Gloria Lynne (born Gloria Wilson; November 23, 1929 – October 15, 2013), also known as Gloria Alleyne, was an American jazz vocalist with a recording career spanning from 1958 to 2007.
Career
Lynne was born in Harlem in 1929 to John and Mary Wilson, a gospel singer.[1][2] She grew up in Harlem, and as a young girl, Lynne sang with the local African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Choir. At the age of 15, she won first prize at the Amateur Night contest at the Apollo Theater. She shared the stage with contemporary night club vocal ensembles as well as with Ella Fitzgerald, she recorded as part of such groups as the Enchanters and the Dell-Tones, in the 1950s. She recorded as a soloist under her birth name, though most of her work was released under her stage name on the Everest and Fontana labels. In 1958, she was signed to Everest.[3]
Although showing much promise early on, especially after TV appearances, including the Harry Belafonte Spectacular, her development suffered through poor management. Some unscrupulous recording 'executives' profited while she was left virtually penniless, saved by the fact that she was able to work steadily and earn her money from performances — a victim of unpaid royalties.[4]
In the 1960s, she had several hits including "June Night", "Love I Found You", "I'm Glad There Is You", 1964's "I Wish You Love", which became her signature song, and "You Don't Have To Be a Tower of Strength", her answer to Gene McDaniels's "Tower of Strength" and a pop hit that proved how versatile she could be in the studio. After her time with Everest Records, she moved back to Fontana and recorded such albums as Soul Serenade, Love And A Woman, Where It's At, and Here, There And Everywhere, demonstrating her versatility in jazz, RnB, soul and melodic "pop."
During her earlier years on the road, Lynne shared bills with RnB, jazz, traditional pop music, and pop singers including Ray Charles, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Mathis and Ella Fitzgerald. TV specials include two with Harry Belafonte[5] and duets with Billy Eckstine. As Lynne moved into jazz in her later career she performed with many jazz musicians, including Quincy Jones, Bobby Timmons, Philly Joe Jones, Harry "Sweets" Edison.
She wrote lyrics for "Watermelon Man" with Herbie Hancock, and "All Day Long" with Kenny Burrell. New York City proclaimed July 25, 1995 as Gloria Lynne Day.[6]
Awards
In 1996, Lynne received the International Women of Jazz Award, and she was honored with a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1997. Other awards and recognition include the National Treasure Award from the Seasoned Citizens Theatre Company (2003); induction into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame; Living Legend Award from the State of Pennsylvania (2007).[7] On May 6, 2008, Lynne was presented with a special award for Outstanding Achievement In Jazz, at the New York MAC Awards. On October 22, 2010, she was honored at New York's Schomburg Library, for her many contributions to the music industry and the world by Great Women In Music and its founder Roz Nixon. Roz Nixon Entertainment worked successfully with Lynne throughout her final years, producing, co-producing or participating in making the arrangements for Ms. Lynne's appearances pertaining to her last concerts or significant events.
Personal life
She and her husband, Harry Alleyne, had a son, Richard. Gloria and Richard Alleyne ran a production company, Family Bread Music Inc.[7] Gloria and Harry Alleyne divorced in 1968.
Death
She died of a heart attack on October 15, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey, at the age of 83.[8]
Charted Singles
| Year |
Single |
Chart Positions |
Label |
US
Pop[9] |
US
R&B[10] |
|
| 1961 |
"The Jazz in You" |
109 |
— |
Everest |
| "He Needs Me" |
111 |
— |
| "Impossible" |
95 |
16 |
| "You Don't Have To Be A Tower Of Strength" |
100 |
— |
|
| 1964 |
"I Wish You Love" |
28 |
3 |
| "I Should Care" |
64 |
47 |
| "Be Anything (But Be Mine)" |
88 |
40 |
Fontana |
| "Don't Take Your Love From Me" |
76 |
— |
Everest |
| 1965 |
"Watermelon Man" |
62 |
8 |
Fontana |
(As A Member of the Dell Tones)
Brunswick Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1953 | Yours Alone/My Heart's On Fire | Brunswick | 45 r.p.m. | 84015 |
|
(As A Member of the Delltones)
Rainbow Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1954 | Little Short Daddy/I'm Not In Love With You | Rainbow | 45 r.p.m. | 244 |
|
Solo Recordings
Josie Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1954 | When I Say My Prayer/The Uncloudy Day | Josie | 45 r.p.m. | 767 |
|
Everest Records
Seeco Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1959 | Little Boy Blues/Way Beyond The Hills | Seeco | 45 r.p.m. | 6037 |
| 1961 | Is There Someone For Me/I'm Not Afraid Anymore | | | 6077 |
Fontana Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1964 | Be Anything (But Be Mine)/Soul Serenade | Fontana | 45 r.p.m. | 1890 |
| 1965 | The Touch Of Your Lips/Intimate Moments | | | 1507 |
| Watermelon Man/All Alone | | | 1511 |
| Whisperers/I Understand | | | 1523 |
| 1966 | Sometimes It Be's That Way/Speaking Of Happiness | | | 1538 |
| Strangers In The Night/Candy Man | | | 1554 |
| Money Machine/I Got What You Want | | | 1560 |
| 1967 | Love Is/It's Not The Truth | | | 1567 |
| Foolish Dreamer/I Can't Stand It | | | 1594 |
| 1968 | Down Here On The Ground/I've Never Been Loved Before | | | 1617 |
| The Guy Who Lived Up There/Hold Back The Dawn | | | 1627 |
| 1969 | I've Got To Be Someone/Problem Child | | | 1639 |
| Darlin'/No Easy Way Down | | | 1660 |
| Hold It/Untouched By Human Love | | | 1674 |
Hi Fi Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1966 | I Wish You Love/A Long Long Story | 45 r.p.m. | 5103 |
Canyon Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1970 | If You Don't Get It Yourself/Love's Finally Found Me | 45 r.p.m. | 36 |
Roker Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1970 | Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong/Take You All The Way | Roker | 45 r.p.m. | 504 |
Mercury Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1972 | Never My Love/Summer Knows | Mercury | 45 r.p.m. | 73267 |
| Just Let Me Be Me/Kickin' Life | | | 73294 |
|
Impulse Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1976 | Out Of This World/Thank You, Early Bird | Impulse | 45 r.p.m. | 31003 |
|
Album Discography
Everest Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1958 | Miss Gloria Lynne (with Wild Bill Davis and his Group) | Everest | LP | BR-5022 |
| 1959 | Lonely And Sentimental | | | BR-5063 |
| 1960 | Try A Little Tenderness | | | BR-5090 |
| Day In, Day Out (with Ernie Wilkins and his Orchestra) | | | BR-5101 |
| 1961 | I'm Glad There Is You | | | BR-5126 |
| He Needs Me | | | BR-5128 |
| This Little Boy Of Mine | | | BR-5131 |
| 1962 | Gloria Lynne at Basin Street East | | | EV-5137 |
| Gloria Blue | | | EV-5203 |
| 1963 | Gloria Lynne at the Las Vegas Thunderbird | | | BR-5208 |
| Gloria, Marty, and Strings | | | BR-5220 |
| After Hours | | | BR-1230 |
| 1964 | I Wish You Love | | | BR-5226 |
| 1966 | Go! Go! Go! | | | BR-5237 |
Fontana Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1965 | Intimate Moments | Fontana | LP | SRF 67528 |
| Soul Serenade | | | SRF 67541 |
| 1966 | Love And A Woman | | | SRF 67546 |
| Where It's At | | | SRF-67555 |
| 1967 | Gloria | | | SRF-67561 |
| The Other Side Of Gloria Lynne | | | SRF-67571 |
| 1968 | Here, There and Everywhere | | | SRF-67577 |
Canyon Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1970 | Happy And In Love | Canyon | LP | 7709 |
Mercury Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1972 | A Very Gentle Soul | Mercury | LP | SRM-1-633 |
ABC/Impulse Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1977 | Love's Finally Found Me (with Stanley Turrentine) | Versatile Records | LP | NED-1122 |
Muse Records
|
| Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1993 | No Detour Ahead | Muse Records | CD | MCD5414 |
References
- ↑ Gloria Lynne obituary, New York Times, October 19, 2013.
- ↑ Yanow, Scott. "Gloria Lynne". allmusic. Rovi. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
- ↑ Billboard Magazine 1 Dec 1958 p. 7
- ↑ David Hinckley. New York Daily News, May 26, 2004.
- ↑ Billboard Magazine, November 28, 1960, pg. 14
- ↑ "Dany Doriz". Trumpetsjazz.com. 1995-07-25. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
- 1 2 Remarks by the Hon. John Conyers Jr., Congressional Record, Extension of Remarks Vol. 153 Pt. 10, May 22, 2007 pg. 13571
- ↑ "Jazz vocalist Gloria Lynne dies at 83". CNN. October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 96.
External links