Loleatta Holloway: "A sweet sensation"

Loleatta Holloway (November 5, 1946-March 21, 2011) loved to sing and infused every song with her distinctive vocals and her exuberant spirit. She was born in Chicago, “the windy city,” and, with the emotional range and strength of her voice and with her unflagging determination to energize every single note that she sang, she easily could have outsung the volatile wind that gusts across Chicago as it blusters from Lake Michigan.

The Holloway Community Singers

By the time she was four, Loleatta was singing in her mother’s choir, the Holloway Community Singers, which was a traveling gospel choir of over a hundred members. The choir recorded an album, but at that time Loleatta did not like the sound of her own voice --- which seemed old, not girlish, to her --- so she broke every copy she came across.

The Caravans with Albertina Walker

As a teen-ager, Loleatta moved on to the Caravans, a female gospel group led by Albertina Walker (August 29, 1929-October 8, 2010), who later received, among many other awards and honors, a Grammy Award in 1995 for Best Traditional Gospel Album and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Loleatta Holloway & the Review

Her next act was her own, Loleatta Holloway & the Review, which eventually was managed by Floyd Smith, who later became her husband.

“Rainbow ‘71’”

Her first recording in her own name, “Rainbow ‘71’,” was produced by Floyd under the Apache Records label. Galaxy Records subsequently took over the recording and released it nationally.

“Rainbow’” was composed by singer-songwriter-record producer Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942-December 26, 1999), who later was inducted twice into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (in 1991 as a member of The Impressions; in 1999 as a solo artist) and twice into the Grammy Hall of Fame (in 1998 with The Impressions for “People Get Ready” and as solo artist for “Super Fly”). The release of the song in 1963 by fellow Chicagoan, Gene Chandler (born July 6, 1937) had peaked at Number 11 on Billboard’s R&B and at 47 on Billboard’s Pop 100. Known as “The Duke of Earl” for his 1962 hit release of the R&B song by Ian Harold Brown, Frank Bougatel, and Gordon Anderson, Gene Chandler was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 for the song.

“Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope”

Floyd’s next gig for Loleatta was as a cast member in “Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope,” a musical revue by another Chicagoan, singer-actress-composer-writer Micki Grant (born June 30, 1941).

Loleatta (1973) and Cry to Me (1975)

Impressed by her performance in the musical, interstate pornography dealer Michael Thevis (born 1932), wearing his legitimate record producer hat, signed Loleatta up with the soul-music record label, Aware, of his Atlanta, Georgia-based music distribution firm, General Recording Corporation. Two albums ensued: Loleatta (1973) and Cry To Me (1975).

“Cry to Me”

“Cry to Me,” the second album’s title single, was written by two Birmingham, Alabama multi-talented musicians: songwriter-producer-recording artist Sam Dees (born December 17, 1945) with and multi-instrumentalist-composer-producer-arranger David Camon. Loleatta’s “Cry to Me” climbed to number 10 on Billboard’s R & B chart and Number 68 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 1975.

In December 1974 Michael Thevis began serving an eight-and-a-half year sentence for interstate pornography distribution in a federal institution in New Albany, Indiana, and, through GRC’s attorney, entertainment lawyer Joel Katz, sold GRC to his secretary, Laverne Bowden. (Several RICO [Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act] and murder convictions later, Michael Thevis is now confined for life in the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Oak Park Heights, a level 5 maximum security facility, in Stillwater, Minnesota.)

It was definitely time for Loleatta to find a new label.

Loleatta (1977)

Signing on next with Gold Mind Records, a subsidiary label of New York’s SalSoul Records, Loleatta recorded “Hit and Run,” her first disco track, on April 26, 1976 at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. A few days later she recorded “Dreamin,’” by the talented trio of Alan Felder, Norman Harris, and Ron Tyson, for the B-side of her first Gold Mind single. “Worn Out Broken Heart,” a ballad by Sam Dees and Sandra Drayton, was on the A-side. Loleatta's rendition soars powerfully through all the shades of heartbreak that were expressed as well as implied in the soulful ballad. Loretta later identified "Worn Out Broken Heart" as one of her favorite songs.

All three songs were included on her first Gold Mind album, Loleatta, which was released in March 1977.

The March 5, 1977 issue of Billboard praised the album:

"This lady can sing whether she has the material or not. Backed with a full orchestra pumping smooth disco/soul sounds, she displays a superlative voice and the ability to dramatize a love song most effectively. Last half of “Hit and Run’ could be an effective single. Best cuts: “Hit and Run,” “Worn Out Broken Heart.”

“Hit and Run,” also by Felder-Harris-Tyson, climbed to the Number 56 slot on Billboard’s R&B chart while “Dreamin,’” peaking at Number 72 on Billboard’s Pop chart in 1975, launched her into the vast disco dance club environment.

“Runaway”

“Runaway” was co-written by Ronnie James, composer-percussionist-arranger-SalSoul Orchestra founder Vincent Montana Jr. (born February 12, 1928), and Janice Gugliuzza and was released by SalSoul as SalSoul Orchestra Featuring Loleatta Holloway. “Runaway” peaked at Number 89 on Billboard’s R&B in late 1977. 

Queen of the Night (1978)

Loleatta’s next album, Queen of the Night, was released by SalSoul in September 1978. Featured on the album were two songs by singer-songwriter-record producer Bunny Sigler (born March 27, 1941): “Only You,” a romantic ballad duetted with Bunny that climbed to Number 11 on Billboard’s R&B chart in late summer 1978, and "I May Not Be There When You Want Me (But I'm Right On Time)." Other tracks included disco-themed “Catch Me on the Rebound," by Norman Harris and Ron Tyson, and “Mama Don’t, Papa Won’t,” by Frank Alstin Jr., Mikki Farrow, and Robert Lee Strother Jr.

Loleatta Holloway (1979)

Her third album with SalSoul, Loleatta Holloway, was released in September 1979. “There Must Be a Reason,” a soulful ballad by Bobby Incorvia, appeared alongside disco favorites, “All About the Paper,” by Clarence McDonald and Lorell Simon (born March 18, 1943), “The Greatest Performance of My Life,” by Oscar Petri Anderle, pianist-songwriter Robert Allen (February 5, 1928-October 1, 2000), and Roberto "Sandro" Sánchez (August 19, 1945-January 4, 2010), and a duet again with Bunny Sigler, “That’s What You Said,” written by Bunny Sigler and Rick Wigginton.

Artist-photographer Richard Frederick Bernstein (October 31, 1939-October 18, 2002), who created for 15 years (1972-1987) the vibrant covers on Interview, Andy Warhol's magazine, was brought in for his trademark, glowing paintings for two albums, Loleatta (1979) and Love Sensation (1980).

"Relight My Fire"

"Relight My Fire," composed and produced by singer-songwriter-record producer Dan Hartman (December 8, 1950-March 22, 1964), featured Loleatta on vocals and was released in 1979. The recording, a medley with its disco intro, "Vertigo," stayed at Number One on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart for six weeks from January 12 to February 23, 1980. Dan had selected Loleatta over Bette Midler (born December 1, 1945) and Patti Labelle (born May 24, 1944). He had heard Loleatta recording of "Hit and Run" and been smitten by her emotive vocalizing. Thus began a long friendship and a frequent and always successful collaboration.

Love Sensation (1980)

Loleatta then recorded her biggest hit, “Love Sensation,” written for her by Dan, and released it as the title track on her fourth and final SalSoul album, Love Sensation, in 1980.

"Love Sensation" peaked at the coveted Number One slot on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart for a week on September 20, 1980. The song was recorded in Dan's house, in a many-windowed room; Loleatta could hear crickets outside the open windows. She recalled that it was the most difficult song that she had ever sung:  Dan was looking for a particular quality in her voice that was only perfected after 30 takes. But Loleatta created the vamps, the improvisations. ("Loleatta Holloway," www.disco-disco.com)

Loleatta's style --- which is defined by her vamps --- permeates her songs and makes them unique. She intuitively knew how and where to vamp.

1984: a year of more changes

By 1984 SalSoul closed down, so Loleatta signed on with Arthur Baker (born April 22, 1955) on his Streetwise label long enough to release “Crash Goes Love,” written by Arthur Baker and R&B singer-musician Gavin Christopher (Wright) which charted at Number 5 on Billboard’s Hot Dance and at Number 86 on Billboard’s R&B in late summer 1984.

Then her beloved husband, Floyd Smith, passed away. Floyd had understood the gift of Loleatta's voice so well and that she savored ballads. For that reason he had always made sure that disco songs were balanced with ballads on her recordings.

After Floyd

Loleatta was now a widow with four children (three girls and a boy). Music was her livelihood, so she continued to record on different labels and to perform.

In 1992 under the Active label she released “Strong Enough,” a powerful song Loleatta co-wrote with Yvonne Turner (born 1953), Alan R. Friedman (born 1963), and François Kevorkian (born January 10, 1954).

“Keep the Fire Burnin’”

In 1994 she rejoined Dan Hartman for the title track, “Keep the Fire Burnin’,” of what turned out to be Dan’s last album, Keep the Fire Burnin’. Dan passed away before the pulsating duet could be made into a music video.

“Like a Prayer”

Loleatta participated on Virgin Voices Vol. 1: A Tribute to Madonna, which was released on March 23, 1999. Loleatta’s solo version of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” gave new expression to the song and, typical of Loleatta, uncovered hidden depths of its musicality. In his music review of the tribute in Entertainment Weekly, Tom Lanham noted:

“Only when Loleatta Holloway and KMFDM pounce like panthers on their respective tracks (‘Like a Prayer,’ ‘Material Girl’) is the disc worthy of its subject.” (Entertainment Weekly, April 13, 1999)

Sampling

The 1970s ushered in the widespread use of music sampling, whereby snippets (“samples”) of sound recordings from other sources are inserted into a different, new sound recording. Usually the original source of the snippets was not credited and no royalties were paid to the sampled artist. Loleatta’s powerful vocals were sampled extensively throughout the world, without her knowledge and to her financial detriment as the failure to credit her singing also meant that no remuneration was proffered. Loleatta sadly came to learn about the down side of sampling, which, with her inherent honesty, she did not understand: artists and producers in the industry who were enriched from their hits which featured uncredited use of Loleatta's voice.

In 1989 “Ride on Time” peaked in all the right slots worldwide: Number One in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Number Two in Australia, Number Five in Germany and Norway, and Number 39 on the U.S. Hot Dance chart. Written and produced by an Italian music trio known as Black Box --- club DJ Daniele Davoli, classical clarinet teacher Valerio Semplici, and keyboardist Mirko Limon --- “Ride on Time” used uncredited samples from Loleatta’s “Love Sensation.” The title, “Ride on Time,” was a misunderstanding by Daniele Davoli of the lyrics, “thank you, baby, ‘cause you’re right on time,” from “Love Sensation.” In Black Box’s music video and in live performances, Loleatta’s samples were lip-synched by Guadeloupian model Catherine “Katrin” Quinol. Loleatta’s subsequent lawsuit was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

From “Love Sensation” to “Good Vibrations”

"Love Sensation" was the inspiration for "Good Vibrations," written by Donnie Wahlberg (born August 17, 1969), Mark Wahlberg (born June 5, 1971), Amir Shakir (MC Spice), and Dan Hartman (crediting him for the sampled "Love Sensation"). "Good Vibrations" was performed by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.

Visibility for Loleatta: Not only did Marky Mark correctly sample Loleatta's hit song but she was also featured in the music video, where her vibrant vocals were unleashed in the chorus and echoed perfectly the lively keyboards by Kevin Antunes (whose musical expertise guided him to subsequent associations with 'N Sync and Madonna). Loleatta also appeared onstage in subsequent performances with the group.

"Good Vibrations" was the hip hop group's first single and was released as an A-side single on July 25, 1991. The catchy song with its upbeat lyrics secured the Number One Single slot for one week

*** on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 5, 1991

*** in Sweden on November 6, 1991

*** in Switzerland on November 17, 1991.

The single was certified Gold in the U.S. by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 12, 1991.

"Good Vibrations" was included on the group's debut album, Music for the People, which was certified Gold on November 15, 1991 and Platinum on January 14, 1992.

Marky Mark's group was unique in crediting and featuring Loleatta and "Love Sensation."

In the late 80s and throughout the 90s Loleatta toured, primarily in the U.S., Japan, and Europe.

Greatest Hits (1996)

On July 23, 1996, Capitol released “Greatest Hits,” which featured such disco hits as “Hit and Run,” “Love Sensation, “ and “Runaway,” along with soulful ballads such as “Worn Out Broken Heart” and Curtis Mayfield’s “What Now?” Alex Henderson’s review exulted:

“During the disco era of the mid- to late ‘70s, no female vocalist sang with more passion and authority than Loleatta Holloway. Her roots were Northern soul, and when she took dance clubs by storm with the classics heard on this 1996 compilation, the Chicago native never forgot disco’s debt to soul and gospel. . . .For anyone with even a casual interest in disco, this superb CD is essential listening.” (All Music Guide to Soul, p. 317)

Quadruple bypass operation

That same year, 1996, though, Loleatta had to slow down. She had been on the road a lot and was feeling run down. She went into the emergency room thinking that she had a cold that she just could not shake, but she ended up having a quadruple bypass operation.

“Shout To The Top” (1998)

“Shout To The Top” was the first recording released on the JBO label, which was a joint collaboration of Junior Boy’s Own label (founded in 1991 by English DJ-producer Terry Farley [born June 13, 1959] and Steven Hall) and V2 label, founded in 1996 by Richard Branson (born July 18, 1950). “Shout To The Top” was written by English singer-songwriter Paul Weller (born May 25, 1958) and performed by U.K.'s Fire Island (a trio of Terry Farley with electronic-house music producer Pete Heller and record producer Gary Wilkinson) Featuring Loleatta Holloway. "Shout To The Top" rose to Number One on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1998.

Runaway: The Best of Loleatta Holloway (1999)

Charly Records released Runaway: The Best of Loleatta Holloway in the U.K. on July 1, 1999. While half of the selections duplicated Capitol’s Greatest Hits, this compilation was enhanced by the inclusion of “Dreamin.’”

Queen of the Night: The Ultimate Club Collection (2001)

On January 23, 2001, Capitol released Queen of the Night: The Ultimate Club Collection. In his review, Alex Henderson noted that

“This CD is, for the most part, a collection of remixes. . . .Queen of the Night: The Ultimate Club Collection isn’t meant to be greatest-hits package. . . .This club-oriented CD, in fact, is probably too esoteric for anyone who has only a casual interest in Holloway’s work. But for serious club hounds, Queen of the Night: The Ultimate Club Collection is an interesting release that shows us just how long lasting the singer’s influence has been.” (All Music Guide to Soul, pp. 317-318)

Newark, New Jersey: Fifth Annual Lincoln Park Musical Festival

On July 31, 2010, Loleatta showcased her trademark songs, "Relight the Fire" and "Love Sensation" at the Fifth Annual Lincoln Park Musical Festival in Newark, New Jersey. 

Loleatta's manager, Ron Richardson, announced that Loleatta passed away in a Chicago hospital on Monday, March 21, 2011. Hospitalized for a brief illness, she slipped into a coma Sunday evening. The cause of death was given as heart failure.

Loleatta's funeral service, which included a public viewing and memorial service, was held at Rainbow PUSH, 930 East 50th Street, in Chicago on March 31, 2011.

She is survived by four children and nine grandchildren.

Loleatta's singing granddaughter, Nia Holloway: Keeping the fire burning

One of her grandchildren, Nia Imani Loleatta Holloway, placed third in the Apollo Theatre's multi-round Stars of Tomorrow competition in 2010. She takes advance placement courses at Norcross High School in Georgia and is on the Norcross girls' basketball team.

Of her goals in music, Nia states, "To go until I can't go anymore."

According to her mother Celeste, "We always joke that she wants to be the first person to have a WNBA championship, an Oscar, a Grammy and a college degree." (Tyler Estep, "Rising star: Norcross freshman sings at legendary Apollo Theater.")

God: the secret to Loleatta's longevity

Dayna Newman, who runs Loleatta's MySpace page, once asked Loleatta for the secret to her longevity, apart from Loleatta's strong, devoted fan base.

Loleatta answered simply and clearly: "God." (Dayne Newman, "Loleatta Holloway," DiscoMusic.com)

Loleatta had a sweetness to her that colored her ballads and lingered in her disco songs. In the words of "Love Sensation" and "Good Vibrations," Loleatta used her God-given vocal gifts to enrich the world with the "sweet sensation" and "good vibrations" of love.

"Billboard's Recommended LPs: Pop," Billboard: The International Music-Record-Tape Newsweekly, March 5, 1977.

Bogdanov, Vladimir, Chris Woodstra, and Stephen Thomas Erlewine. All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to the R&B and Soul. (“Loleatta Holloway,” pp. 317-318) San Francisco: Backbeat Books, 2003.

Estep, Tyler. "Rising star: Norcross freshman sings at legendary Apollo Theater," Gwinnett Daily Post, January 4, 2011.

International Who’s Who in Popular Music. London: Europa Publications, 2002.

Lanham, Tom. “Virgin Voices: A Tribute to Madonna, Volume One,” Music Review, Entertainment Weekly, April 16, 1999.

“Loleatta Holloway,” http://www.disco-disco.com/artists/loleatta.shtml

“Loleatta Holloway.” Miss Funkyflyy’s Web Pages. http://hem.bredband.net/funkyflyy/salsoul/holloway.html

Newman, Dayna. "Loleatta Holloway." DiscoMusic.com http://www.discomusic.com/people-more/11171_0_11_0_C/

Nia Holloway Music. http://www.youtube.com/user/niahollowaymusic

Richardson, Ron. http://twitter.com/RonAtHushtown

My thanks to Eiendjee for "Loleatta Holloway - Love Sensation (Extended Mix)" on YouTube.

My thanks to MarkyMarkVEVO for "Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations" on YouTube.

My thanks to skytoweruk on for "Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch Feat Loleatta Holloway - Good Vibrations (TOTP) on YouTube.

My thanks to TheSoulhawk for "Loleatta Holloway - Worn Out Broken Heart" on YouTube.

 Copyright April 4, 2011 by Stessily