JUDITH HILL'S WORDS ON MICHAEL JACKSON

In memory of Michael Jackson, Urban Beauty Collective is proud to present an exclusive interview with the phenomenal singer, Judith Hill.

On July 7th, the virtually unknown singer stepped on stage at the Staples Center and literally attempted to heal the world. She, herself, was grieving at the loss of the one-and-only Michael Jackson, who she was scheduled to tour with before his untimely passing. "All that was going through my mind at that time was to try to perform as best as I could for the family and try to lift them up,” recalls Hill.

This is the exclusive UBC interview about a young woman and the moment she commanded the world's attention.

HOW SHE WAS CHOSEN

As producers Kenny Ortega and Ken Ehrlich were preparing for the Michael Jackson public memorial, Judith was approached about a spotlight performance for the event. “I had already been chosen to sing I JUST CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU in the actual tour, so I suppose they felt comfortable with me," explains Hill. "Then, a few days before the memorial, they called and asked me to lead HEAL THE WORLD. I was flattered, but I didn't dwell in the moment or anything. I was dealing with the loss still. I wanted to do whatever I could to help, especially the family.”

THE AFTERMATH

As the world huddled around televisions far and wide that day, we were introduced to this striking woman with the big voice, and a collective question was asked: WHO IS THAT? This amazing singer, just 25 years old, had performed as if she was born on the stage. Of course, the aftermath of her performance was tremendous. She was inundated with media requests, fan mail and industry executives. She immediately was featured in-studio with legendary anchor Mary Hart on "Entertainment Tonight." But beyond that interview, Judith kept a mostly low profile. “I didn’t want to do so much. One or two (interviews) were good enough to express how I felt, I thought. I didn’t want to prostitute myself," state Hill. "It was a brand new situation for me to have press coming to me. I was still grieving and processing.” She has only been able to reflect on her July performance after the fact and realize how far reaching the performance was. "I couldn't believe the places the fan mail came from. There were many, many countries in Africa and Asia. So many wonderful notes from fans saying that something in the performance touched them. It was really touching for me."

BACK TO THE BEGINNING

To understand her rich vocal style, you have to go back to her roots. Judith began her career at a very young age. Being the daughter of a classical pianist and a base player, music was always in her home. Her first recording was made at four years old in a home recording studio singing, GOD HAS MADE. Even with her recent success, Hill still resides with her parents and younger brother in Pasadena, California. “My finances weren’t in place to move out on my own in LA but I am looking to do that very soon,” admits Hill.

Judith went onto Biola University, majoring in music composition. During that time, she focused on her studies and did session work around LA. Upon graduation in 2006, she started to audition and eventually received an offer to perform in France. The job was as a back-up singer to French pop star, Michel Polnareff. "In France, Polnareff is like the American version of Elton John,” says Hill. “It was like a paid vacation in a beautiful country. We worked about two or three nights a week and had a lot of free time to explore and enjoy all the different parts of France.” Before getting this gig, Judith could not speak French. She still can't! "But I can sing in French if I need to," states Hill.

HOW SHE MET MICHAEL

Within three years of her college graduation, Judith heard about an audition for Michael Jackson's upcoming tour through a friend. It turns out that the tour auditions for the THIS IS IT extravaganza were by referral only. “I was referred by a friend, and when I got to the audition it turns out that I knew the musical director from something else,” says Hill. "That's LA for you." She describes the try-out as a “small audition” and shortly afterward she got the call that she had made it onto the tour. "LA is a funny place. One day you're out of a job and the next day you're singing with Michael Jackson. It’s all just a phone call away,” describes Hill. “It felt like it came out of nowhere. But, maybe it didn’t. Maybe it came by being true to the music and to myself. I don't know.”

REMEMBERING MICHAEL

When Judith talks about Michael, her voice sounds light and airy, like she is recalling a lovely memory. “When he first came in where we all were, he was so sweet and endearing. He had a big, big spirit. His spirit was so sweet. He was very kind towards people. He was so nice to all of us and so warm,” she recalls. "Michael had such a gift. I mean, to be so warm and to embrace us like he did with everything he went through is amazing. After all that he had endured in his life? You can’t talk about people doing you shady or doing you wrong, and try to have an attitude about it. He went through a lot and still gave love back.” When we asked what was the one lesson she learned from Michael that she will take with her throughout her career, she answered quickly and definitively that “musically he never apologized for what he was. He was completely himself. Not following anyone. He was locked in his own world. He was true to himself no matter what was said. That is a good lesson for me, I think. To stay true to my vision, to my music and to myself.”

We'll have more with Judith on Monday, from her thoughts on Alicia Keys and Ciara to her personal beauty tips. Check back in with us for part two of Judith Hill's exclusive interview with Urban Beauty Collective.