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Raelettes
The Raelettes (or occasionally The Raelets or The Raeletts) were an American girl group formed in 1958 to provide backing vocals for Ray Charles. They were reformed from the group The Cookies. Between 1966 and 1973, the Raelettes recorded on Tangerine Records as a separate act produced and accompanied by Charles. History Reformed by Ray Charles from the all-girl singing group The Cookies, Charles first invited The Cookies for a recording session in New York City, in August 1956, where they taped "Lonely Avenue", "I Want To Know" and "Leave My Woman Alone". The Cookies' lineup at the time consisted of Margie Hendrix, Dorothy Jones, and Darlene McCrea. The Raelettes were officially established in 1958. The first lineup consisted of Darlene McCrea, Margie Hendricks, Patricia Lyles, and Gwendolyn Berry. The Raelettes were an integral part of Charles' organization and provided backing vocals on various hits, such as "Night Time Is the Right Time" (1958), "What'd I Say" (1959) and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Margie Hendrix
Marjorie "Margie" Hendrix (sometimes Hendricks) (March 13, 1935 – July 14, 1973) was an American rhythm and blues singer and founding member of the Raelettes, who were the backing singers for Ray Charles, the father of her child, Charles Wayne Hendrix. She sang lead and background on several of Ray's hit songs of the late 1950's and early 1960's, but after she was ejected from the group in 1964 she attempted a solo career with the labels Mercury Records and Sound Stage 7 before she was dropped from both of them due to her music not charting. She struggled with alcoholism, heroin addiction, depression, and poverty until she died in mid 1973 at the age of 38. Early years and the Cookies Margie Hendrix was born on March 13, 1935, in Bulloch County, Georgia to Kattie and Renzy Hendrix. She sang, played piano and directed her local church choir while in her pre-teens. In the early 1950s', she moved to New York City when she was 18 and signed a record deal with Lamp records and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Margie Hendricks
Marjorie "Margie" Hendrix (sometimes Hendricks) (March 13, 1935 – July 14, 1973) was an American rhythm and blues singer and founding member of the Raelettes, who were the backing singers for Ray Charles, the father of her child, Charles Wayne Hendrix. She sang lead and background on several of Ray's hit songs of the late 1950's and early 1960's, but after she was ejected from the group in 1964 she attempted a solo career with the labels Mercury Records and Sound Stage 7 before she was dropped from both of them due to her music not charting. She struggled with alcoholism, heroin addiction, depression, and poverty until she died in mid 1973 at the age of 38. Early years and the Cookies Margie Hendrix was born on March 13, 1935, in Bulloch County, Georgia to Kattie and Renzy Hendrix. She sang, played piano and directed her local church choir while in her pre-teens. In the early 1950s', she moved to New York City when she was 18 and signed a record deal with Lamp records and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tangerine Records (1963)
Tangerine Records was a record label founded by musician Ray Charles in 1962. Charles switched to the label in 1966. Tangerine was promoted and distributed by ABC-Paramount Records. Early singles labels were orange and later became black, red and white. Many of the later recordings are now sought after in " Northern Soul" circles. After Charles left ABC in 1973, he closed Tangerine and started Crossover Records. Ray Charles Enterprises owns the catalog. Notable releases Albums * 1966: ''Crying Time'' – Ray Charles * 1967: '' Ray's Moods'' – Ray Charles * 1967: '' Ray Charles Invites You to Listen'' – Ray Charles * 1968: ''A Portrait of Ray'' – Ray Charles * 1969: ''Vibrations'' – Rita Graham (a Raelette at the time) * 1970: ''Souled Out'' – The Raeletts with Ike & Tina Turner * 1971: '' Volcanic Action of My Soul'' – Ray Charles Hit singles * 1963: "River's Invitation" (#99 Pop / #25 R&B) – Percy Mayfield * 1966: "I Don't Need No Doctor" (#75 Pop / #45 R&B) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
What'd I Say
"What'd I Say" (or "What I Say") is an American rhythm and blues song by Ray Charles, released in 1959. As a single divided into two parts, it was one of the first soul songs. The composition was improvised one evening late in 1958 when Charles, his orchestra, and backup singers had played their entire set list at a show and still had time left; the response from many audiences was so enthusiastic that Charles announced to his producer that he was going to record it. After his run of R&B hits, this song finally broke Charles into mainstream pop music and itself sparked a new subgenre of R&B titled soul, finally putting together all the elements that Charles had been creating since he recorded " I Got a Woman" in 1954. The gospel and rhumba influences combined with the sexual innuendo in the song made it not only widely popular but very controversial to both white and black audiences. It earned Ray Charles his first gold record and has been one of the most influential songs in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Genius". Among friends and fellow musicians he preferred being called "Brother Ray". Charles was blinded during childhood, possibly due to glaucoma. Charles pioneered the soul music genre during the 1950s by combining blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel styles into the music he recorded for Atlantic Records. He contributed to the integration of country music, rhythm and blues, and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, notably with his two ''Modern Sounds'' albums. While he was with ABC, Charles became one of the first black musicians to be granted artistic control by a mainstream record company. Charles's 1960 hit "Georgia On My Mind" was the first of his three career No. 1 hits on the ''Billboard'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clydie King
Clydie Mae King (August 21, 1943 – January 7, 2019) was an American singer, best known for her session work as a backing vocalist. King also recorded solo under her name. In the 1970s, she recorded as Brown Sugar, and her single "Loneliness (Will Bring Us Together Again)" reached No. 44 on the ''Billboard'' R&B charts in 1973. Life and career King was born in Dallas, Texas, and after her mother's death was raised by her older sister. After starting to sing in the local church, she moved with her family to Los Angeles in the early 1950s. Discovered by songwriter Richard Berry, King began her recording career in 1956 with Little Clydie and the Teens; before she was a member of Ray Charles' Raelettes for three years and contributed to early 1960s recordings by producer Phil Spector. She recorded solo singles for Specialty Records, Kent Records and others. Her 1971 solo single "'Bout Love" reached No. 45 on the R&B chart. Reviewing her 1972 debut album ''Direct Me'', Robert Ch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Merry Clayton
Merry Clayton (born December 25, 1948) is an American soul and gospel singer. She provided a number of backing vocal tracks for major performing artists in the 1960s, most notably in her duet with Mick Jagger on the Rolling Stones song "Gimme Shelter". Clayton is prominently featured in '' 20 Feet from Stardom'', the Oscar-winning documentary about background singers and their contributions to the music industry. Early life Clayton was born in Gert Town, New Orleans, Louisiana. She was born on Christmas Day, and was given the name "Merry" because of the December 25th birthdate. She is the daughter of Eva B. Clayton and Reverend A.G. Williams, Sr. Clayton was raised in New Orleans as a Christian, and spent much of her time in her father’s parish, New Zion Baptist Church. After moving to Los Angeles, she met members of The Blossoms, who convinced her to pursue a music career. Career Throughout her career as a backup singer, Clayton's singing can be heard on songs by Pearl B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mable John
Mable John (November 3, 1930 – August 25, 2022) was an American blues vocalist and was the first female signed by Berry Gordy to Motown's Tamla label. Biography John was born in Bastrop, Louisiana, on November 3, 1930, the eldest of at least nine siblings. At a very young age, she and her parents, Mertis and Lillie (Robinson) John, moved north into Arkansas, where her father got a job in a paper mill near Cullendale, where four of her brothers (including R&B singer Little Willie John) and two sisters were born. In 1941, after her father was able to secure a better job, the family moved to Detroit, where two additional brothers were born. She attended Cleveland Intermediate School, and then Pershing High School. After graduating, she took a job as an insurance representative at Friendship Mutual Insurance Agency, a company run by Berry Gordy's mother, Bertha. Later, she left the company and spent two years at Lewis Business College. She subsequently ran into Mrs. Gordy ag ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Souled Out (Raelets With Ike & Tina Turner Album)
''Souled Out'' is a compilation album by the Raelets with Ike & Tina Turner. The album was released on Ray Charles' Tangerine label in 1970. It is the first album by Charles' girl group, the Raelets who were also his backing vocalists. Recording and release Souled Out features eight songs by the Raelets who were the background singers for Ray Charles, and four songs from R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner. Ike & Tina Turner recorded for Tangerine Records in 1966, resulting in the singles "Dust My Broom" and "Anything You Wasn't Born With." After the success of "Proud Mary" by Ike & Tina Turner in 1971, "Dust My Broom" was reissued as a single from the album and reached No. 54 on the ''Cash Box'' R&B chart. Critical reception The album was selected as a special merit pick from ''Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' (February 28, 1970): Ray Charles' Tangerine label features the Raelets and benefits greatly by the addition of Ike a Tina Turner to the album. The Raelets star on "I Get Al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Night Time Is The Right Time
"Night Time Is the Right Time" or "The Right Time" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by American musician Nappy Brown in 1957. It draws on earlier blues songs and has inspired popular versions, including those by Ray Charles, Rufus and Carla, and James Brown, which reached the record charts. Earlier songs Blues pianist Roosevelt Sykes (listed as "the Honey Dripper") recorded "Night Time Is the Right Time" in 1937. Called "one of his 'hits' of the day", it is a moderate-tempo twelve-bar blues that features Sykes on vocal and piano. It has been suggested that it was "drawn from the old vaudeville tradition": In 1938, Big Bill Broonzy recorded the song, as "Night Time Is the Right Time No. 2," with slightly different (and more suggestive) lyrics. The same year, Roosevelt Sykes recorded a new version, similarly entitled "Night Time Is the Right Time #2," also with slightly different lyrics. These earliest recordings of "Night Time Is the Right Time" are credited to Roosevelt S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Susaye Greene
Susaye Greene (born September 13, 1948) is an American singer and songwriter. She was the last official member to join the Motown girl group The Supremes, remaining in the group during its final years of existence from 1976 to 1977. She is a successful songwriter as well, having written hit records for Michael Jackson, Deniece Williams, and many others. Biography Early life and career Born in Houston, Texas, Greene began her professional career at age 12. As a teenager, she moved to New York City where she attended Professional Children School, graduating in 1966 and later from the New York City High School of Performing Arts, and appeared in various commercials. Prior to joining The Supremes, Greene sang with Ray Charles' Raelettes and Stevie Wonder's Wonderlove, which paired her with Deniece Williams and Shirley Brewer. In 1973 she sang lead as a guest vocalist on New Birth's hit "Until It's Time for You to Go" (a cover of Buffy Sainte-Marie's song). In 1975 she co-wrote " Fre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marilyn McCoo
Marilyn McCoo (born September 30, 1943) is an American singer, actress, and television presenter, who is best known for being the lead female vocalist in the group the 5th Dimension, as well as hosting the 1980s music countdown series ''Solid Gold (TV series), Solid Gold''. Since 1969, McCoo has been married to singer Billy Davis Jr., the founder and co-member of the 5th Dimension. She has a three-octave vocal range. Life and career Early years Marilyn McCoo was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, to Waymon and Mary McCoo, who were both physicians. Her grandfather was doctor Thomas Vivian McCoo of Eufaula, Alabama. She is African Americans, African American. She spent her first seven years in Columbus, Georgia. At the age of seven, she moved with her parents, two sisters, and brother to Los Angeles, where she began singing, piano and dance lessons. At the age of 15, she made her television debut on Art Linkletter's ''Talent Show'' and began modelling. After graduating ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
