15 July 1944, Thompson, Georgia, USA. A former model, Millie Jacksons controversial singing career began professionally in 1964 at a club in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA. Her first recordings followed in 1970; over the next three years she made several excellent, if traditional, soul singles, which included two US R&B Top 10 entries, with Ask Me What You Want
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Denise Craig, 16 July 1939, LeFlore County, Mississippi, USA. Having moved to Chicago in 1954 to pursue a career as a fiction writer, LaSalle turned to songwriting and by the late 60s had begun to record for Billy The Kid Emersons Tarpon label, on which she achieved a sizeable local hit, A Love Reputation, in 1967. In 1969, she formed Crajon pro
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Laura Lee
- 84% match to Betty Wright
Laura Lee Newton, 9 March 1945, Chicago, Illinois, USA. A member of her adopted mothers, Ernestine Rundless, gospel group the Meditation Singers, Lees first secular recording was made for the Detroit-based Ric-Tic label. She was signed to Chess Records in 1966, who, after failing to find success with a Chicago-recorded single, sent her to Rick Halls F
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Tyrone Davis
- 80% match to Betty Wright
4 May 1938, Greenville, Mississippi, USA, d. 9 February 2005, Hinsdale, Illinois, USA. One of the great unsung talents of soul music, Davis was a consistent chart-maker for over 20 years. This former Freddie King valet was discovered working in Chicago nightclubs by pianist Harold Burrage, and began recording in 1965 as Tyrone The Wonder Boy. Can I Change My Mind
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Ann Peebles
- 79% match to Betty Wright
27 April 1947, East St. Louis, Missouri, USA. An impromptu appearance at the Rosewood Club in Memphis led to Peebles recording contract. Band leader Gene Miller took the singer to producer Willie Mitchell, whose skills fashioned an impressive debut single, Walk Away (1969). Peebles style was more fully shaped with Part Time Love (1970), an
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5 May 1938, Crawfordsville, Arkansas, USA, d. 31 May 2000, Dallas, Texas, USA. Having left home at the age of 15, Taylor surfaced as part of several gospel groups, including the Five Echoes and the Highway QCs. In 1956 he joined the Soul Stirrers, replacing Sam Cooke on the latters recommendation. Taylor switched to secular music in 1961; releases on Cookes Sar a
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Gwen McCrae
- 58% match to Betty Wright
21 December 1943, Pensacola, Florida, USA. The wife of George McCrae, Gwen made her mark in the mid-70s with a delightful series of southern-style soul numbers produced by Steve Alaimo and Clarence Reid for Henry Stones Miami-based TK operation. She first found success with a remarkable remake of the old Bobby Bland gospel blues, Lead Me On (R&B number
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Joe Simon
- 55% match to Betty Wright
2 September 1943, Simmesport, Louisiana, USA. Simons professional career began following his move to Oakland, California, where a 1962 release, My Adorable One, was a minor hit. In 1964, Joe met John Richbourg, a Nashville-based disc jockey who began guiding the singers musical path, initially on the Sound Stage 7 label. Lets Do It Over
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Barbara Mason
- 51% match to Betty Wright
9 August 1947, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Mason first recorded for Crusader Records in 1964, but did not achieve success until she began recording for the Philadelphia-based Artic label the following year. With her voice sounding young and innocent in its thinness and flatness, Mason reached the US charts with the marvellous Yes, Im Ready (R&B num
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Bettye Swann
- 51% match to Betty Wright
Betty Jean Champion, 24 October 1944, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. This superior singer first recorded during the early 60s as a member of the Fawns. A Carolyn Franklin song, Dont Wait Too Long, provided Swann with a solo hit in 1965, but her career was more fully launched two years later with a US R&B chart-topper, the beautiful Make Me Yours
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This group was formed as a vehicle for the songwriting talents of Isaac Hayes and David Porter in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Comprising Anita Louis (24 November 1949, Memphis, Tennessee, USA), Shelbra Bennett (b. Memphis, Tennessee, USA), John Blackfoot Colbert (b. 20 November 1946, Greenville, Mississippi, USA) and Norman West (b. 30 October 1939, Monroe, Louisian
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Jerry Butler
- 46% match to Betty Wright
8 December 1939, Sunflower, Mississippi, USA. Jerry, older brother of Billy Butler, moved to Chicago as a child and was later part of the citys burgeoning gospel circuit. He subsequently joined several secular groups, including the Roosters, an aspiring trio of Sam Gooden and Richard and Arthur Brooks. Butler then suggested they add his friend, Curtis Mayfield, on guit
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The Dells
- 45% match to Betty Wright
A US soul vocal and close harmony group formed in 1953 as the El-Rays, when the members - Johnny Funches (18 July 1935, d. 23 January 1998; lead), Marvin Junior (b. 31 January 1936, Harrell, Arkansas, USA; tenor), Verne Allison (b. 22 June 1936, Chicago, Illinois, USA; tenor), Lucius McGill (b. 1935, Chicago, Illinois, USA; tenor), Mickey McGill (b. 17 February 1937, Chicago
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Artist matches
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