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I was constantly, always and forever, trying to perform the musical 'Annie' for anyone who would listen, and I have a terrible singing voice. It was the first thing that made me think I wanted to be an actress.

I was always singing but didn't plan on pursuing it seriously. When I got to New York City when I was 18, I started playing in clubs in Brooklyn - I have good friends and devoted fans on the underground scene, but we were playing for each other at that point - and that was it.

I used to dance around the house and taught myself the 'Annie' soundtrack. I got into singing and fell in love with it.

I used to sing songs from musicals all the time as a kid.

I grew up in a very musical family, my father was a musician and a big band leader and made records.

I did do a local musical, 'Bubblin' Brown Sugar.' I played the young Sweet Georgia Brown. I was 13 years old. After that, I just decided that I had to pick one thing, acting or singing, and concentrate on that.

I grew up with music in the house. I was told I could sing as soon as I started talking. Everybody in my family sang, always lots of records, blues and jazz and soul, R&B, you know, like Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Coltrane, that kind of thing.

I did a theatrical musical, Annie Warbucks, when I was 11. We did a tour and we stopped by Los Angeles.