Loleatta
Holloway
    Born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 5th 1946, Holloway developed her throaty, full-bodied vocal style and dramatic presentation while singing with her mother in the gospel group, The Holloway Community Singers. She later began taking acting classes. In 1967 she joined the famed gospel group The Caravans led by Albertina Walker. who recorded for Savoy Records. Touring with The Caravans led to performances with Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin and a host of other gospel luminaries.
     In 1971 she landed the starring role in "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" in the local Chicago production. During the run of the play she met her future producer, manager, and husband Floyd Smith. Smith produced a cover of Gene Chandler's 1963 hit "Rainbow '71" for his Apache label. The 45 rpm created few ripples.
     Then Atlanta businessman Michael Thevis, who had just started GRC (General Recording Corporation), signed Holloway to his Aware label. The small double-sided hit "Our Love" (which became a bigger hit for Natalie Cole several years later)/"Mother Of Shame" (number 43 & 63 R&B) charted during the summer of 1973. The tunes were included on her debut album, "Loleatta," (1973) that was recorded in Atlanta and Chicago.
     The title track of her second album gave Holloway her highest charting solo single on the R&B/pop charts; later, she would regularly top the disco charts. "Cry To Me," written by master songwriter Sam Dees, hit number ten R&B in early 1975. While with GRC, Holloway met promotion director Gus Redmond whom she would later work with at Salsoul Records.
     Through Redmond, Smith had become aquainted with Salsoul Records. He, not Loleatta, was signed to the company first. His recording of "I Just Can't Give You Up" was the first 12" pressed for the label (#-12D-2001 1975). The single had minor success and Floyd decided to forego his career to continue promoting Loleatta's.
     In 1976, GRC went out of business and Holloway signed with Norman Harris' Salsoul-distributed label, Gold Mind Records. Guitarist/arranger/songwriter/producer Harris was a veteran of the Philly soul scene, having been a member of MFSB, the studio band for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records. He'd joined with fellow MFSB vets bassist Ron Baker and drummer Earl Young to form Baker-Harris-Young Productions (The Trammps, First Choice, Double Exposure, Love Committee, Eddie Holman). Oddly enough (possibly the label was hedging their bets), dance-oriented Gold Mind's first release on Holloway was the Dees ballad "Worn Out Broken Heart." The catchy Harris-produced up-tempo flip side, "Dreamin'" reached number 72 pop and was popular in discos.
     Her first Gold Mind album, "Loleatta" (released March 1977) was both produced in Chicago by Floyd Smith and in Philadelphia by Baker-Harris-Young. In addition to "Worn Out Broken Heart," the album included "Hit And Run," which peaked at number 56 R&B. The two elongated alternate jam session takes of "Hit And Run" are disco classics. "Run Away," co-written by Vincent Montana Jr., was released as The Salsoul Orchestra featuring Loleatta Holloway and was Holloway's next chart single (number 89 R&B in late 1977).
     After Gold Mind folded, all of their acts were transferred to Salsoul. Her first Salsoul album, "Queen Of The Night" (September 1978), yielded the 12" singles "Catch Me On The Rebound," "Mama Don't, Papa Won't," and "I May Not Be There When You Want Me." The album also spawned her second highest charting single on the R&B charts, the duet ballad "Only You" with Bunny Sigler, which hit number 11 R&B in late summer 1978.
     Her next album, "Loleatta Holloway" (September 1979), included the hits "All About The Papers," "That's What You Said" (another Holloway/Sigler duet), "There Must Be A Reason" and the 12" single club hit "The Greatest Performance of My Life."
     In 1979, Holloway contributed vocals to "Relight My Fire," a now historic disco hit for Dan Hartman ("Instant Replay," "I Can Dream About You"). In kind, Hartman returned the favor and produced what became the singer's signature tune, "Love Sensation," which shot to the top of the charts and still remains her biggest club-hit. The song was also the title of Holloway's 1980 album that also spawned the disco hits "Dance What Cha' Wanna" and "Short End Of The Stick."
     In 1981 I had the pleasure of working with Ms. Holloway. Being a fellow Chicagoan it was a no-brainer to secure Holloway for an appearance at the famed Chicago nite-spot, "Dugan's Bistro." Although she lived in the Markham area of Chicago, she still managed to be 45 minutes late for her performance. Once she hit the stage no one, myself included, cared that she had made us wait. She was without a doubt one of the most electrifying performers I've ever seen or worked with.
     In 1982 Holloway was reunited with The Salsoul Orchestra on a track written and produced by Patrick Adams (Inner Life, Phreek), "Seconds." Though she never had a pop hit in the U.S., Holloway always had a huge following in Europe and Japan. A 1983 remix of "Love Sensation" followed and became a hit all-over again. In the mid-1980's, Salsoul ceased operations and Holloway was without a recording contract.
     Shortly after producing a cover of Rufus & Chaka Khan's "Sweet Thing" for Holloway, Floyd Smith died in 1984. That same year, the singer signed with Streetwise Records, a label owned by producer Arthur Baker (Afrika Bambaata and the Soul Sonic Force). The single "Crash Goes Love" b/w "Sweet Thing" peaked at number 86 R&B in late summer 1984.
     Throughout the 1980's and 1990's, Holloway recorded for a succession of labels. Next came the 12" single on D.J. International of the house hit "So Sweet" (1986) followed by "Gotta Be Number One (Hit And Run '88)" on Danica records
     1991 saw a resurgence in her career, success that she had not seen in over a decade began with the release of "Set Me Free" by Triangle featuring Loleatta Holloway. Followed by Marky Mark's "Good Vibrations," Black Box's "Ride On Time" and her own "Strong Enough" on Active Records. A boxed set of 12" singles, "The Queen's Anthems" was released in 1994 and is a much sought-after collectors item.
      In 1996 Loleatta, who has always had weight problems, was forced to undergo a quadruple by-pass operation and forced to spend much of the rest of 1996 recuperating.
     By 1997 she had bounced back and was in the studio once again, releasing two 12" singles on the Vicious label, "Stand Up" and "I Survived" both gaining considerable exposure. In 1998 she teamed with British dance act Fire Island to release "Shout To The Top" (penned by Paul Weller and originally recorded by the Style Council) for the JBO label, with a mix by one-time Chicagoan and house-founder Frankie Knuckles. By 1999 Loleatta's next venture was the truly authentic "Lifting Me Up," written by Tracy Ackerman, became a number one in the clubs and brought her to a whole new generation of fans.
     For the new millenium A tribute album to Madonna has been released on Cleopatra Records. "Virgin Voices: Tribute To Madonna," features artists such as Heaven 17, Dead Or Alive, Boy George and Loleatta Holloway. Holloway's "Like A Prayer" is the only track that was produced by Madonna. From the moment that unmistakable voice starts, Holloway literally ignites the song and makes it her own. Rumour has it that one of Cleopatra's next projects is a tribute album to Prince. Loleatta is rumoured to be recording "I Wanna Be Your Lover."
     Holloway, alive and well, occasionally tours and still resides here in Chicago.
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