Wikipedia

Thelma Houston

"Saturday Night, Sunday Morning (song)" redirects here. For other songs, seeSaturday Night and Sunday Morning (disambiguation).

Thelma Houston(néeJackson;born May 7, 1946)[1][2]is an American singer. Beginning her recording career in the late 1960s, Houston scored a number-one hit in 1977 with her recording of "Don't Leave Me This Way",which won theGrammyforBest Female R&B Vocal Performance.[2]

Thelma Houston
Houston in 2023
Houston in 2023
Background information
Birth nameThelma Jackson
Born(1946-05-07)May 7, 1946(age 78)
Leland, Mississippi,U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active1968–present
Labels
Formerly ofSisters of Glory
Websitethelmahouston

Biography

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Early life and career

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Houston was born inLeland, Mississippi.[2]Her mother was a cotton picker.[2]She and her three sisters grew up primarily inLong Beach, California.[2]After marrying and having two children, she joined the Art Reynolds Singersgospelgroup and was subsequently signed as a recording artist withDunhill Records.[2]Despite her surname, she is unrelated toWhitney Houston.[3]

In 1969, Houston released her debut album, entitledSunshower,produced, arranged and composed byJimmy Webbexcept for one track.[2]In 1971 she signed withMotown Recordsbut her early recordings with them were largely unsuccessful.[2]Her most notable single during that period was "You've Been Doing Wrong for So Long" which peaked at No. 64 on the USBillboardR&B chartin 1974.[2]However Houston's vocal prowess on that track secured her a nomination for aBest Female R&B Vocal Performance.In 1973Motown Productionsannounced a projected biographical film ofDinah Washingtonwhich would star Houston; however the project was dropped due to difficulties in getting clearance from Washington's relatives.[4]In April 1974, Houston joined the cast ofThe Marty Feldman Comedy Machine,playing various characters during the show's skits. The show was canceled in August and for the next several years her work was limited to demo recordings and performing at small venues.

Houston took acting classes and received her first role in the 1975 made-for-television filmDeath Scream.In that same year Sheffield Lab released "I've Got the Music in Me" adirect-to-disc recordingby Thelma Houston and Pressure Cooker that went on to become a benchmark vinyl recording for audiophiles. The following year she recorded songs for the soundtrack of the filmThe Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor KingsstarringBilly Dee WilliamsandJames Earl Jones.[2]In 1975 Houston appeared on theGolden Globe Awardbroadcast performing the nominated song "On & On"and also was featured in a tribute toBerry Gordyon that year'sAmerican Music Awardbroadcast singing "You've Made Me So Very Happy".That year Houston's version of"Do You Know Where You're Going To"was being set for single release when it was pulled and the song given toDiana Rossto serve as the theme song for the movieMahogany.[5]In 1976 Houston sang backing vocals for Motown labelmateJermaine Jacksonon his albumMy Name Is Jermaine.[2]

"Don't Leave Me This Way"

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Houston in 1977

Houston released her third solo albumAny Way You Like Itin 1976.[2]The first single released was her version ofHarold Melvin & the Blue Notes' 1975 song "Don't Leave Me This Way".[2]In February 1977 the track hit Number 1 in the U.S. on theR&BandClub Play Singlescharts, then in April 1977 on theBillboardHot 100."Don't Leave Me This Way" won Houston theBest Female R&B Vocal Performanceat theGrammys for 1977.Besides its US success "Don't Leave Me This Way" became a hit in at least twelve countries, including theUKwhere it reached Number 13[6]despite the concurrent single release of the Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes original, which reached Number 7. Also in 1977 Houston teamed up withJerry Butlerto record the albumThelma & Jerryand that November 1977 she co-starred in the filmGame Show Models.It was announced in February 1977 that Houston would star asBessie Smithin a filmation of the playMe and Bessie,to be produced by Motown; after an announcement that December that Houston was set to portray Bessie Smith in abiopicto be produced in 1978 byColumbia Picturesnothing more was heard of the project.

The second single fromAny Way You Like Itwas Houston's rendition of "If It's the Last Thing I Do", astandardwritten bySaul ChaplinandSammy Cahn;the track had been recorded and prepped for single release in 1973 but canceled. The impact of "If It's the Last Thing I Do" was far less than that of "Don't Leave Me This Way", as the former fell short of both the R&B top ten and the Pop top 40.[7]

Departure from Motown

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With the lead single from her 1978 albumThe Devil in Me:"I'm Here Again", Houston returned to the style of "Don't Leave Me This Way" without recapturing the earlier single's success. Houston did enjoy considerable commercial success in 1978 via the inclusion of her track "Love Masterpiece" on theThank God It's Fridaysoundtrack album which sold double platinum but her own album release that yearReady to Rollagain failing to consolidate the stardom augured by "Don't Leave Me This Way". The album's second single: "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning", gradually accrued airplay entering the national charts in March 1979 and ascending as high as #34 (#19 R&B) that June. "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning" was issued on a new album by Houston:Ride to the Rainbowbut the track's relative success was not enough to forestall Houston's planned departure from Motown.[2]

1980s

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Houston continued recording music into the 1980s, beginning with theRCAreleaseBreakwater Catwhich reunited her with Jimmy Webb who produced her debut singleSunshowerand which like their earlier collaboration was a commercially overlooked critical success. During the December 22, 1984Billboardmagazine interview, Houston admitted to "'no real commercial success' since the single 'Don't Leave Me This Way' broke on the Pop charts in late 1976" indicating that the disco backlash had left her with "no real base of audience support" and that her current albumQualifying Heat,executive produced by Houston herself, was a concentrated initiative to restore her as a viable chart presence; the album featured three cuts fromJimmy Jam and Terry Lewis– including the single "You Used to Hold Me So Tight"– and production work fromGlen Ballard,Dennis Lambert, Cliff Magness and – in his first known recording work –Lenny Kravitz(then billed as Romeo Blue), who each produced a cut apiece. "You Use to Hold Me So Tight" became Houston's most successful post-1970s release with a No. 13 R&B peak, but its parent album was a comparative failure – charting No. 41 R&B[8]– and Houston would not cut another album for six years.

The constant ranking of her 1980s releases as moderate or minor R&B hits led Houston to concentrate on alternate exposure. After appearing in the independent filmThe Seventh Dwarfin 1979 Houston made guest-starring appearances into the mid-1980s in several popular television programs includingCagney & Lacey,Simon & Simon– a January 1986 appearance that featured her performing "You Used to Hold Me So Tight" – andFaerie Tale Theatre.Houston also appeared in the 1987CBSafter school specialLittle Miss Perfect(1987) – as "Prison Singer" – in the 1988 filmAnd God Created Woman.[citation needed]

On the May 19, 1985NBCbroadcastMotown Returns to the ApolloHouston performed "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes"in the guise ofDinah Washington.Houston continued to contribute to movie soundtracks, recording "Keep It Light" for the 1985 filmInto the Nightand she remadeBill Withers' "Lean on Me"for the 1989 film entitledLean on Me.Houston also co-wrote and sang back-up on the song "Be Yourself" forPatti LaBelle's 1989 album of the same title.[citation needed]

1990s

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The Fall of 1990 saw the release of Houston's first album in six years,Throw You Down,a long-planned collaboration with producerRichard Perrywhich briefly extended Houston's career as a minor R&B chart presence. The title song reached No. 5 on the U.S. dance chart. A remix of "Don't Leave Me This Way" was released, and once again charted on the Hot Dance Club Play chart at No. 19 in 1995.[8]Subsequent singles include "I Need Somebody Tonight" and "All of That".

In 1994, Houston participated in an AIDS benefit at New York'sAlgonquin Hotel,performing gospel music withPhoebe Snow,Chaka KhanandCeCe Penistonas "Sisters of Glory".Intended as a one-off performance troupe, theSisters of Gloryremained together – with the addition ofMavis Staplesand Lois Walden, and without Chaka Khan – to perform atWoodstock '94.Houston performed with theSisters of Gloryfor the Pope inVatican Cityand in 1995 Houston,Phoebe Snow,CeCe Peniston,Lois Walden andAlbertina Walkerrecorded theWarner BrothersalbumGood News in Hard Timesas theSisters of Glory.[9]

Houston provided lead vocals on several tracks of guitaristScott Henderson's 1997Atlanticalbum,Tore Down House,[2]and in 1998 she madecameo appearancesin two films: in54Houston portrayed herself singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"supposedly atStudio 54,and inBelovedHouston played 'One of The Thirty Women'.[9]

Recent career

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Houston in 2009

In 2000, Houston toured successfully throughout Australia in the stage musical version ofFame.In 2002 she again guested on a Scott Henderson album, providing lead vocals for two of the tracks onWell to the Bone.Upon returning to the U.S. Houston toured withNile RodgersandChic,and was among the opening acts of the originally intended finale ofCher'sFarewell Tourin Toronto on October 31, 2003. Houston regularly performs atTeatro ZinZanniinSeattleand San Francisco.

Her version of "Don't Leave Me This Way" continues to be popular today. In recent years she has been invited to sing this song on dozens of TV shows and specials includingNBC'sToday Show,ABC'sMotown 45andThe Disco Ball...A 30-Year Celebration,andPBS' specialsAmerican Soundtrack: Rhythm, Love and Soul,Soul Superstars,andOld School Superstars."Don't Leave Me This Way" was mentioned byVH1as being among the greatest dance songs in 2000, and was ranked number eighty-six on the channel's countdown ofThe 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders.She won an episode of theNBCshowHit Me, Baby, One More Timewith her renditions of her own hit and "Fallin'"byAlicia Keys.On September 20, 2004, Houston's rendition of "Don't Leave Me This Way" was inducted into theDance Music Hall of Famein New York City.

On August 14, 2007, Houston released her first studio album in seventeen years,A Woman's Touch.[2]The album was produced byPeitor Angell[10]and features cover versions of songs by male artists such asLuther Vandross,Marvin Gaye,andStingthat Houston had been inspired by. The first single from the album was "Brand New Day". On August 20, 2007, Houston's 1984 albumQualifying Heatwas reissued as an import title in the U.S. with a bonus track.

She sang "Don't Leave Me This Way" onAmerican Idolon April 22, 2009, and onAmerica's Got Talenton September 16, 2009.

On July 29, 2013, a collaboration between Thelma and Los Angeles-based producer Janitor, entitled "Enemy", premiered onSoundCloud.Several tracks followed, culminating in the release of an EP, "Forty-Two",[11]in September. This is the first new material from Thelma Houston in six years.

She is featured on British singerMorrissey's single "Bobby, Don't You Think They Know?", released on streaming platforms on January 10, 2020, from his albumI Am Not a Dog on a Chain.

In 2024, Houston competed inseason elevenofThe Masked Singeras "Clock". She made it all the way to the semifinals, and finished in third place overall. As an encore, she sang her song "Don't Leave Me This Way".[12]

Discography

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Main article:Thelma Houston discography

Filmography

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Films

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Television (guest)

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Soundtracks

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See also

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References

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  1. ^"Unsung - TV One".Unsung.March 20, 2022. Event occurs at 2.00.TV One.Retrieved March 20, 2022(2022-03-20).
  2. ^abcdefghijklmnopMark Deming."Thelma Houston | Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedAugust 1,2014.
  3. ^Lloyd, Jack (March 18, 1988)."Dynamic Thelma Houston She's No Kin To Whitney, But She, Too, Can Belt Out A Song".The Philadelphia Inquirer.Archived fromthe originalon September 14, 2015.RetrievedNovember 14,2015.
  4. ^Billboard,Vol. 85, No. 50 (December 15, 1973), p. 46.
  5. ^Taraborelli, J. Randy (1991).Call Her Miss Ross(Reprint ed.). New York City: Ballantine Books. p.307.ISBN0-345-36925-4.
  6. ^"THELMA HOUSTON – full Official Chart History".Official Charts Company.RetrievedOctober 25,2020.
  7. ^"Thelma Houston | Awards".AllMusic. Archived fromthe originalon October 19, 2014.RetrievedAugust 1,2014.
  8. ^ab"Thelma Houston Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography".Music VF.RetrievedOctober 25,2020.
  9. ^ab"Thelma Houston Biography – Official Site, Agent".Castproductions.RetrievedAugust 1,2014.
  10. ^"Thelma Houston –A Woman's Touch".Musictap.net.RetrievedApril 13,2012.
  11. ^"Introducing Thelma Houston & JANITOR New EP, 'fortytwo' Out NOW!!".Archived fromthe originalon November 9, 2013.
  12. ^Schneider, Michael (May 15, 2024)."'The Masked Singer' Reveals Identity of the Clock: Here's the Celebrity Under the Costume ".Variety.RetrievedMay 16,2024.
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