The stirring moment where the choir soloist sings in the award-winning movie The Color Purple (filmed in Marshville near Charlotte) was delivered by none other than petite singing bombshell Maria Howell. At the age of six, Wanda Maria Howell wanted to sing and act; her mom, who sang in her church's choir, taught her to sing harmony. Members of the Gastonia, NC, native's church benefited from the lessons when she joined their choir at 13.