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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZPHILLIPS, Esther(b Esther May Jones, 23 Dec. '35, Galveston TX; d 7 Aug. '84, LA) Singer, pianist. Moved with mother to Watts, LA; won amateur contest '49, then another at Johnny Otis's Barrelhouse Club: joined Otis's band as Little Esther, cut no. 1 R&B hit 'Double Crossing Blues' with Otis and vocal group the Charms for Savoy at about age 14. Probably the best early-teen singer of all time, handling blues with complete conviction, phrasing reminiscent of Dinah Washington, to whom she came second in national disc jockey poll '50 to find best jazz/R&B artist of the year. Other '50 hits: 'Wedding Boogie', 'Far Away Christmas Blues', 'Deceivin' Blues', 'Mistrusting Blues', 'Cupid's Boogie', all top ten, all duets with Mel Walker backed by Otis, all except the last charting under Otis's name. Late '50 went solo, made 32 sides for Federal, only one top ten R&B ('Ring-A-Ding-A-Doo' with Walker). Back to Savoy '53, to Decca '54; already suffering from drug problem, settled in Houston, inactive until late '50s, recording for Warwick '60. Comeback '62 with country song 'Release Me' on Lenox, no. 8 pop chart, LP of same name. To Atlantic '63; LP And I Love Him (superb version of Lennon-- McCartney title song no. '54 pop '65); flown to UK by the Beatles for TV special Esther '65. Newport Jazz Festival '66, then entered Synanon Drug Treatment Center at Santa Monica; out of music till '69: second comeback on Roulette label, appearances on Johnny Carson TV show, Monterey Jazz Festival; on Atlantic again '70 for live LP Burnin' -- Live at Freddie Jett's Pied Piper LA: Carmen McRae wrote in sleeve note, 'If it weren't too late for me, I'd be happy to take lessons from Esther.' Album incl. 'Cry Me A River Blues', a brilliant amalgam of every clich‚ in blues lyrics, became part of stage act; another portion of live recording issued on Confessin' The Blues '76. Active on world jazz circuit early '70s; recorded for Creed Taylor's Kudu label: albums From A Whisper To A Scream, Alone Again Naturally '72; Black-Eyed Blues '73, Performance '74, Esther Phillips With Beck '75, Capricorn Princess '76. Disco-oriented version of earlier Washington hit 'What A Diff'rence A Day Makes' world-wide hit '75. On Dinah Shore Show '76, continued touring, no more singles success; albums on Mercury You've Come A Long Way Baby '77, All About Esther '78, Here's Esther '79, Good Black Is Hard To Crack '81 seemed patchy due to unsuitable songs and settings; A Way To Say Goodbye '84 on Muse was better. Death was due to liver ailment. Leonard Feather remembered in LA Times: 'In 1973 she was nominated for a Grammy as best female R&B vocalist. She lost to Aretha Franklin but Franklin promptly turned over her trophy to Miss Phillips, who she said should have won.' |