”. I’m definitely still singing, putting out new singles. I’m definitely doing all those things and constantly changing my stage show. I had competed in a fitness competition. That’s something I’d like to do again. I did that in 2014, so it’s something that I would like to do again. It’s something I’d like to do. Let’s see if I can make that happen. I also have a foundation for children, two actually. One is called “CeCe Peniston Youth Foundation” and then I have “Lifting to Succeed”. We were able to give to families and do a turkey drive this year and give gift card to kids and help with a couple of scholarships this year, so I am thankful to do that as well.
It was so amazing to talk with Ms. Peniston. Not only did she fill me in on her musical career, she mentioned the work she’s doing with her charities. To hear that she gave turkeys to families and assisted kids with scholarships was such a blessing.
As Ms. Peniston said, she is still singing, and you have the chance to go see her perform. She’s singing at Bethesda Blues and Jazz in Bethesda, MD on January 29th, Tickets can be purchase by clicking HERE
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