Millie Jackson's first taste of singing in front of an audience occurredone night at the famed nightclub Smalls Paradise. Sitting in theaudience with friends, Jackson heckled the ladyonstage and, whendared to do better, she stepped up to belt Ben E. King's "Don't Play ltNo More." Jackson was hired for another gig within two weeks, butdidn't get paid. A gentleman by the name of Tony Rice took her to avenue in Hoboken, NJ, a couple of weeks later and then on to Brooklyn,NY, to perform for a nominal fee.