"The Victoria is so interesting because it's right next to the Apollo, said GLRYA, 46. It's also in the Renaissance Hotel, so you get so many different walks of life and people. Some of the visitors who attend GLRYA's Friday night performances are regulars or locals. Others are coming from shows at the Apollo Theater, well-known for its Amateur Night Talent Contest, or are hotel guests."
"My mom had a vast record collection, she said. I used to listen to her records and I would mimic the songs and see who's doing backgrounds and learn all the parts on the album. She draws inspiration not just from her favorite singers—Chaka Khan, Ella Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder—but also from the people in her life."
"Anytime that you see me performing and I'm going and talking to the crowd, she's my alter ego, said GLRYA. She taught me how to perform."
GLRYA, a 46-year-old singer, performs Friday nights at The Victoria Theater Restaurant on the fifth floor of the Renaissance Harlem Hotel on 125th Street. She sings classic R&B, hip-hop, reggae, and house music with a smooth, soft voice to audiences that include locals, Apollo Theater visitors, and hotel guests. GLRYA began singing as a child, inspired by her mother's record collection and artists like Chaka Khan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Stevie Wonder. She also credits her Aunt Deborah, who performed in Houston lip-syncing competitions, as a major influence on her performance style and crowd engagement techniques. GLRYA now resides in New York City but maintains a deep connection to her Houston roots.
Read at www.amny.com
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