PRODUCER: Preston Glass

KING: "I have been working the same songs - 'Shame,' 'Love Come Down,' 'I'm in Love,' 'Betcha,' etc. - on the road for 30 years now, and have been blessed with concerts, and television, and track dates, AIDS Foundation, cancer research, Gay Pride shows, U.K. disco tours, etc. I must say God has kept me going strong because of true fans that love and support my music."

P&P: What was your goal for this album?

KING: "My goal for this album is to keep my audience's ears tuned to songs of joy, love, happiness, and let them know we all have pain. To sum it up, I love being onstage watching my fans dance and sing along to my songs. I must continue to show that I'm a trouper here to sing."

P&P: Success came to you at an age (16). Was that good and bad?

KING: "Well, because I was still in high school, it took me away fom being a teenager for a while because you're out with so many grown people, but my mom and dad allowed me to sing in a local band in South Philly at 14 years old, so I had to do what I loved and that was to sing. And I stayed out of trouble - meaning drugs and gangs. And the bad was ... well, it was trying to see more of home and family, when I just lived out of a tour bus, but I had to get over it. I love to sing."

P&P: I hate to make you tell the story for the 10,000th time, but how did you get discovered? Rock encyclopedias say you were a cleaning lady in a recording studio?

KING: "We lived in West Philadelphia, and my mom and dad worked at Sigma Sound Studios - dad (doing) maintenance, and mom a cleaning woman some reception. I went with my mom one day and began helping her clean the offices there, so while I was in the hall vacuuming I started to sing 'A Change Is Gonna Come' by Sam Cooke, one of my dad's and mom's favorite songs. While I'm alone cleaning and singing, a tall dark and handsome man said 'You can sing, you sound good.' After that, I was stunned that someone was still in the building. I was quite shy at the time. I said 'Thanks,' of course, and went back to cleaning. Theodore Life, which is his name, a producer, songwriter, guitarist, said to me one day 'I'm gonna make you a star.' Long story short, he spoke to my parents and not long after meeting him, I was singing 'Shame' in his living room with the writers of 'Shame,' John Fitch and Ruben Cross, and the rest is history. I still thank them all for my continued success."

P&P: How did you get the nickname "Champagne"?

KING: "My mom gave me my nickname, which is Bubbles. She thought Champagne sounded very mature and bubbly in between Evelyn King, and we all agreed. It remains my stage name today."

P&P: "Shame" was inducted into Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2004. Decades later, how do you feel about that song?

KING: "'Shame' is my dream come true. It's actually my anthem song. I have to admit it, though, I thought what I was saying in the song was a bit grown up. But my voice had what they wanted. The song has been my Cinderella story, as they say. And without Theodore Life believing in me, and the writers of 'Shame,' I would have never seen the award. So I'm grateful to sing 'Shame' for the rest of my life."

P&P: Who's your musical hero?

KING: "I have several, but here are two - the late Linda Jones, who sang the old standard 'Hypnotized,' and of course, my idol, Chaka Khan."

P&P: What's the best gig you've ever had?

KING: "I'm going to say all of them because when I do a show, I am blessed from God, to share the talent he's given me."

P&P: What's the worst ever?

KING: "Wow, I recall one where the promoter tried to run away from the gig because he didn't have our money, but my dad found him. That was funny ... and the show went on."

P&P: What was the first record you ever bought?

KING: "Chaka Khan's 'Rufusized' album, that came out in 1974. I won in talent shows with songs from that album. I recall sounding like her at that time. I was singing her song 'Pack'd My Bags' and many more."

P&P: What was the first concert you ever went to?

KING: "That was so, so long ago, I have no idea!"

P&P: What's the worst job you've ever had?

KING: "Never really had a bad job. Worked at a delicatessen, making sandwiches; one day cleaning with my mom at Sigma, and part-time in a restaurant, and then a singer in a local band. And then a popular singer. All to say none were bad ... those were the cards dealt for me. And I was happy to experience them all."