Divabetic Salutes Cindy Mizelle

“I have mad respect for athletes and have penned a few songs with more to give all the way around,” says my friend, singer, and songwriter Cindy Mizelle.

Cindy Mizelle is the proud mother of three children. Her two sons are professional athletes. Devin Fuller, a wide receiver with the Atlanta Falcons, and Jordan Fuller, a safety for the Carolina Panthers, have had distinguished careers in the NFL. 

Her incredible career includes Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Seeger Sessions Band, Steely Dan, Billy Ocean, Whitney Houston, Dave Matthews, Duran Duran, Freddie Jackson,  Carly Simon, Alicia Keys, and Luther Vandross.

Cindy told Rolling Stone Magazine that growing up, she knew a singing career was in her future, “I just said, “I know how to do this.” I played the flute, too, and I knew scales. Everything was a musical thing for me. And once I found that power, I was like, “I’m going!”


I first met Cindy on Luther Vandross’s Never Let Me Go tour in 1993. Cindy toured and recorded with Luther Vandross for over twenty years. She admits working with Luther felt like family. “I loved everything about him. I could relax and be myself, and he was so supportive. When it came down to my kids, he got them their first shoes.”

Between gigs with Luther Vandross and the Rolling Stones, Cindy managed to squeeze the recording of her debut album, Cindy Mizelle, on Atlantic Records. My favorite tracks include the lead single, “I’ve Had Enough,” ” Smile, and “Back To Emotions.”

Through Cindy, I met the talented performer Katreese Barnes, who was the musical director for SNL and won an Emmy for ‘Dick In The Box.”  I styled Katreese for several shoots and co-produced her show, Rocket Man, featuring the music by Elton John. 

A few years later, in 1995, Cindy gave me the gift of a lifetime when she sang lead vocals on the dance song I co-wrote with Keith Haarmeyer, “That Man Of Mine.” The amazing Brenda White-King also performed backing vocals on the record. 

I’ll always remember the day we recorded the song in Keith’s one-bedroom apartment in New York City. After Cindy looked at the lyrics sheet, she asked me if I had a specific idea of how I’d like her to sing the lyrics. Then, to my astonishment, she said the chorus line five or six different ways, varying her tone and phrasing with each variation. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever witnessed. I still have goosebumps thinking about it. The power and control she has with her voice are incredible, too. 

I’m not Cindy’s only fan, either. Mariah Carey praises Cindy Mizelle in her memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey: “To me, she was one of the absolute greatest. “Cindy Mizelle was the background singer. She sang with the most gifted vocalists of all time—Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, and the Rolling Stones. She was a real singer’s singer. Cindy was that girl to me. I looked up to her so much.”

It was also a thrill for me to design costumes for The Lovely Ladies (Tawatha Agee, Brenda, and Cindy) when they were on tour with Dave Matthews Band. Most recently, my boyfriend Joe and I filmed Cindy for Nils Lofgren’s “Ain’t The Truth Enough” music video. 

Music is definitely part of her DNA. Cindy Mizelle is the cousin of the famous Mizell Brothers (they dropped the word “e” out of their name), who wrote songs for the Jackson 5 and A Taste of Honey. She’s also the cousin of the Ronettes!!! She told Rolling Stone magazine, “I looked them up and was like, “Oh, my gosh!” That was my motivation there. I’d play their records and figure out what they did. I started singing in the basement and in bands after that.”

She mentions how Ronnie Spector always supported her in her career. It’s truly a pleasure to spotlight this amazing woman whose heart is as big and beautiful as her voice. 

Join us for our Luther Vandross: Never Too Much birthday celebration featuring a Music Panel, Fashion Show, Luther Trivia Games, Live Performances, Style Vendors, and a Live DJ.

Come dressed in your Big 80s Bling!


Luther Vandross
 was known for wearing rhinestones, silk tuxedos, and tailcoats on stage and Versace, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, and Tom Ford off-stage! He wasn’t afraid of bright colors, animal prints, geometric patterns, and fringe. His style and incredible showmanship brought him legions of fans worldwide.

We’re celebrating the Glitz, Glamour, and Romantic Elegance that made his concerts memorable and set him apart from other entertainers.

MUSIC PANEL: Luther’s Vocalist, Cindy Mizelle, Luther’s Choreographer, James Ervin, and Graffiti Glamour Makeup Artistry Founder Alicia Mitchell give us a closer look into the Shine of the Rhinestones, Big Luscious Hairstyles, Bold Makeup, Graceful Moves, and Tight Harmonies comprising Luther’s iconic stage shows. Hosted by Max Szadek.

FASHION SHOW: Designers showcase their gorgeous creations inspired by Luther Vandross’s romantic elegance. See the latest styles from Harlem’s Heaven and Modafleur, among others! Hosted by Catherine Schuller.

LIVE PERFORMANCE: Luther’s most iconic songs performed by Luther’s most iconic songs by vocalist Keith Anthony Fluitt.

STYLISH VENDORS: Shop for apparel, jewelry, and teas from a dazzling array of small entrepreneurs.

COCKTAILS & LITE BITES: Enjoy signature cocktails and delicious appetizers.

Divabetic Podcast on Keto Diets

If you have followed your favorite celebrity on social media, gone to a gym, or picked up a fashion magazine, you have probably heard about the keto diet. But what is it, what are the pros and cons of adhering to a keto diet, and what information should you share with your healthcare collaborators?

We will discuss these issues on October’s Divabetic podcast with my special guest, Dr. Michael Grego. He is a Naturopathic Physician, a Chiropractic doctor, and the author of 3 books: The Nutritional Ketogenic Diet, Clean Keto vs Dirty Keto, and the latest best-selling book, The InsulThin Diet

Keto is short for ketogenic, a process during which your body uses fat as its primary fuel source instead of carbohydrates. Calories on this diet primarily come from sources of dietary fat, such as butter, oil, and nuts, and moderate amounts of protein-rich foods, such as meat, full-fat cheese, fish, and eggs.

Before engaging in any dietary plan, please consult with your healthcare collaborators.

Throughout the podcast, we feature music from The Essential John Luongo album courtesy of SONY Music.

Our music inspiration, John Luongo, is considered the first to create dance remixes and extended mixes of our favorite songs. He’s a DJ, remixer, writer, publisher, and manager.