Melva “Chick” Rogers

Don’t be duped by the small stature of Melvia “Chick” Rodgers-Williams, who possesses a voice much larger than her small frame would suggest. Hailing from the legendary Orange Mound neighborhood of Memphis, Chick first found her passion for music while singing in her father’s church. This love would eventually blossom into a full-fledged career in 1979, when Chick was awarded the opportunity to perform for thousands of military personnel on the Bob Hope USO TOUR. Following the tour, Chick continued to share her powerhouse voice with audiences across the world, performing in countries including Portugal, Malaysia, and Japan before returning home in 1986. After settling in Chicago, she quickly began performing on the city’s nightclub circuit, sharing the stage with notable performers such as Patti Labelle and the late KoKo Taylor. In 2008, Chick recorded her first album Essentially Yours, and eventually ventured into theatrical features with roles in several musicals including A Tribute to Phyllis Hyman, Wives, Crowns, and Those Sensational Soulful 60’s. After years of wowing crowds around the globe, Rodgers-Williams will finally return home to share her gift with her hometown.