SHIRLEY WILLIS— Sunday’s concert to combine performance, award— By Mel Cooke— Latoya Messam encountered gospel singer Shirley Willis in two of her formative childhood spaces, the church and school. Willis was a friend of Messam’s pastor “and she would frequent my church and I would watch her … She would even come to my school (St Catherine High).” Then, Messam was about 15 years old and, being also a singer, Willis made an indelible impression on her. “She is very charismatic and vibrant. When I saw her performing, I said that is what I want to do, to be like her,” Messam said. “She kicked off her shoes and I was amazed.” An unabashed fan, Messam said she would attend any concert that Willis was performing on. Now, many years later, Messam is staging an event that Willis is performing on, one … Read entire article »