LaTonya Reed

LaTonya Reed is currently being represented by Avis J. Tucker Talent Reps. Talent roster includes r&b crooner Eric Benet, and actor James Lesure (who boasts a recent re-occuring role on NBC's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip").

Commercial/Theatrical Agent: The Stevens Group. See L.A. Casting link below.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

As a small child, singer/songwriter, actress LaTonya Reed attended many gospel caravan shows in, and around Los Angeles, California (her place of birth).

Her late father was a minister, songwriter & guitar player, and her mother...an extraodinary musician, singer & songwriter in her own right.... was the opening act for the legedary great, MAHALIA JACKSON.

Although she was barely of speaking age at this time....LaTonya has memories etched in her psyche of ..... not only her mother's astonishingly-moving performances, at such venues as The Shrine Auditorium.... but also... of JACKSON's.

There seemed to be a "mystique" about the woman..... her essence and aura were SO PURE.

The small, impressionable child recalls being "effected" by Jackson's seeming deep adoration for The Divine. It was a love that ran SO DEEP that it appeared beyond human comprehension.

LaTonya does not RECALL the music that was rendered during those performances (except her mom's), but rather......with MS. JACKSON.... the child was more "affected" by..... THE ESSENCE & SPIRIT OF THE WOMAN.

This was a woman...... who was an amazing Light. She was sent here for a divine purpose..... to touch, and to heal with her voice.... by way of her dedication and commitment to her "Gift" and a "spiritual life"...... and with the purity of her love for God.

In junior high, high school and college, LaTonya sung with her older brother's community choirs (paying tribute to the late great JAMES CLEVELAND at the time).... and performed in various pop musical theatre productions (such as "GODSPELL") at school.

She then went on to acquire her Bachelor of Arts Degree, in Communications, from Howard University, in Washington, D.C., (where she toured with THE HOWARD GOSPEL CHOIR & THE RICHARD SMALLWOOD SINGERS [who's work WHITNEY HOUSTON performed & recorded on the CD & in the movie "The Preacher's Wife"]).

Tonya later began work on her Master's Degree, in Vocal Jazz Studies at The University of Southern California (USC).

Her goal is to, one day, complete this degree program.... for soon after she started, she aborted the school curriculum at USC in favor of traveling to Europe and Asia to perform as a jazz, r&b and pop singer.

A few national television commercials granted her membership into the Screen Actors Guild during this time.

She can currently been seen in a Supporting role, playing The Singer, in the motion-picture short "Tiny Terrors of the Mind." see trailer at: www.johnsudolactingstudio.com.

Her TV credits include "Raines", starring JEFF GOLDBLOOM, and The GEORGE LOPEZ Show.

She has worked in Walt Disney musical theatre productions, and as an opening act for various "old school" r&b headliners, such as AL GREEN, TAYLOR DAYNE & A TASTE OF HONEY.

While at USC Tonya performed in the company of WYNTON MARSALIS.

Her music has been featured and simulcast both nationally, and internationally.

Her vocal influences include aspects of jazz, gospel, new age, musical theatre, and opera.

Today, LaTonya combines the influences of her gospel & pentecostal roots with aspects of New Age Philosophy, Mysticism & The Science of Mind.

She is a long-standing member and soloist at The AGAPE International Center of Truth, in Culver City, CA... founded by Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith (featured on Oprah and in "The Secret").

Her vocal solo, in 1996, with The AGAPE INTERNATIONAL CHOIR made the title song & CD "I Walk In the Love of God" a favorite among New Thought parishioners.

Like with MAHALIA JACKSON.... LaTonya's love for The Divine runs deep..... this is exemplified in her lyrics.

Her music merges this devotional lyrical content with contemporary music and singable melodies that include "catchy" hook lines and phrases.

Ladies and Gentlemen.....LaTonya Reed!