Consuelo Hill Kicks off National Tour

By Chuck Stewart, Jr.

(Newburgh) - Consuelo Hill kicked off her national tour last Saturday at It’s All Good restaurant in the City of Newburgh.
Patrons arriving to the 90 Broadway location, were given the red carpet treatment. After passing through the velvet red ropes, the aroma of the famous soul food buffet captured your attention. Pam and Ezra Caldwell, the restaurant proprietors, prepared a bountiful of soul food delights, including collard greens, macaroni and cheese, barbeque ribs, fish, and chicken.

For Hill’s debut, the restaurant was arranged to resemble a quaint cabaret, with cozy tables and soft candle lighting to add just the right touch for the evening’s performance. The hour-long performance took the audience on a musical journey that spans two decades.

Hill began singing professionally in 1986. Since that time she has been in over 50 Broadway tour shows, including “Ain’t Misbehaven,” and “South Pacific.” She has sung the National Anthem several times on television, including the NBA on TNT for the Portland Trailblazers.

After the formal introduction of Consuelo Hill by City of Newburgh Councilman George Bowles, Hill took the stage as only she can. With her stunning sequence dress and powerful voice she opened the show to a thunderous round of applause. Thanking everyone who has helped her, and supported her over the years, Hill said, “It’s all about what God has done for me. Now were going to have a good time tonight.”

As she said at the beginning of her show, “For those of you who know me, this is nothing new. If you don’t know me, you will by the end of the show.” And it was true.

Throughout the show, she performed numerous songs, each with its own story. “I don’t just do a show with songs,” Hill said, “I tell you a story.” Whether it was a show tune from a Broadway show she performed in or just an R&B top ten hit, Hill literally took the audience on a magical, musical journey of her life through her songs. Her powerful voice was only matched with the pure, raw emotion that came from her stories, good or bad. That was obvious when she dedicated the song “My Hero” to her brother Walter Peterson who passed away three weeks ago.

With her debut complete, from the place she has called home for most of her life - Newburgh, Hill will travel across the nation on her tour. Not for fortune or fame, but because, “it’s what God has ordained me to go do,” Hill says. If you missed the debut in Newburgh, catch the show, it’s a must see!