Annette Snell (March 22, 1945 – April 4, 1977) was an American

rhythm and blues Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly ...

singer who recorded in the 1960s and 1970s. She died in the

Southern Airways Flight 242 Southern Airways Flight 242 was a flight from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to Atlanta, Georgia, with a stop in Huntsville, Alabama. On April 4, 1977, it executed a forced landing on Georgia State Route 381 in New Hope, Paulding County, Georgia, Unit ...

crash.

Biography

She was born Annetta Snell in

Sandersville, Georgia The city of Sandersville is the county seat of Washington County, Georgia, Washington County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. The population was 5,912 at the 2010 census. It is also a part of the Central Savannah River Area. Sandersv ...

, and in the early 1960s was a member of a vocal

backing group A backup band or backing band is a musical ensemble that typically accompanies a single artist who is the featured performer. The situation may be a live performance or in a recording session, and the group may or may not have its own name, such ...

, the Mar-Vells. She then became a member of the girl group the Fabulettes, who made several recordings in 1965 and 1966. In 1968, Snell left the group to go to New York, and then to

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

, to pursue a solo career. Under the name Annetta, she recorded "Since There Is No More You" with Paul Kelly. Kelly then brought her to the attention of record producer and

music publisher A music publisher is a type of publisher that specializes in distributing music. Music publishers originally published sheet music. When copyright became legally protected, music publishers started to play a role in the management of the intellect ...

Buddy Killen William Doyce “Buddy” Killen (November 13, 1932 – November 1, 2006) was an American record producer and music publisher, and a former owner of Trinity Broadcasting Network and Tree International Publishing, the largest country music p ...

. More singles came, all written by Kelly, and her greatest success was achieved with the number-19 ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

hit "You Oughta' Be Here With Me" in 1973. She followed it up with two more R&B chart hits, also released on the Dial label, the following year, "Get Your Thing Together" (number 44) and "Just as Hooked As I’ve Been" (number 71). Clifford Davids, "Annette Snell: The Soul Diva aboard Flight 242", June 16, 2013
Retrieved October 16, 2013
Retrieved October 16, 2013 Snell then won a deal to record an album for

Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America Sony Corporation of America (SONAM, also known as SCA), is the American arm of the Japanese conglomerate Sony Group ...

Muscle Shoals, Alabama Muscle Shoals is the largest city in Colbert County, Alabama, Colbert County, Alabama, United States. It is located along the Tennessee River in the northern part of the state and, as of the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, the populati ...

with the

session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

s known as the Swampers. They initially produced one unreleased single, "Promises Should Never Be Broken," and Snell returned for a further session in early 1977. She was returning home via

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

after working on tracks for the album when her flight,

, crashed in New Hope, Georgia during a severe thunderstorm on April 4, 1977. She was buried in Dade North Memorial Park Cemetery in

Opa-locka Opa-locka is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,463, up from 15,219 in 2010. The city was developed by Glenn Curtiss. Developed based on a ''One Thousand and One Nights'' theme, Op ...

, Florida. Snell was married to Pete Jackson of Touch of Class.

References

External links

Classic and rare Soul Sisters 50s–70s : Annette Snell : The collection (1970–1977)

Annette Snell at Discogs.com
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Snell, Annette 1945 births 1977 deaths Accidental deaths in Georgia (U.S. state) 20th-century African-American women singers American rhythm and blues singers Singers from Miami Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1977 Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States 20th-century American singers 20th-century American women singers Musicians killed in aviation accidents or incidents