Doris Duke (soul singer)
Encyclopedia
Doris Duke is an American gospel
and soul
singer, best known for her 1969 album I'm A Loser.
, and reportedly started singing with gospel groups including the Queen of Gospel Albertina Walker
and Caravans
, though this has been questioned. By 1963 she was working in New York City on sessions and as a backing singer at the Apollo Theatre
. She also recorded some demos
for Motown Records
, but none were ever released. Under her then married name of Doris Willingham, she recorded her first single, "Running Away from Loneliness" in 1966. This release on Jay Boy Records was not a success, so she continued working as a session singer, mainly in Philadelphia. She also sang back-up on Nina Simone
's live album, A Very Rare Evening, recorded in Germany in 1969.
In 1969, former Atlantic Records
producer Jerry 'Swamp Dogg' Williams Jr.
signed her as a solo artiste, renaming her Doris Duke and recording the album I'm A Loser at the Capricorn studio in Macon, Georgia
. The album was eventually issued on Canyon Records, and over the years became regarded, by Dave Godin
and others, as one of the finest deep soul records of all time. The first single, "To the Other Woman", reached no. 7 in the Billboard
R&B chart and no. 50 on the pop chart in early 1970, and the follow-up "Feet Start Walking" also made the R&B chart, but success was cut short when the record company collapsed.
She recorded a second album, A Legend in Her Own Time, with Swamp Dogg
, issued on the Mankind label in 1971. However, it was not commercially successful, and her career at one point became confused with that of "the real" Doris Duke
, a white heiress, who began performing with a gospel
choir in New Jersey
. Having remarried, and using the name Doris Logan, she temporarily retired to bring up her young children, before undergoing another divorce. In 1973, she recorded unsuccessfully for Bob Shad
's Mainstream label, before being signed to the British Contempo label in 1974. Her subsequent album Woman, recorded in London, received good reviews but few sales, and thereafter she retired into obscurity.
An album called Funky Fox, issued on the Manhattan label in 1981, was credited to "Sister Doris Duke", although the tracks are in fact believed to be by other artists. However, she did make one further single, "I'll Make A Sweet Man (Out Of You)", on the Beantown label in Boston
, in 1981. Since then, efforts to rediscover her have been fruitless. She is believed to be either the sister or cousin of Geraldine and Joyce Curry, who recorded as The Heartstoppers for the All Platinum
label in the early 1970s.
A CD coupling I'm A Loser and A Legend in Her Own Time, with several non-album tracks, was released by Ace Records in 2005.
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer, best known for her 1969 album I'm A Loser.
Biography
She was born as Doris Curry in Sandersville, GeorgiaSandersville, Georgia
Sandersville is a city in Washington County, Georgia, United States. The population was 6,097 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Washington County...
, and reportedly started singing with gospel groups including the Queen of Gospel Albertina Walker
Albertina Walker
-Early years:Walker was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Ruben and Camille Coleman Walker. Her mother was born in Houston County, Georgia, and her father in Bibb County, Georgia. They moved to Chicago between 1917-1920 where they lived out their lives. Albertina had four siblings born in Bibb County...
and Caravans
The Caravans
The Caravans is a Jubilee Gospel group that was started by Albertina Walker . The group reached its peak popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, launching the careers of a number of artists, including: Delores Washington, Albertina Walker, Bessie Griffin, Cassietta George, Dorothy Norwood, Inez...
, though this has been questioned. By 1963 she was working in New York City on sessions and as a backing singer at the Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. Designed by architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street, its doors opened on 21 February 1901 with the American...
. She also recorded some demos
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
for 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...
, but none were ever released. Under her then married name of Doris Willingham, she recorded her first single, "Running Away from Loneliness" in 1966. This release on Jay Boy Records was not a success, so she continued working as a session singer, mainly in Philadelphia. She also sang back-up on Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
's live album, A Very Rare Evening, recorded in Germany in 1969.
In 1969, former Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
producer Jerry 'Swamp Dogg' Williams Jr.
Swamp Dogg
Jerry Williams, Jr., , is a soul music artist who is better known by his pseudonym Swamp Dogg.Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, Williams made his first recording in 1954 under the moniker "Little Jerry", a 78 rpm single on the Mechanic label titled "HTD Blues" / "Nats Wailing"...
signed her as a solo artiste, renaming her Doris Duke and recording the album I'm A Loser at the Capricorn studio in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
. The album was eventually issued on Canyon Records, and over the years became regarded, by Dave Godin
Dave Godin
David Edward Godin was an English fan of American soul music, who made a major contribution internationally in spreading awareness and understanding of the genre, and by extension African-American culture.-Biography:The son of a milkman, Dave Godin spent his early childhood in Peckham before...
and others, as one of the finest deep soul records of all time. The first single, "To the Other Woman", reached no. 7 in the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B chart and no. 50 on the pop chart in early 1970, and the follow-up "Feet Start Walking" also made the R&B chart, but success was cut short when the record company collapsed.
She recorded a second album, A Legend in Her Own Time, with Swamp Dogg
Swamp Dogg
Jerry Williams, Jr., , is a soul music artist who is better known by his pseudonym Swamp Dogg.Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, Williams made his first recording in 1954 under the moniker "Little Jerry", a 78 rpm single on the Mechanic label titled "HTD Blues" / "Nats Wailing"...
, issued on the Mankind label in 1971. However, it was not commercially successful, and her career at one point became confused with that of "the real" Doris Duke
Doris Duke
Doris Duke was an American heiress, horticulturalist, art collector, and philanthropist.-Family and early life:...
, a white heiress, who began performing with a gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
choir in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Having remarried, and using the name Doris Logan, she temporarily retired to bring up her young children, before undergoing another divorce. In 1973, she recorded unsuccessfully for Bob Shad
Bob Shad
Bob Shad was an American music producer and record label owner. He produced the first album by Big Brother and the Holding Company...
's Mainstream label, before being signed to the British Contempo label in 1974. Her subsequent album Woman, recorded in London, received good reviews but few sales, and thereafter she retired into obscurity.
An album called Funky Fox, issued on the Manhattan label in 1981, was credited to "Sister Doris Duke", although the tracks are in fact believed to be by other artists. However, she did make one further single, "I'll Make A Sweet Man (Out Of You)", on the Beantown label in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, in 1981. Since then, efforts to rediscover her have been fruitless. She is believed to be either the sister or cousin of Geraldine and Joyce Curry, who recorded as The Heartstoppers for the All Platinum
All Platinum Records
All Platinum Records was one of the labels which was started by Sylvia Robinson before she started Sugar Hill Records.All Platinum purchased Chess Records in the early 1970s after the latter fell into bankruptcy; however, All Platinum was a much smaller label and was unable to keep releasing steady...
label in the early 1970s.
A CD coupling I'm A Loser and A Legend in Her Own Time, with several non-album tracks, was released by Ace Records in 2005.