Niagara Falls singer appears on Tyler Perry's hit OWN show, 'If Loving You Is Wrong'

Next airing is Tuesday at 8 p.m.

By Mark Weber

How did Marsha McWilson, a hairdresser and local singer from Niagara Falls, end up in Tyler Perry's primetime hit soap opera drama, "If Loving You Is Wrong," on OWN, Oprah's cable channel?

While vacationing on the Tom Joyner "Fantastic Voyage Cruise," McWilson did an acting audition on board the ship for Tyler Perry. From 3,000 people on board the ship, he chose 12 people, including McWilson, to personally meet and work with to help bolster their careers by placing them in his movies, plays and TV shows.

Though primarily known around Western New York as a singer, having recently sung her "Tribute to Etta James" at Buffalo's venerable Sportsmens Tavern, McWilson relished the chance to work with Perry. Her debut on "If Loving You Is Wrong" recently aired (to be repeated next Tuesday at 8 p.m. on OWN).

Not limited to TV, McWilson will also appear in the film "First Impression," a romantic comedy, where she plays the character of Lullabye, a spy.

Though she travels often as a singer and an actress, you can see McWilson locally, in person, performing on the Miss Buffalo "Buffalo Blues Cruise" Aug. 9; at Lewiston's "Blue Monday" concert on Aug. 10 (Hennepin Park Gazebo on Center and South Fourth streets); and at the Niagara Falls Blues Festival Sept. 13. She also has a self-penned song, "Balance," available for download on iTunes.

Marsha McWilson