Doris Troy(bornDoris Elaine Higginsen;January 6, 1937 – February 16, 2004)[2][3]was an AmericanR&Bsinger and songwriter, known to herfansas "Mama Soul". Her biggest hit was "Just One Look",a top 10 hit in 1963.
Doris Troy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Doris Elaine Higginsen |
| Also known as | Doris Payne |
| Born | January 6, 1937 |
| Origin | New York City, U.S.[1] |
| Died | February 16, 2004(aged 67) Las Vegas,Nevada,U.S. |
| Genres | R&B,doo-wop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1962–2004 |
| Labels | Apple,Atlantic,People,Toast |
| Website | simonbell |
Life and career
editShe was born as Doris Elaine Higginsen,[2]inthe Bronx,the daughter of aBarbadianPentecostalminister.[4]She later took her grandmother's name and grew up asDoris Payne.[5]Her parents disapproved of "subversive" forms of music like rhythm & blues, so she cut her teeth singing in her father'schoir.At age 16, she was working as anusheretteat theApollo[6]where she was discovered byJames Brown.[7]Under the name Doris Payne, she began songwriting and earned $100 in 1960 for theDee Clarkhit "How About That".[4][6]
Going into the recording industry, Troy worked as a backup vocalist forAtlantic RecordsalongsideDionneandDee Dee Warwick.[8]She was also part of the original lineup ofThe Sweet Inspirationsin 1963, withCissy Houstonand the two Warwicks, who were Houston's nieces.[9][10]Taking her stage name fromHelen of Troy,[3]Troy sang backup vocals forSolomon Burke,the Drifters,Houston, and Dionne Warwick,[11]before sheco-wroteandrecorded"Just One Look"(the songwriting credits use the name Doris Payne). This song hit No. 10 on the USBillboardHot 100in 1963.[12]
"Just One Look" was the only charting US hit for Troy. The song was recorded in 10 minutes in October 1962, with producer Buddy Lucas, as a demo for Atlantic Records.[13]However, after Atlantic Records heard the demo, they decided not to re-record it, instead releasing it unchanged.[13]The musicians included Ernie Hayes on organ, Wally Richardson on guitar, Bob Bushnell on bass, and Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on drums.[13]The song has beencovered byThe Hollies,Faith, Hope & Charity,Major Lance,Linda Ronstadt,Bryan Ferry,Anne Murray,Klaus Nomi,andHarry Nilssonin a duet withLynda Laurence.Troy's only foray into theUK Singles Chart,"Whatcha Gonna Do About It", peaked at No. 37 in December 1964.[2]
In 1968, her single "I'll Do Anything" was released in the UK on theToastlabel. It was reviewed byBob "The Bear" HiteofCanned Heatin the "Blind Date" section ofMelody Maker.Hite said that he wasn't a fan of records with big symphony backings.[14]
After moving to London in 1969,[15][16]she was signed byThe Beatlesto theirApple Recordslabel,[3]and released theDoris Troyalbum the following year, co-produced by Troy and George Harrison. Troy worked in the UK throughout the 1970s, appearing atRonnie Scott's Club and recording a live album,The Rainbow Testament.NeitherThe Rainbow Testamentnor her People Records album,Stretching Out,sold well.[17]
As her solo career peaked, she continued to singback-upfor multiple artists and bands. She contributed vocals toThe Rolling Stones' 1968 song "You Can't Always Get What You Want",[3][18]Pink Floyd'sThe Dark Side of the Moon,[3]andCarly Simon's "You're So Vain".[17]In addition, she also sang forHumble Pie,Kevin Ayers,[19]Edgar Broughton,[19]George Harrison,Johnny Hallyday,Vivian Stanshall,Dusty Springfield,[7]Nick Drake,andJunior Campbell.
In 1974, Troy moved from England back to the United States, where she played casinos and nightclubs.[6]
Mama, I Want to Singis astage musicalbased on her life,[3]and was co-written with her sister,Vy Higginsen,a popular New York City radio personality. It ran for 1,500 performances at the Heckscher Theatre inSpanish Harlem.Troy played her own mother, Geraldine.Chaka Khanplayed her aunt in the London production, as didDeniece Williams.[20]Mama, I Want to Sing!was also made into a motion picture, starringCiara,Patti LaBelle,andHill Harper,which was released on DVD in 2012.[21]
Troy died fromemphysemaat her home inLas Vegas, Nevada,aged 67.[3]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- Sings Just One Look & Other Memorable Selections(1963)
- Doris Troy(1970)
- Rainbow Testament(1972)
- Stretching Out(1974)[22]
Singles
edit| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop [23] |
US R&B [23] |
UK [2] | ||||
| 1963 | "Just One Look" | 10 | 3 | ― | ||
| "What'cha Gonna Do About It" | 102 | 21 | 37 | |||
| "Tomorrow Is Another Day" | 118 | ― | ― | |||
| 1964 | "Please Little Angel" | 128 | ― | ― | ||
| 1965 | "Heartaches" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| "I'll Do Anything (He Wants Me to Do)" | ― | ― | ― | |||
| 1970 | "Ain't That Cute" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| 1973 | "Baby I Love You" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| 1974 | "Stretchin' Out" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| 1976 | "Black Star" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| 1977 | "Can't Hold On" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||
References
edit- ^"Obituary: Doris Troy".The Guardian.February 20, 2004.
- ^abcdRoberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 567.ISBN1-904994-10-5.
- ^abcdefgSisario, Ben (February 19, 2004)."Doris Troy, Pop Singer Whose Life Inspired a Show, Dies at 67".The New York Times.RetrievedMarch 9,2015.
- ^ab"Doris Troy".The Telegraph.February 20, 2004.ISSN0307-1235.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
- ^"Doris Troy".soulfulkindamusic.net.RetrievedMarch 31,2019.
- ^abcSweeting, Adam (February 20, 2004)."Obituary: Doris Troy".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
- ^ab"Doris Troy – Apple Records".applerecords.com.RetrievedMarch 9,2015.
- ^"Doris Troy, 67; 'Just One Look' Singer".Los Angeles Times.February 20, 2004.ISSN0458-3035.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
- ^"Cissy Houston's Biography".The HistoryMakers.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
- ^Doll, Susan (2009).Elvis for dummies.Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub.ISBN9780470472026.OCLC298776030.
- ^"Doris Troy".AllMusic.RetrievedMarch 9,2015.
- ^"Doris Troy | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links".AllMusic.
- ^abcBernard "Pretty" Purdie, Let The Drums Speak!, 2014 pages 69–70.
- ^Melody Maker,September 21, 1968 -Page 29 BLIND DATE where the stars single out the new singles, BOB 'THE BEAR' HITE of CANNED HEAT, DORIS TROY: "I'll Do Anything" (Toast).
- ^"Doris Troy Page".soulwalking.co.uk.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
- ^"Doris Troy | American singer".Encyclopædia Britannica.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
- ^ab"Troy, Doris | Encyclopedia.com".www.encyclopedia.com.2004.RetrievedMarch 31,2019.
- ^"R&B star Doris Troy dead at 67".CNN. February 19, 2004.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
- ^ab"Doris Troy – Credits".AllMusic.RetrievedMarch 9,2015.
- ^Meade, Bazil (February 26, 2013).A Boy, A Journey, A Dream.Monarch Books. pp. 143–.ISBN978-0-85721-211-5.
- ^"MAMA, I WANT TO SING! Ciara, Patti LaBelle, Lynn Whitfield & Hill Harper Hit All the Right Notes on DVD February 14"(Press release). prnnewswire.com.RetrievedMarch 9,2015.
- ^"Doris Troy Discography".AllMusic.
- ^ab"Doris Troy Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography".Music VF.RetrievedAugust 20,2022.