Valarie Pettiford Releases Second Solo Album, 'Velvet Sky,' 9/18

From the stages of Broadway to the soundstages of Hollywood, Valarie Pettiford has charmed audiences with her performances. A Fosse-trained dancer, Pettiford was nominated for her work in the musical revue, Fosse, which paid homage to her mentor. As an actor, she has created characters for which fans still recognize her, such as Big Dee Dee Thorne on the hit sitcom, Half and Half, and Aunt Geneva, whose rehearsal dinner musical number nearly stole Jumping the Broom from co-stars Angela Bassett, LorEtta Devine and Paula Patton. For those who have had the pleasure of hearing Valarie Pettiford sing, whether in a musical or one of her women cabaret shows, it is her smooth, decadent and resplendent voice that they remember.

On Tuesday, September 18, 2012, Pettiford will release her second solo album, "Velvet Sky", a collection of original lullabies. She brings a tenderness and wealth of emotion to the thirteen tracks on this new album, all of which were written especially for her by two legendary writing teams – Ron Abel (music)/Chuck Steffan (lyrics) and Michael Orland (music)/Jamie Wooten (lyrics). The songs range from playful numbers that are meant to inspire play between parents and their children, as well as softer tracks to lull babies (of all ages) to sleep.

"I am very proud of this project. It was a real labor of love," enthuses Pettiford. "Ron and Chuck were writing together, while Michael and Jamie were writing together – and then they switched partners for a few songs, which was a really fascinating endeavor! They created the most amazing lullabies for me to sing. I think people- especially parents, single parents, and soon-to-be parents- will really connect with this music, which will help them connect more with their babies."

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