R&B diva Thelma Houston rose to fame in 1977 with the hit single “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” which gave her the distinction of being the first solo female artist at Motown to win the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. She enjoyed a distinguished career as a performer and recording artist both before and after her signature tune hit the charts. Thelma has continued to dazzle audiences worldwide, including appearing before the Pope, performing at inaugural events for President Obama, and electrifying millions of viewers on such programs as “American Idol,” “The View,” “America’s Got Talent,” and many more. She is known for her dedication to humanitarian causes, including tireless efforts in the battle against AIDS and deep commitments to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the Beverly Hills/Hollywood branch of the NAACP