Jennifer Holliday at Middle C Jazz

Jennifer Holliday is an American singer and actress. She has been referred to as the "Original Dreamgirl". Holliday began her career as an actress in several Broadway productions. Her signature and breakout role as Effie White in the original Broadway musical Dreamgirls (1981), led to numerous accolades including a recording contract with Geffen Records. Her debut single "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", released on the Dreamgirls: Original Broadway Cast Album (1981), became an number-one R&B hit and earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1982.