Yvonne Fair
Encyclopedia
Yvonne Fair was an African American
singer, best known for her 1976 recording
of "It Should Have Been Me".
, Fair got her start as a latter-day member of the re-formulated Chantels
and the James Brown
Revue. While performing with Brown, she recorded the song "I Found You," which he later re-worked into his own signature hit "I Got You (I Feel Good)
."
She signed to Motown Records
in the early 1970s as a result of her work with Chuck Jackson
and she appeared in a minor role as a chanteuse in the film
, Lady Sings the Blues. Fair then joined up with producer
Norman Whitfield
for a series of singles
in a hard funk vein: "Love Ain't No Toy," "Walk Out the Door If You Wanna," and her cover version
of "Funky Music Sho' 'Nuff Turns Me On.". All these featured on her only album for Motown in 1975 called "The Bitch Is Black", which was re-released on cd for the first time more than 30 years later.
Her remake of the Kim Weston
/Gladys Knight
semi-standard
"It Should Have Been Me" dented the lower end of the Billboard Hot 100
chart
in 1976.. The track proved a big hit in the UK where it climbed to number 5 in February 1976, her only UK
hit record
. In addition, the song featured in a special episode of BBC TV
programme
The Vicar of Dibley
, entitled "The Handsome Stranger", originally broadcast on 25 December 2006.
on March 6, 1994.
(UK)
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
singer, best known for her 1976 recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
of "It Should Have Been Me".
Biography
Born as Flora Yvonne Coleman in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Fair got her start as a latter-day member of the re-formulated Chantels
The Chantels
The Chantels were the second African-American girl group to have nationwide success in the United States, preceded by The Bobbettes. The group was established in the early 1950s and attended St. Anthony of Padua school in The Bronx...
and the James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
Revue. While performing with Brown, she recorded the song "I Found You," which he later re-worked into his own signature hit "I Got You (I Feel Good)
I Got You (I Feel Good)
"I Got You " is a hit song by James Brown. Released as a single in 1965, it was one of Brown's signature songs, and is arguably his most widely-known recording.-Description:...
."
She signed to Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
in the early 1970s as a result of her work with Chuck Jackson
Chuck Jackson
Chuck Jackson is an R&B singer who was one of the first artists to record material by Burt Bacharach and Hal David successfully. He has performed with moderate success since 1961...
and she appeared in a minor role as a chanteuse in the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Lady Sings the Blues. Fair then joined up with producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield
Norman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
for a series of singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in a hard funk vein: "Love Ain't No Toy," "Walk Out the Door If You Wanna," and her cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Funky Music Sho' 'Nuff Turns Me On.". All these featured on her only album for Motown in 1975 called "The Bitch Is Black", which was re-released on cd for the first time more than 30 years later.
Her remake of the Kim Weston
Kim Weston
Kim Weston is an American soul singer, and Motown alumna. In the 1960s, Weston scored hits with the songs "Love Me All the Way" and "Take Me in Your Arms ".-Career:...
/Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
semi-standard
Standard (music)
In music, a standard is a tune or song of established popularity.-See also:* Blues standard* Jazz standard* Pop standard* Great American Songbook-Further reading:* Greatest Rock Standards, published by Hal Leonard ISBN 0793588391...
"It Should Have Been Me" dented the lower end of the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
in 1976.. The track proved a big hit in the UK where it climbed to number 5 in February 1976, her only UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
hit record
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
. In addition, the song featured in a special episode of BBC TV
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
programme
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
The Vicar of Dibley
The Vicar of Dibley
The Vicar of Dibley is a British sitcom created by Richard Curtis and written for its lead actress, Dawn French, by Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, with contributions from Kit Hesketh-Harvey. It aired from 1994 to 2007...
, entitled "The Handsome Stranger", originally broadcast on 25 December 2006.
Death
Yvonne Fair died, aged 51, from undisclosed causes, in Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
on March 6, 1994.
Albums
The Bitch Is Black (1975); reissued by Reel Music as CD (2009)Singles
Releases on Tamla MotownMotown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
(UK)
- TMG913 - "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On" / "Let Your Hair Down"
- TMG1013 - "It Should Have Been Me" / "You Can't Judge a Book By Its Cover"
- TMG1025 - "It's Bad For Me To See You" / "Walk Out the Door If You Wanna"
External links
- Reel Music
- [ Yvonne Fair biography] on Allmusic