Never Let Me Go

Here's another track from Erma Franklin that's just come my way. Beautiful! Erma uses her voice like a precision musical instrument. That's what it's all about for me!

CARLA THOMAS - B-A-B-Y (RARE VIDEO FOOTAGE)

Here's Carla with one of her iconic hits,done live on the beach. It looks cold out there!

Carla Thomas - You'll lose a good thing

Carla with a song which was composed and a big hit for fellow Atlantic artist Barbara Lynn. Some nice pictures of Carla interspersed with some which are a bit silly in my view! Great version by her with what sounds like the same backing as Barbara's version, but that's not surprising since they were both produced by Atlantic.

CARLA THOMAS ~ TO LOVE SOMEBODY

Carla with a number originally performed by the Bee Gees. Lovely clear voice and a nice tempo. Nice picture of Carla too. She always has a great smile!

Carla Thomas - Gee Whiz

Carla Thomas was born in Memphis TN in 1942 to Lorene and Rufus Thomas. She and siblings Marvell and Vaneese were exposed to music from a young age as dad was MC at the nearby Palace Theartre on amateur nights. She joined the Teen Town Singers there at the unusually young age of 10 due to her father's influence and stayed with them until the end of high school. Her first recording with brother Marvell at the keyboard caught the attention of Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records .Her work with Atlantic and subsidiary Stax was well received and she appeared on American Bandstand when still in first year at University of Tennessee in Nashville. She toured extensively in the 1980s and was heavily involved in a project which opened up music to school children. She appeared with dad Rufus at Porretta Terme Soul Festival in Bologna Italy. She received one Grammy nomination in 1968. She continues to live in Memphis. This clip was done at an Atlantic celebration in 1988. As announced this was actually Atlantic's first big hit.

Erma Franklin - Baby what you want me to do

Erma with a number which was a hit for Fontella Bass.

Erma Franklin Light My Fire

Erma again with a number strongly associated with The Doors. Different take but very listenable.

Erma Franklin - Son of a Preacher Man

Erma Franklin with a well known Soul standard, Very nice.

Piece of My Heart by Erma Franklin (Lyrics)

Erma Franklin was born in Shelby Mississippi in 1938, the elder sister of Aretha Franklin. Her parents Barbara and Rev. C.L. Franklin moved to Detroit where her father was pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church. Erma studied Business at Clark Atlanta University. She, Aretha and a younger sister Carolyn sang in the choir at her father's church and when Aretha started her career she sang back up on some of the latter's biggest hits and she also toured with Aretha. In 1967 Erma produced a top 10 album called Piece of My Heart. Unfortunately for Music she left the industry in 1970 apart from the occasional special appearance like a concert for Nelson Mandela in 1990. For 25 years she worked at Boystown Holy Cross Community Centre in Detroit, an organisation which helps disadvantaged homeless children. She was married and had two children. She died in 2002 at the age of 64 of cancer. RIP Erma.

Erma Franklin-Higher And Higher

Couldn't resist this! Erma with a great version of one of my favourite Jackie Wilson tracks.Love the one with Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth dancing and Jackie singing in the background. Erma's vocals are also great.

Marlena Shaw Be for Real YouTube1

Marlena with a song made famous by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes.

Marlena Shaw - Where Can I Go

Marlena Shaw from the album Spice of Life.

Marlena Shaw - Lovin' You Was Like A Party （Live In Japan 2013）

Marlena Shaw was born in New Rochelle NY in 1942.Her uncle Jimmy Burgess, a Jazz trumpeter, introduced her to music and took her on stage at age 10 , at The Apollo. she started singing in clubs from 1963 and in 1966 signed with Chess Records.In 1973 she moved to Blue Note and then to Columbia in 1977. She produced many albums and toured Japan. She is a Jazz, Soul, Blues and Disco multi genre singer. She performed at North Sea Jazz in 2007 and is still active today. This clip is from a 2013 tour of Japan. She looks and sounds great here at age 71! The supporting musicians are also great. She married and had five children and still lives in the house she has occupied since 1970 in Northwestern Las Vegas.