Jade - Don’t Walk Away LIVE at the Apollo 1993

Showtime at the Apollo
Original airdate: 5/15/93

Recent article 12/2021 on why Di Reed isn’t touring with Jade…she wasn’t invited….

The 90’s Kickback Concert brings a run of nostalgia Friday to the Arena Theatre in Houston. The lineup includes Next (“Too Close”), H-Town (“Knockin’ Da Boots”) Brownstone (“If You Love Me) and Shai (“If I Ever Fall in Love”).

Also on the bill is Jade, the girl group who conquered the pop, R&B and dance charts with “Don’t Walk Away.” But Houston native Di Reed, lead vocalist on the group’s biggest hit, won’t be there.

Reed, who grew up singing in church on the south side of Houston, says she wasn’t asked to be part of the throwback show in Houston or other cities. And she has no idea why.

“It’s a zero reason situation,” Reed says, calling from Los Angeles. “I wish I could tell you what is going on. It’s something that I don’t identify with in all my years in the business. I was caught off guard. I had no idea that they had joined together.”

The lineup for the shows includes founding members Tonya Kelly and Joi Marshall, along with Myracle Holloway, a former contestant on “The Voice,” who is billed as a special guest. The trio even has an official website, and their Instagram handle is @ladiesofjade.

“There is no new Jade. There’s only Jade. I’m alive. I am ready. I wanted to make good on it. They’re just not here for it,” Reed says. “If you’re saying Jade is involved then I should very well get a mic because I’m also Jade. You can’t say ladies of Jade and expect that the fans think I’m not a lady of Jade.”

Reed says she hesitated to make a public statement because she “didn’t wanna let out our dirty laundry.” But fans took notice in photos and flyers and began asking her about it on social media. She released a statement this week, saying, “I wish I had been asked to participate” and “it is my hope that all will be restored.”

Multiple emails to Kelly, Marshall and Holloway’s press team have gone unanswered. Their only reference was an Instagram caption on Kelly’s page that read, “Jade got new energy but the sound remains classic.”

Reed says it’s all the more baffling because she had been in contact with Kelly about doing shows together, something “very light, just do something for the fans and have fun.” They even made plans for photos and exchanged music ideas. Reed was in Houston caring for her grandmother in July and was blindsided when someone sent her the flyer for the concert dates featuring Holloway.

“She (Kelly) basically had sworn off that she didn’t wanna work with Joi anymore. She said that out of the two that she wanted to work with me,” Reed says. “I’m not a victim in any of it, but it hurt me. I cried on my grandma’s shoulder.”

Jade’s first single, “I Wanna Love You,” was featured in the 1992 film “Class Act” starring Kid ‘n Play. It became a top 10 R&B hit and reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. Follow-up Don’t Walk Away,” with Reed singing lead, became the group’s biggest hit, cracking the pop top 10 in the U.S. and U.K. The group’s debut album “Jade to the Max” was certified platinum. Follow-up “Mind, Body & Song” went gold and included the R&B hits “5-4-3-2 (Yo! Time Is Up)” and “Every Day of the Week.”

Since her girl group days, Reed has found steady work as a backup singer, traveling the world with Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Usher and others. Last year, she was part of DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic series. In September, she joined fellow girl group SWV onstage to perform “Don’t Walk Away.”

Reed says she renewed the Jade trademark in 2019 and added Kelly and Marshall as co-owners. That means they’re all legally entitled to the name — and the profits.

Reed has yet to pursue serious legal action because she considers the other Jade members family. But Kelly and Marshall have gone “radio silent” since Reed discovered they were doing shows without her. She says her texts and emails have gone unanswered.

“I guess they found a loophole where they’re legally able to use the name. But just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should do it,” Reed says. “Tell the people that it’s you and Tonya. If I go out (on my own), I’m fine to say Di Reed of Jade or Di Reed or featuring Di Reed.”

Despite her frustration, Reed is holding out hope that things can be resolved. She’s love the original members to reunite for next year’s 30th anniversary.

“I will keep the mics warm for Tonya and Joi. I will not ever say never,” Reed says. “No matter what happens going forward, I want our fans to know that I tried. Period. This is not about slandering anybody. None of that matters. If I love you, I’ll always love you. Love is real, love is permanent. I need the fans to understand that what’s happening now is an injustice all around. We all lose.”