Della Reese

Singer Della Reese can't remember when music wasn't a big part of her life. She was already drawing attention with her vocal prowess at age 6, singing gospel in a Detroit church. By 13, she was on the road with gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. Reese, who went on to a successful recording and television career, brings her act to Fullerton's Dal Rae Restaurant tonight for two shows, at 8 and 10.

Della Reese, who played a down-to-earth heavenly being on "Touched by an Angel" isn't acting as she stands in front of a congregation on Sundays in West Hollywood. She's preaching -- in her own church. And her message has no mention of sin, no mention of good and evil and no endorsement of sacrifice if it means doing without. She talks about abundant living, not in the hereafter but in the here and now. "There ain't nothin' up there. If you would read that Bible you would know.

It's Orange County's answer to Live Aid. Musicians from all over Southern California will get together tonight to raise funds to help repair the First Church of Religious Science in Fullerton, which was damaged to the tune of thousands of dollars during the Oct. 1 earthquake. The quake, church officials say, cracked the walls and dislodged a chimney in the 79-year-old building at 117 N. Pomona Ave.

Della Reese testifies mightily unto the Lord in "The Message Is in the Music," her new gospel musical at Stage 52. Perhaps best known for her regular role on the long-running television series "Touched by an Angel," Reese has made her mark as a nightclub singer, a writer and an ordained minister, preaching to packed houses at her Los Angeles-based church, Understanding Principles for Better Living.

Della Reese, the entertainer, has a new role: Della Reese, the metaphysician. A near-tragedy in her life a few years ago led to her decision to take up the activity that now occupies much of her time. She is the founder and director of Understanding Principles (or simply UP), a metaphysical study center with a busy schedule of lectures, seminars, gospel nights and, every Sunday, a potpourri of R&B, jazz and pop with a long line of volunteer performers.

Della Reese, who played a down-to-earth heavenly being on "Touched by an Angel" isn't acting as she stands in front of a congregation on Sundays in West Hollywood. She's preaching -- in her own church. And her message has no mention of sin, no mention of good and evil and no endorsement of sacrifice if it means doing without. She talks about abundant living, not in the hereafter but in the here and now. "There ain't nothin' up there. If you would read that Bible you would know.

There is no sign out front pointing to a church, but upstairs the auditorium is overflowing. Nearly 300 congregants--a virtual rainbow coalition--are gathered in impermanent rented quarters a mile east of Beverly Hills. The audience is largely African American, but there are a substantial number of Anglos--including a female assistant minister--as well as some Latinos and Asian Americans.

A New Direction: CBS' "The Royal Family," left without a leading man following the sudden death earlier this month of Redd Foxx, appears headed for an overhaul. Former "227" star Jackee reportedly will join the cast as a relative of Della Reese, who starred as Foxx's wife in the sitcom. The producers and networks felt it would be best not to fill Foxx's role with another actor.

Box office star Eddie Murphy and comedian Richard Pryor are working together in Paramount's "Harlem Nights," a new action-comedy that marks the directorial debut of Murphy who also wrote the screenplay and is executive producer. Redd Foxx, Danny Aiello, Michael Lerner, Della Reese, Stan Shaw and Arsenio Hall are also in the cast of the film that is set in Club Sugar Ray's, "the most popular after-hours nightclub in New York City, 1938."

Nellie Bradley, who was believed to be Britain's oldest person, died Monday in Silsden in northeast England. She was 112 and listed in the Guinness Book of Records last year. * Deloreese Daniels Owens, daughter of "Touched by an Angel" star Della Reese, was found dead at her Los Angeles-area home Wednesday. She was 41. The cause of death was not disclosed, but Owens suffered from a pituitary dysfunction that made her prone to infections.

Nellie Bradley, who was believed to be Britain's oldest person, died Monday in Silsden in northeast England. She was 112 and listed in the Guinness Book of Records last year. * Deloreese Daniels Owens, daughter of "Touched by an Angel" star Della Reese, was found dead at her Los Angeles-area home Wednesday. She was 41. The cause of death was not disclosed, but Owens suffered from a pituitary dysfunction that made her prone to infections.

I was sorry to see that the only letter you received, or printed, in response to the article about Della Reese-Lett ("Preaching What She Practices" by Judith Michaelson, Nov. 16) was such an across-the-board attack of her acting, integrity and principles. Della Reese is a fine singer and actress. Her role as Tess in "Touched by an Angel" has added dimension because it conveys her own deep spiritual nature and beliefs. Many lives have been touched by the simple, yet profound, premise of the show--that God can enter our lives directly and that His angels surround us whether we are aware of them or not. Yes, it's just a television program; these are just stories that may entertain us, and why not?

Della Reese is just another in the long line of celebrity zealots who "pray" on the spiritually gullible for their own personal aggrandizement ("Preaching What She Practices," by Judith Michaelson, Nov. 16). Whether a million-dollar paycheck is enough to live on, to subject fans, friends and others to her financial affairs in such a duplicitous manner is the height of audacity and a new professional low in the usage of "Alma" Gantry-like bribe tactics. By taking it to the streets in such a reckless and garish fashion, Reese has cheapened her cause and any merit it might have had. CBS would be indeed right in firing her altogether from "Touched by an Angel."

There is no sign out front pointing to a church, but upstairs the auditorium is overflowing. Nearly 300 congregants--a virtual rainbow coalition--are gathered in impermanent rented quarters a mile east of Beverly Hills. The audience is largely African American, but there are a substantial number of Anglos--including a female assistant minister--as well as some Latinos and Asian Americans.

A New Direction: CBS' "The Royal Family," left without a leading man following the sudden death earlier this month of Redd Foxx, appears headed for an overhaul. Former "227" star Jackee reportedly will join the cast as a relative of Della Reese, who starred as Foxx's wife in the sitcom. The producers and networks felt it would be best not to fill Foxx's role with another actor.

There's never much doubt about what to expect when Della Reese hits the stage. Powerful singing, whimsical humor and no-nonsense entertaining are her stocks in trade. The opening-night set in the Cabaret Room at the Improv was a typical example of the Reese performance magic. Never one to waste time or mince words, she steamed into the room with the imposing presence of a musical grande dame.

I was sorry to see that the only letter you received, or printed, in response to the article about Della Reese-Lett ("Preaching What She Practices" by Judith Michaelson, Nov. 16) was such an across-the-board attack of her acting, integrity and principles. Della Reese is a fine singer and actress. Her role as Tess in "Touched by an Angel" has added dimension because it conveys her own deep spiritual nature and beliefs. Many lives have been touched by the simple, yet profound, premise of the show--that God can enter our lives directly and that His angels surround us whether we are aware of them or not. Yes, it's just a television program; these are just stories that may entertain us, and why not?

Della Reese is just another in the long line of celebrity zealots who "pray" on the spiritually gullible for their own personal aggrandizement ("Preaching What She Practices," by Judith Michaelson, Nov. 16). Whether a million-dollar paycheck is enough to live on, to subject fans, friends and others to her financial affairs in such a duplicitous manner is the height of audacity and a new professional low in the usage of "Alma" Gantry-like bribe tactics. By taking it to the streets in such a reckless and garish fashion, Reese has cheapened her cause and any merit it might have had. CBS would be indeed right in firing her altogether from "Touched by an Angel."

Box office star Eddie Murphy and comedian Richard Pryor are working together in Paramount's "Harlem Nights," a new action-comedy that marks the directorial debut of Murphy who also wrote the screenplay and is executive producer. Redd Foxx, Danny Aiello, Michael Lerner, Della Reese, Stan Shaw and Arsenio Hall are also in the cast of the film that is set in Club Sugar Ray's, "the most popular after-hours nightclub in New York City, 1938."

It's Orange County's answer to Live Aid. Musicians from all over Southern California will get together tonight to raise funds to help repair the First Church of Religious Science in Fullerton, which was damaged to the tune of thousands of dollars during the Oct. 1 earthquake. The quake, church officials say, cracked the walls and dislodged a chimney in the 79-year-old building at 117 N. Pomona Ave.