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Kamilah Marshall
Vocal Co-Captain, Backup Vocals
Kamilah Marshall is a professional singer and dancer. She was born on February 22, and raised in Orange County, California. Since, 2012, she has been part of Taylor’s band.
Table of Contents
Childhood
Kamilah grew up surrounded by a rich mix of musical influences. Her mother filled the house with the voices of Aretha Franklin, Patti Smith, and the Pointer Sisters, while her father favored the timeless sounds of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Blended with her own appreciation for Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and even country music, these influences shaped the eclectic foundation of her musical identity.
Professional Experience
Kamilah graduated high school early to join the touring production Heart Strings, a show dedicated to raising money and awareness for AIDS victims. Early in her career, she also had the opportunity to share the stage with icons such as Nell Carter, Salt-N-Pepa, and Patti LuPone.
Since 2003, she has been a member of the Staggering Harlettes, serving as a backup singer for Bette Midler on “The Kiss My Brass World Tour” and later in The Showgirl Must Go On residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. On Broadway, Kamilah’s credits include RENT, Disney’s The Lion King, and originating the role of a Dynamite in Hairspray The Musical. She reprised this role in NBC’s Hairspray Live! (2016). Alongside Melanie Nyema, she has also collaborated with fellow Broadway star Shoshana Bean.
Outside of theater, Kamilah released her debut album Gypsy Moonshine, a collection of bluesy, country-inspired tracks infused with soulful overtones.
Since 2003, she has been a member of the Staggering Harlettes, serving as a backup singer for Bette Midler on “The Kiss My Brass World Tour” and later in The Showgirl Must Go On residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. On Broadway, Kamilah’s credits include RENT, Disney’s The Lion King, and originating the role of a Dynamite in Hairspray The Musical. She reprised this role in NBC’s Hairspray Live! (2016). Alongside Melanie Nyema, she has also collaborated with fellow Broadway star Shoshana Bean.
Outside of theater, Kamilah released her debut album Gypsy Moonshine, a collection of bluesy, country-inspired tracks infused with soulful overtones.
Joining the Starlights
Since 2012, Kamilah has been a member of The Starlights, Taylor’s longtime group of backup singers. She has performed alongside Taylor on every major tour since then, including “The RED Tour” (2012–2013), “The 1989 World Tour” (2015), the “reputation Stadium Tour” (2018), and most recently “The Eras Tour” (2023-2024).
Friendship with Taylor
Outside of work, Taylor and Kamilah have remained good friends. They are occasionally seen spending time together at social events, or vacationing during tour breaks.
General Information
| Born | February 22 Orange County, California, USA |
|---|---|
| Eras | RED 1989 reputation Lover The Eras Era Midnights THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT |
| Website | kamilahmarshall.com |