Gloria Lynne

Gloria Lynne

Born: November 23, 1929
Died: October 15, 2013 (at age 83)
Biography

Gloria Lynne (born Gloria Wilson; November 23, 1929 - October 15, 2013), also known as Gloria Alleyne, was an American jazz vocalist with a recording career spanning from 1958 to 2007.

Career

Lynne was born in Harlem in 1929 to John and Mary Wilson, a gospel singer. She grew up in Harlem, and as a young girl, Lynne sang with the local African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Choir. At the age of 15, she won first prize at the Amateur Night contest at the Apollo Theater. She shared the stage with contemporary night club vocal ensembles as well as with Ella Fitzgerald, she recorded as part of such groups as the Enchanters and the Dell-Tones, in the 1950s. She recorded as a soloist under her birth name, though most of her work was released under her stage name on the Everest and Fontana labels. In 1958, she was signed to Everest.

Although showing much promise early on, especially after TV appearances, including the Harry Belafonte Spectacular, her development suffered through poor management. Some unscrupulous recording 'executives' profited while she was left virtually penniless, saved by the fact that she was able to work steadily and earn her money from performances — a victim of unpaid royalties.

In the 1960s, she had several hits including "June Night", "Love I Found You", "I'm Glad There Is You", 1964's "I Wish You Love", which became her signature song, and "You Don't Have To Be a Tower of Strength", her answer to Gene McDaniels's "Tower of Strength" and a pop hit that proved how versatile she could be in the studio. After her time with Everest Records, she moved back to Fontana and recorded such albums as Soul Serenade, Love And A Woman, Where It's At, and Here, There And Everywhere, demonstrating her versatility in jazz, RnB, soul and melodic "pop."

During her earlier years on the road, Lynne shared bills with RnB, jazz, traditional pop music, and pop singers including Ray Charles, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Mathis and Ella Fitzgerald. TV specials include two with Harry Belafonte and duets with Billy Eckstine. As Lynne moved into jazz in her later career she performed with many jazz musicians, including Quincy Jones, Bobby Timmons, Philly Joe Jones, Harry "Sweets" Edison.

She wrote lyrics for "Watermelon Man" with Herbie Hancock, and "All Day Long" with Kenny Burrell. New York City proclaimed July 25, 1995 as Gloria Lynne Day.

Awards

In 1996, Lynne received the International Women of Jazz Award, and she was honored with a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1997. Other awards and recognition include the National Treasure Award from the Seasoned Citizens Theatre Company (2003); induction into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame; Living Legend Award from the State of Pennsylvania (2007). On May 6, 2008, Lynne was presented with a special award for Outstanding Achievement In Jazz, at the New York MAC Awards. On October 22, 2010, she was honored at New York's Schomburg Library, for her many contributions to the music industry and the world by Great Women In Music and its founder Roz Nixon. Roz Nixon Entertainment worked successfully with Lynne throughout her final years, producing, co-producing or participating in making the arrangements for Ms. Lynne's appearances pertaining to her last concerts or significant events.

Personal life

She and her husband, Harry Alleyne, had a son, Richard. Gloria and Richard Alleyne ran a production company, Family Bread Music Inc. Gloria and Harry Alleyne divorced in 1968.

Death

She died of a heart attack on October 15, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey, at the age of 83.

Discography

Charted Singles

Year Single Chart Positions Label
1961 "The Jazz in You" 109 Everest
"He Needs Me" 111
"Impossible" 95 16
"You Don't Have To Be A Tower Of Strength" 100
1964 "I Wish You Love" 28 3
"I Should Care" 64 47
"Be Anything (But Be Mine)" 88 40 Fontana
"Don't Take Your Love From Me" 76 Everest
1965 "Watermelon Man" 62 8 Fontana

Single Discography

(As A Member of the Dell Tones)

Brunswick Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1953 Yours Alone/My Heart's On Fire Brunswick 45 r.p.m. 84015

(As A Member of the Delltones)

Rainbow Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1954 Little Short Daddy/I'm Not In Love With You Rainbow 45 r.p.m. 244

Solo Recordings

Josie Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1954 When I Say My Prayer/The Uncloudy Day Josie 45 r.p.m. 767

Everest Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1959 June Night/Perdido Everest 45 r.p.m. 19303
But Not For Me (song)/Just In Time 19308
1960 Be My Love/My Prayer For You 19326
Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe/My Reverie 19337
June Night/Perdido 19343
Am I Blue/Little Girl Blue 19346
They Didn't Believe Me/Without A Song 19347
Gypsy Boy/Recommended To Love 19367
Condemned Without Trial/Dreamy 19373
The Jazz In You/Love, I've Found You 19390
1961 He Needs Me/The Lamp Is Low 19409
Impossible/This Little Boy Of Mine 19418
You Don't Have To Be A Tower Of Strength/I Will Follow Him 19428
1962 And This Is My Beloved/I'm Glad There Is You 19431
I Know Love/It Just Happened To Me 2008
1963 I'll Buy You A Star/Record Company Blues 2023
Humming Blues/Stormy Monday Blues 2030
1964 I Wish You Love/Through A Long And Sleepless Night 2036
I Should Care/Indian Love Call 2042
Don't Take Your Love From Me/You Don't Know What Love Is 2044
Serenade In Blue/Without A Song 2047
On Christmas Day/Wouldn't It Be Loverly 2051
1965 Fly My To The Moon/The Night Has A Thousand Eyes 2055
Out Of This World/Squeeze Me 2058
Lonely Street/Try A Little Ternderness 2059
Folks Who Live On The Hill/That's A Joy 2061
My Devotion/I'm Glad There Is You 2062

Seeco Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1959 Little Boy Blues/Way Beyond The Hills Seeco 45 r.p.m. 6037
1961 Is There Someone For Me/I'm Not Afraid Anymore 6077

Fontana Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1964 Be Anything (But Be Mine)/Soul Serenade Fontana 45 r.p.m. 1890
1965 The Touch Of Your Lips/Intimate Moments 1507
Watermelon Man/All Alone 1511
Whisperers/I Understand 1523
1966 Sometimes It Be's That Way/Speaking Of Happiness 1538
Strangers In The Night/Candy Man 1554
Money Machine/I Got What You Want 1560
1967 Love Is/It's Not The Truth 1567
Foolish Dreamer/I Can't Stand It 1594
1968 Down Here On The Ground/I've Never Been Loved Before 1617
The Guy Who Lived Up There/Hold Back The Dawn 1627
1969 I've Got To Be Someone/Problem Child 1639
Darlin'/No Easy Way Down 1660
Hold It/Untouched By Human Love 1674

Hi Fi Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1966 I Wish You Love/A Long Long Story 45 r.p.m. 5103

Canyon Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1970 If You Don't Get It Yourself/Love's Finally Found Me 45 r.p.m. 36

Roker Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1970 Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong/Take You All The Way Roker 45 r.p.m. 504

Mercury Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1972 Never My Love/Summer Knows Mercury 45 r.p.m. 73267
Just Let Me Be Me/Kickin' Life 73294

Impulse Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1976 Out Of This World/Thank You, Early Bird Impulse 45 r.p.m. 31003

Album Discography

Everest Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1958 Miss Gloria Lynne (with Wild Bill Davis and his Group) Everest LP BR-5022
1959 Lonely And Sentimental BR-5063
1960 Try A Little Tenderness BR-5090
Day In, Day Out (with Ernie Wilkins and his Orchestra) BR-5101
1961 I'm Glad There Is You BR-5126
He Needs Me BR-5128
This Little Boy Of Mine BR-5131
1962 Gloria Lynne at Basin Street East EV-5137
Gloria Blue EV-5203
1963 Gloria Lynne at the Las Vegas Thunderbird BR-5208
Gloria, Marty, and Strings BR-5220
After Hours BR-1230
1964 I Wish You Love BR-5226
1966 Go! Go! Go! BR-5237

Fontana Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1965 Intimate Moments Fontana LP SRF 67528
Soul Serenade SRF 67541
1966 Love And A Woman SRF 67546
Where It's At SRF-67555
1967 Gloria SRF-67561
The Other Side Of Gloria Lynne SRF-67571
1968 Here, There and Everywhere SRF-67577

Canyon Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1970 Happy And In Love Canyon LP 7709

Mercury Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1972 A Very Gentle Sound Mercury LP SRM-1-633

ABC/Impulse Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1977 Love's Finally Found Me (with Stanley Turrentine) Versatile Records LP NED-1122

Muse Records

Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No.
1993 No Detour Ahead Muse Records CD MCD5414

[ Source: Wikipedia ]


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