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Billy Porter's Broadway album due out April 15

By KAREN BUTLER, United Press International
Billy Porter, winner of the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for 'Kinky Boots,' arrives in the pressroom at the 67th Annual Tony Awards held at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2013 in New York City. UPI/Monika Graff
Billy Porter, winner of the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for 'Kinky Boots,' arrives in the pressroom at the 67th Annual Tony Awards held at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2013 in New York City. UPI/Monika Graff | License Photo

NEW YORK, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- "Billy's Back on Broadway," a collection of musical theater standards performed by "Kinky Boots" Tony Award-winner Billy Porter, is set for release April 15.

Featuring 10 classics from the Great White Way that focus on inspiration, empowerment and hope, the album's title is a nod to Sammy Davis, Jr.'s recording "Sammy's Back on Broadway," a Concord Records news release said. The track listing includes "But the World Goes Round," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Don't Rain On My Parade," "On the Street Where You Live," "I've Gotta Be Me" and "Luck Be a Lady."

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"The canon of great Broadway songs is so vast and I have so many favorites that the only way I could narrow them down was to choose a theme," Porter said in a statement. "Once I settled on what I wanted to say and the journey I wanted the listener to take, the songs made their presence known rather quickly."

Porter grew up as a gospel singer in Pittsburgh and made his Broadway debut in the original cast of the stage musical "Miss Saigon."

Cyndi Lauper, the Grammy, Emmy and Tony award-winning pop music icon who wrote the score for "Kinky Boots," makes a special guest appearance on "Billy's Back on Broadway." They'll sing a duet on "Happy Days/Get Happy," a tune made famous by Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland.

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"I've said it before and I'll say it again. Cyndi is one of the godmothers of individuality," Porter said. "She forged a path for so many of us that didn't fit into the status quo. I learned so much and have felt so inspired by her journey as an artist and human being before I even knew her. She's a blessing and a gift, and I'm so thrilled she said 'yes' when I asked her to sing on this album."

"Kinky Boots" celebrates its one-year anniversary on Broadway next month.

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