Alice Tan Ridley

by Frank M. Roberts

May 2016

Where do you go when you want to hear some good gospel music, or some good rhythm and blues? A concert hall? An auditorium? A church? Not necessarily. You can go to a New York City subway station and, if you're lucky - if your timing is right, visit one of the three busiest train stops in The Big Apple - 34th Street, 42nd Street, Union Square.

You'll see Alice Tan Ridley, comfortably seated, with a little sound system by her side and - to use an old quotation - she'll be singing her heart out.

If she's not there she may be performing in one of the world's best known talent competitions winning lotsa cash or, she may be chirping in Morocco, Argentina, Uruguay, the Netherlands or any locale in the U. S. Some time ago she 'concertized' in Suffolk, VA. and that gave me the opportunity to talk to this nice lady.

She was born and raised in Lumpkin, GA., and her childhood dream was to sing in subway stations (yeah, right). She raised her two children, Ahmed and Gabourey, in Harlem. To get off the subject for a moment I must talk about daughter, Gabourey, who became a hit in her own right, garnering a heap of praise as star of the 2009 movie, "Precious."

A little more about that. Ridley attended an Academy Awards program as her daughter's guest. "Suddenly," her momma told me, "I heard yelling. Someone came to me and grabbed me, and started talking to me. He remembered seeing me in the subway. He remembered what I sang."

I don't know which song that gent was remembering, but her biggest hits were, "At Last," popularized in the '40s by Glenn Miller, and 're-popularized' later by Etta James. Miss R also picked up on Gladys Knight's, "Midnight Train To Georgia," and Creedence Clearwater's, "I Have Nothing."

That last thought is certainly not a Ridley problem. She won top prizes on "30 Seconds To Fame," and, of course, "America's Got Talent." On the latter program she did, "At Last." She would have been the top 'Talent' winner. Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne voted for her but, judge number three gave his vote to a group called "Studio One Young Beast Society." The crew has long since been forgotten - Miss Ridley became an international favorite - no thanks to Howie Mandel.

So, underground and above ground, she is a star. She sang, "Amazing Grace," in the film, "Rize," performed, "America the Beautiful" in the movie, "Heights," and won an Emmy for her part in a documentary about military families. And, of course, try You Tube - she's all over their map or, try your luck, and listen to one of her subway concerts.
In my growin' up years, which included 90 minutes one way back and forth to school, I would see beggars trying to make some money. (Many of them made thousands a month. One man dressed 'raggedly,' rolled around on a board with wheels, looking as if he had no feet. Walter Winchell, newscaster and columnist, had someone follow him around. After 'work' the supposedly poor guy went into an alley, got on his feet, tucked his ragged board under his arm and drove home in a Rolls. True story. Most of his 'earnings' came from tourists - New Yorkers knew better).
Now, back to our 'heroine'. She began her underground gigs with her brother, Roger. One day she was taking the train after working her regular day job. She passed through the 59th Street station, saw him and waded through the crowd while rapping a song he was singing.

"The people around me started parting ways so I could get next to him," Ridley remembered. "When he was finished, we got the biggest round of applause from across the platform, and on the platform I was standing on. That's what got me to want to go out and do it again."

She was hooked. "People coming from their jobs - they're miserable in their jobs," she said. "They rush to catch the train. They hear me - they slow down. The rush comes to a stop. Soon, they laugh and talk to other people. Frowns turn to smiles, and that warms my heart.

"I'm from Georgia, where we're used to saying 'hello' to everyone," Ridley explained. "On the train, nobody talks to anyone. We're there, and it makes people comfortable. I love life. I'm so happy."

What she does is known as 'busking' and, it's not a hit or miss affair. The musicians are organized (violinists, fiddlers, accordionists, etc.) by MUNY (Music Under New York). The Metropolitan Transit Authority holds auditions, selecting the musicians who will perform at 30 of the busiest stations in NYC. (Busking is a British word referring to folks who entertain in public places).

When she wasn't in one of her favorite train stations, she handled nightclub gigs but, her favorite thing is being a subway serenader. "I always have a crowd," said Ridley who still works by the trains but, not as often because of all her other activities. Underground, she is close to her audience and even gives some fans the microphone so they can sing along with her.

One of her listeners was a talent scout who saw her - and saw 'star' and signed her to a contract. Dvir Assouline got her out of the subway stations and onto some of the world's most prestigious stages. But, she's still the undergrond idol. Why not? That gig fed her family for almost a quarter of a century. The 'concerts' are free. The 'hat passing' makes it financially worthwhile.

It's an unusual way to become famous. The thing is - you have to be damn good. She fills that bill.

Finally - remember the old Duke Ellington song, "Take the A Train?" Before you do, listen to, and enjoy, Alice Tan Ridley.