Toni

Toni Scruggs is an accomplished singer with performance experience as a solo artist and an ensemble singer, all over the world. She began singing lead, soprano, alto and tenor in a gospel group called “The Scruggs Sisters”, that included she and her three sisters. The Scruggs Sisters have performed at weddings, NAACP events, California State Assembly banquets, and most notably, the 80th birthday celebration of the late Mrs. Rosa Parks.While performing with The Scruggs Sisters, she sang with and directed gospel choirs at Riverside Faith Temple church. As a soprano section leader, Toni was responsible for teaching choir members twice her age complex harmonies and blending techniques. From there she went on to direct the Youth and Junior choirs, responsible for choosing songs and organizing rehearsals and concerts.Toni has expanded her Jazz and R & B repertoire throughout the United States and Japan as a solo artist. She has performed and received countless awards as a featured soloist, alto, soprano, tenor and bass for California State University, Sacramento’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Toni and the ensemble performed at the Reno Jazz Festival, many International Association of Jazz Educators conferences and a Choral Conductor’s Conference in Hawaii. Her tenure with the Jazz Ensemble yielded her close relationship with an important mentor in her career – the late Carl Anderson.The director of the CSU Vocal Jazz Ensemble introduced Toni to a local Sacramento Funk band called Hip Service. Toni began performing with the local band and expanded her R & B repertoire, singing songs by Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, Etta James and Aretha Franklin. Hip Service afforded her the opportunity to travel throughout Northern California and Nevada singing at various weddings, galas, corporate conferences and banquets.In 2003, Toni was offered the role of Armelia McQueen in a dinner theatre production of “Ain’t Misbehavin.’” The production was a critical success that ran for 10 consecutive weeks, giving Toni her introduction to the world of musical theatre.In 2004, Toni was offered a position at Universal Studios, Japan as Mabel in the Amusement Park’s Blues Brothers Revue. She performed songs made famous by Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and Tina Turner. Toni also worked as a featured jazz vocalist, commercial jingle singer and studio musician while in Japan, even being commissioned by the government to sing the Official song of the 2004 Japanese Olympics. The performance was featured on a national commercial that played throughout the whole of Japan for the summer.Following the conclusion of her contract in Japan, Toni relocated to Los Angeles, California. To date, Toni has sung lead and background for live performances and recordings led by Andrew Gouche, Ryan Cross, Tyler Perry stage play star Terrell Carter and R&B recording artist Rahsaan Patterson. She has also been fortunate enough to form a close relationship with Rahsaan Patterson. She has been featured on many national and international recordings as background performer as well as arranger alongside Mr. Patterson.In mid 2006, Toni auditioned for and acquired the position as background vocalist for Chaka Khan. Although she began the appointment as an alto, she soon became the soprano and has been featured in many concerts, benefits, awards ceremonies and conferences around the world. Most notably, Toni sang background during the 2006 BET Awards, where Ms. Khan received the Lifetime Achievement Award. During that performance, Toni shared the stage with legends including Yolanda Adams, India Arie, Stevie Wonder and Prince. That year, Toni also sang tenor for BeBe Winans and Tramaine Hawkins during the TBN premiere of “One Night With The King.”Toni has also become an accomplished studio musician. During 2006, she was featured on the projects of several prominent artists, including “This Is Who I Am” by Kelly Price, the as yet unreleased solo projects for Will.I.am (Black Eyed Peas) and Jazz Vocalist Michael Buble's recently released album "Call Me Irresponsible" (arranged by Mervyn Warren, Produced by David Foster). Toni is featured as a soprano and stand out performer on the track “That’s Life.” She has also been featured on as yet unreleased GospoCentric compilations produced by Rob Lewis and Gorden Campbell. She is featured as a soprano on both projects and as a lead singer on the tracks "Anoint Me Lord" and "Still In Control". And she is most proud of the work done on Chaka Khan's unreleased album "Funk This", due out September 2007.Having met and worked with musical director Ray Chew during the 2006 BET Awards, Toni was approached to act as lead of the “house” background vocalists for the 2007 BET Celebration of Gospel. During this show, she sang for popular gospel artists Smokie Norful, Fred Hammond, Juanita Bynum, Tye Tribbett, Bobby Jones and Pastor Shirley Caesar. Mr. Chew also invited Toni to sing and select background singers for the 2007 BET Awards. She was a supporting vocalist for the tributes to Diana Ross (featuring Erykah Badu, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan) and Gerald Levert (featuring Patti Labelle, Yolanda Adams and Eddie Levert) as well as a solo performance by Ciara. It was also in 2007 that Toni was invited to join the ensemble singing for the Parade of Stars Gospel Tribute to Aretha Franklin. She was a soprano in the ensemble that accompanied Mary Mary, BeBe Winans, Karen Clark-Sheard, and Twinkie Clark.But most notably, Mr. Chew approached Toni to be vocal director and lead background singer for his band on the much anticipated show "Singing Bee" on NBC. The show has been a critical success and will return for it's 3rd season in 2008.Recently, Toni was fortunate enough to work with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis on Chaka Khan's "Funk This", Patti Labelle's Christmas Album entitled "Miss Patti's Christmas" and The Isley Brother's "I'll Be Home For Christmas". There she began many great working relationships with Terry Lewis, The Avila Brothers and noted singer/musician "Big" Jim Wright.2007 was the beginning of Toni's foray into film and soundtrack composition. In early 2007, Toni was commissioned to form a choir to sing the title song of the feature length film "The Bratz". And currently, Toni is in the studio writing, arranging and performing music for the unreleased independent movie "Black Dynamite". She will also be featured in the film as a member of the band and an extra.Toni is now the lead background vocalist, tenor and vocal coach for the BET hit "Sunday Best." She can be seen singing with her sisters, Aretha Scruggs, Alayna Scruggs-Elam and friend, Loren Oden every Tuesday at 8pm.To date, Toni's career has been fulfilling, remarkable and a true gift from God. She is amazed at all that has happened, and greatly anticipates what is ahead. The hand of God continues to guide her evolution as a vocalist, and she looks forward to continued success through her sought after work ethic and dedication to constantly studying the crafts of vocal harmonies and songwriting.

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