I am not one to back down when it comes to taking a stand for what I believe." Steward found a purpose for the hardship he encountered in his early years-it strengthened his character and taught him perseverance. "These experiences had a profound effect on the man I am today. "I vividly remember segregation-separate schools, sitting in the balcony at the movie theater, being barred from the public swimming pool," notes Steward, who was among a small group of African-American high-school students who integrated the public swimming pool in Clinton in 1967. As a child growing up in Clinton, Missouri, Steward faced poverty and discrimination. She dedicates all her performances to her late mom, Barbara Marie Jackson her late aunts, Marian Ashford and Jackie Broom and to her beautiful daughter, Christian Reignah-Lee for giving her so much strength.Steward was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Dorothy, a homemaker, and Harold Steward, a mechanic. Louis’ finest musicians and groups.Īnita accepted a fellowship as a resident artist with the Kranzberg Arts Foundation (KAF) as a featured jazz performance and recording artist in 2018, releasing a jazz compilation EP with her fellow KAF artists-in-residence from the Dark Room series at the Grandel with her own original composition called “Your Time” written with Phillip Graves, Joshua Crump and Jeff Taylor.Īnita gives thanks to the family of Christ and praises God for HIS matchless goodness and mercy. Louis Ethical Society to the Heman Park Starlight Concert Series to the Sheldon Concert Hall - as a solo artist, as well as a collaborative artist with many of St. Louis (formally Jazz at the Bistro) to BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups to the St. She has appeared as a featured vocalist with several jazz, R&B, soul, blues and gospel musical groups in and around St. Recently, she performed the role of Grandma Dorothy in the new film “A New Holiday”, a Christmas celebration based on the life of a young Thelma Steward, wife of Dave Steward of World Wide Technologies, directed by Brian Owens for Nine PBS. Louis Theatre Circle for her performance. She was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama by the St. Louis under the direction of David Kaplan. Anita performed as Bertha in "Hello from Bertha" at the inaugural Tennessee Williams festival in St. Louis Kevin Kline Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She has performed as a featured player in "Gospel at Colonus", "Ain't Misbehavin'", “Crowns”, as Caroline in "Caroline or Change" and as the Lady in "Blues in the Night” for which she was nominated for a St. Louis, Anita has been a featured player with the St. With New Hope for the World Ministries, Anita has been blessed to be a featured missionary vocalist in Entebbe, Uganda and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Kennedy and New Hope Community Church, which also featured national gospel artist Vickie Winans and New York’s own Melanie Daniels. Anita was a featured vocalist on the 2014 “Reach Week in New York City” live recording for New Hope for the World Ministries recorded in Harlem, New York under the auspices of Rev. She is a background vocalist on Cissy Houston's 1996 Grammy award winning "Face to Face" album which won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Gospel Album of 1996, as well as her "He Leadeth Me" album which won the Grammy award in the same category in 1997.Īs a gospel BGV, Anita has performed with Shirley Caesar, the late Albertina Walker, Dorothy Norwood and Tramaine Hawkins. His national tour featured the artist Joe, and Erykah Badu with whom Anita was blessed to perform and tour. Anita has toured and performed as a background vocalist for recording artist Chico DeBarge on his “Long Time, No See” album which was released in 1997. She recorded as a background vocalist for Bette Midler on her acclaimed song "From a Distance" which won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1991 as a background vocalist for Patti Austin on "I Can Move this Mountain" and Mariah Carey on "Anytime You Need a Friend". She has recorded and performed as a background vocalist for several artists in the music industry. She is a graduate of the American Music and Dramatic Academy in New York and has performed extensively nationally and internationally in theater productions, concerts and workshops. Louis, Missouri who returned home after living in New York City for twelve years.
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