Toni Seawright
Encyclopedia
Toni Deniece Seawright (born June 25, 1964 in Pascagoula, Mississippi) is an international actress and singer-songwriter
. Seawright made history as the first African American
to become Miss Mississippi
and went on to place 4th runner-up in 1987’s Miss America Pageant.
in Columbus, Mississippi
, where she was the first African American to earn a degree in music at Mississippi University for Women, and majored in Vocal Music and Business at that university. Toni became the first African American to hold a recital in vocal music at MUW as well. She went on to compete for Miss W, the local chapter preliminary to the Miss America Pageant and won. This win put her in the position to compete for the state's Miss Mississippi Pageant in 1987. She went on to capture the coveted crown, making history as the very first African American to ever win. She was the 4th runner-up in the Miss America Pageant, representing the state of Mississippi in 1987.
Seawright sang background vocals for artists such as Teena Marie
, Freddie Jackson
, Tony Terry
, RuPaul
, Shaggy
, and Laura Branigan
. Seawright has performed in the touring cast of The Wiiz with Stephanie Mills
& Andre DeShields
, which was directed by George Faison
. Ms. Seawright made her Broadway debut in Street Corner Symphony and Delta Rising at 651 Arts Theater. She also starred in the off-Broadway play Josh (The Black Babe Ruth)/Satchel (Requiem for Racism) at the National Federal Theater (Abron Arts Center), Sister Ann in the AUDELCO
award winning play, "What Would Jesus Do?" at the Billie Holiday Theater. Seawright most recently appeared starring as Miss Mamie in "The Widow and Miss Mamie" at the Harlem School of the Arts.
Seawright is currently writing and producing material for her two sons, Qaasim & Khalil Middleton. The duo have worked with hit producers Full Force
as well as Magick Blyss Entertainment, who's CEO and founder is Kevin Hunte of So You Think You Can Dance
. Seawright's former husband is Keith "Wild Child" Middleton of the cast of STOMP
. The two had two sons together, Qaasim Middleton
and Khalil Middleton. Seawright has guest starred twice on the Nickelodeon
television series The Naked Brothers Band
, which co-stars her real life son, Qaasim Middleton
who has made an appearance on HBO's The Music in Me. Seawright's younger son, Khalil Middleton has also starred on Noggin's Jack's Big Music Show
.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. Seawright made history as the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to become Miss Mississippi
Miss Mississippi
:For the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA, see Miss Mississippi USAMiss Mississippi is a scholarship pageant and a preliminary of Miss America. The contest began in 1934, has been held in Vicksburg since 1958, and provides more money than any other scholarship pageant in the Miss America...
and went on to place 4th runner-up in 1987’s Miss America Pageant.
Biography
Seawright attended Mississippi University for WomenMississippi University for Women
Mississippi University for Women, also known as MUW or simply the "W" is a four-year coeducational public university located in Columbus, Mississippi. It was formerly known as Industrial Institute and College and later Mississippi State College for Women...
in Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States that lies above the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, north of Meridian, south of Tupelo, northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and west of Birmingham, Alabama. The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census...
, where she was the first African American to earn a degree in music at Mississippi University for Women, and majored in Vocal Music and Business at that university. Toni became the first African American to hold a recital in vocal music at MUW as well. She went on to compete for Miss W, the local chapter preliminary to the Miss America Pageant and won. This win put her in the position to compete for the state's Miss Mississippi Pageant in 1987. She went on to capture the coveted crown, making history as the very first African American to ever win. She was the 4th runner-up in the Miss America Pageant, representing the state of Mississippi in 1987.
Seawright sang background vocals for artists such as Teena Marie
Teena Marie
Mary Christine Brockert, better known by her stage name Teena Marie, was an American singer, songwriter and producer...
, Freddie Jackson
Freddie Jackson
Frederick Anthony "Freddie" Jackson is an American soul singer. He was an important figure in R&B during the 1980s and early 1990s...
, Tony Terry
Tony Terry
Tony Terry is an American soul/new jack swing singer from Washington, D.C., who had several R&B hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s.-Singing:...
, RuPaul
RuPaul
RuPaul Andre Charles , best known as simply RuPaul, is an American actor, drag queen, model, author, and singer-songwriter, who first became widely known in the 1990s when he appeared in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Previously, he was a fixture on the Atlanta...
, Shaggy
Shaggy (musician)
Orville Richard Burrell , better known by his stage name Shaggy, is a Jamaican-American reggae singer and rapper. He is perhaps best known for his 1995 single "Boombastic" and 2000 single "It Wasn't Me"...
, and Laura Branigan
Laura Branigan
Laura Ann Branigan was an American singer-songwriter and actress of Italian and Irish ancestry. She is best known in the United States for her 1982 Platinum-certified hit "Gloria" and in Europe for the number-one single "Self Control"...
. Seawright has performed in the touring cast of The Wiiz with Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Dorthea Mills is an American R&B and soul singer, and a former Broadway star.-Career:Mills began her career appearing in her first play at the age of nine. Two years later, Mills won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater a record six times...
& Andre DeShields
André DeShields
André De Shields is an American actor, singer, dancer, acclaimed novelist, choreographer, and college professor....
, which was directed by George Faison
George Faison
George Faison is an African-American dancer and choreographer.-Biography:Faison was born in Washington, D.C. where he studied dance with the Jones-Haywood Capitol Ballet and Carolyn Tate of Howard University while attending Dunbar High School, and appeared with The American Light Opera Company in...
. Ms. Seawright made her Broadway debut in Street Corner Symphony and Delta Rising at 651 Arts Theater. She also starred in the off-Broadway play Josh (The Black Babe Ruth)/Satchel (Requiem for Racism) at the National Federal Theater (Abron Arts Center), Sister Ann in the AUDELCO
AUDELCO
AUDELCO, the Audience Development Committee, Inc., was established in 1973 by the late Vivian Robinson to honor excellence in New York African American Theatre through presentation of Vivan Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition Awards...
award winning play, "What Would Jesus Do?" at the Billie Holiday Theater. Seawright most recently appeared starring as Miss Mamie in "The Widow and Miss Mamie" at the Harlem School of the Arts.
Seawright is currently writing and producing material for her two sons, Qaasim & Khalil Middleton. The duo have worked with hit producers Full Force
Full Force
Full Force is a group of R&B performers and producers from Brooklyn, New York, USA, calling itself the original hip hop vocal band.-Members:*B-Fine - drums and drum programming*Shy Shy - bass guitar...
as well as Magick Blyss Entertainment, who's CEO and founder is Kevin Hunte of So You Think You Can Dance
So You Think You Can Dance (U.S. TV series)
So You Think You Can Dance is an American dance competition and reality show that airs on Fox in the United States.The series first premiered on July 20, 2005, and was created by American Idol producers Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and is produced by 19 Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions...
. Seawright's former husband is Keith "Wild Child" Middleton of the cast of STOMP
Stomp
Stomp may refer to:*Stomp , a downwards kick using the heel*Stomp , a percussive physical theatre troupe*Stomp Records, a record label now part of Union Label Group*Stomp Entertainment, an Australian entertainment group...
. The two had two sons together, Qaasim Middleton
Qaasim Middleton
Qaasim Asani Malik Seawright-Middleton is an American child actor, singer and musician best known for his role on The Naked Brothers Band. Qaasim is also known for his role on the HBO documentary movie The Music in Me.-Personal life:...
and Khalil Middleton. Seawright has guest starred twice on the Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
television series The Naked Brothers Band
The Naked Brothers Band (TV series)
The Naked Brothers Band is an American television musical comedy created by Polly Draper. The show depicts the daily lives of Draper's sons, who lead a faux rock band from New York City. As a mockumentary, the storyline is a hyperbole of their real lives, and the fictional presence of a camera is...
, which co-stars her real life son, Qaasim Middleton
Qaasim Middleton
Qaasim Asani Malik Seawright-Middleton is an American child actor, singer and musician best known for his role on The Naked Brothers Band. Qaasim is also known for his role on the HBO documentary movie The Music in Me.-Personal life:...
who has made an appearance on HBO's The Music in Me. Seawright's younger son, Khalil Middleton has also starred on Noggin's Jack's Big Music Show
Jack's Big Music Show
Jack's Big Music Show is a children's television program currently airing on the Nick Jr. television network. The show premiered on the same network on September 12, 2005...
.
Filmography
- Everybody's Cried at Least Once (The Naked Brothers Band) (2008)
- Mystery GirlMystery Girl (TV movie)Mystery Girl is a rock-mockumentary musical comedy. It's the first and second The Naked Brothers Band episode of Season 3, and TV movie on Nickelodeon. It has premiered on October 18, 2008...
(The Naked Brothers Band) (2008)