(August 24, 2026) For a half century, Dorothy Moore has been identified with one of soul music’s great heartbreak ballads. And this fall, the Mississippi-born singer will celebrate two major milestones at once: her 80th birthday and the 50th anniversary of her signature hit, “Misty Blue.”
Moore will headline the Dorothy Moore: Diamond & Gold Concert on Thursday, October 22 at the Robinson Center Performance Hall in Little Rock, Arkansas. The 7:00 p.m. show, presented by JBM Entertainment Productions LLC, is designed as both a birthday celebration and a salute to the song that made Moore an international star.
Born in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 13, 1946, Moore began singing in church as a youngster and was still a student at Jackson State University when she joined the female vocal group The Poppies. The trio scored a modest national hit in 1966 with “Lullaby of Love.” Moore subsequently worked as a solo artist and background singer around Jackson, eventually becoming part of the musical family surrounding the fledgling Malaco Records.
Then came the record that changed everything.
Written by Bob Montgomery and previously recorded in the country field, “Misty Blue” proved to be a perfect vehicle for Moore’s husky, emotionally direct delivery. Released nationally in 1976, her version rose to #2 on Billboard’s R&B chart and #3 on the Hot 100, while also becoming an international hit. It earned Moore a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and established her as one of the defining voices of Southern soul.
Moore proved to be more than a one-song success. She followed with her soulful interpretation of Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips Away,” a Top 10 R&B hit, and with “I Believe You,” which reached #5 R&B and brought her another Grammy nomination. Over the decades she continued recording R&B, blues and gospel, returning to Malaco for several albums and later taking greater control of her work by founding her own Farish Street Records label in 2002.
And through all of those years, “Misty Blue” never left her. It remains a favorite on classic soul and blues radio and an essential part of her live shows.
The upcoming Little Rock celebration will also feature Arkansas saxophonist and entertainer Michael Eubanks, performing with his band M’Eubie. Special guest vocalist Nia Renee, a former American Idol finalist, is also scheduled to appear.
Dorothy Moore: Diamond & Gold Concert takes place Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Robinson Center Performance Hall, 426 W. Markham Street in Little Rock. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or the Robinson Center Box Office at (501) 244-8800. See more HERE.
For an artist whose biggest hit has spent 50 years expressing the ache of looking backward, Moore has given her fans a pretty good reason to look forward to October.
