What defines many of this year's nominees is music."Four Million Dollar Quartet" brings audiences to Sun Records in Memphis to witness the collaboration of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley before they became famous.

The musical "Memphis" portrays the alliance of 2 unlikely musicians - a young, white disc jockey and a powerful, black jazz singer in 1950s racially segregated America. Both "Memphis" and "Million Dollar Quartet" have been__________________________.

"Fela!" has received 11 Tony Award nominations, ranging from best musical to best scenic design. It is based on the story of Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti, whose Afrobeat rhythms are a combination of jazz, funk, salsa, calypso and traditional African music.

Lillias White plays Kuti's mother and is __________________________. "I was familiar with his music when I was in high school and college. He was a big star with music work; all of his songs were big hits. I wasn't as familiar with his mother and with her role as an activist."

White says Fela Kuti's mother was a women's rights activist, a teacher in Nigeria and a major influence on Kuti and his music. "She was strict and stern, but she loved her country and she loved helping people and teaching people and getting people to read. It's been__________________________her on stage."

(1)nominated for best musical among other distinctions
(2)nominated for best featured actress
(3)a challenge and a great honor to play