Jackie Verdell
Encyclopedia
Jackie Verdell was an American gospel
singer, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
in 1955, at the start of their tenure with Herman Lubinsky and Ozzie Cadena
's record label
Savoy Records
of Newark, New Jersey
. How she came to sing with one of gospel's famous groups is a typical Golden Age gospel tale. Raised in the Church of God in Christ
, she was a soloist in the choir of Faith Temple in New York, pastored by Bishop A.A. Childs (the church would later serve as the site of Malcolm X
's last rites). Ruth Davis was attending a broadcast at which Jackie was singing and the rest is gospel history. Jackie Verdell possessed a powerful mezzo-soprano
voice, and her performances on records such as "Lord Don't Leave Me", "Following Him", and "I Don't Know What I'd Do" made an impression on the young Aretha Franklin
, amongst others. "I also considered Jackie Verdell of the Davis Sisters one of the best and most underrated female soul
singers of all time" said Franklin in her 1999 autobiography Aretha: From These Roots. ""It was through Jackie that I learned the expression 'Girl, you peed tonight'--meaning you were dynamite. Several nights Jackie sang so hard she literally had a spot or two on her robe from peeing. Singing far too hard, I also peed here and there in the early days; I quickly realized no one should sing that hard." Verdell was second lead for The Davis Sisters between 1955 and 1960, featuring on many of their Savoy recordings.
Like Franklin, she left the gospel field in 1960 and began singing pop
, her voice having deepened to a contralto
and losing the upper register. She signed with Houston
-based Peacock Records
, releasing three singles between 1961 and 1964. None of them charted, but her own composition, "Why Not Give Me A Chance", produced by Dinah Washington
's former producer Clyde Otis
, seems to have attained a small level of popularity, being covered in later years by soul singers O.V. Wright
on Peacock's subsidiary Back Beat Records
in the late 1960s, and by Ruby Wilson on Malaco Records
in the early 1980s. The Davis Sisters' recording session information in Gospel Records 1943 - 1969 suggests that Verdell was absent from the group during 1960 and 1961, returned in 1962 for further recordings on Savoy, was absent again in 1963, and then returned again in 1964 for more recordings on Savoy and RCA Records
, apparently departing for good around 1966. Some television appearances with The Davis Sisters and Brother Joe May which were posted to YouTube
in 2006 and 2007 appear to date from 1964.
After further unsuccessful pop singles on Decca Records
(US) and its Coral Records
subsidiary, the late 1960s and early 1970s found her contributing background vocals (along with Cissy Houston
, Judy Clay
, and other members of The Drinkard Singers
or The Sweet Inspirations) to records by Wilson Pickett
("Cole, Cooke & Redding"), Dee Dee Warwick
(Turning Around), Van Morrison
(Moondance
), Clarence Wheeler & The Enforcers, Horace Silver
, and Martha Veléz
, as well as a further solo single for Stax Records
' Gospel Truth and Respect labels under the name of Jacqui Verdell. Her only solo album, Lay My Burden Down, produced by former soul singer Joe Simon
, and including Houston & Warwick on background vocals, was released on Spring Records in 1983, and on CD by Ace Records (UK)
in 1993. Viv Broughton's 1985 book Black Gospel: An Illustrated History Of The Gospel Sound stated, "Whereas Aretha Franklin lives in fabulous, if troubled, luxury - Jackie Verdell, who made the same move at the same time made nothing at all and is now back singing gospel to a faintly suspicious audience" (paperback edition, page 107). She once complained to gospel maven Anthony Heilbut
: "I'd like to be an evangelist
, but these crooked promoters won't pay my money". In 1988, she sang in the choir on the Carman
album Live: Radically Saved. She died in 2002 without receiving the acclaim or financial remuneration she felt was due in either the pop or gospel fields.
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....
singer, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
Musical career
After leaving high school, she joined the The Davis SistersThe Davis Sisters
The Davis Sisters was an American gospel group founded by Ruth Davis and featuring her sisters Thelma, Audrey and Alfreda. Imogene Greene joined the group in 1950, and was later replaced by Jackie Verdell when Greene left to join the Caravans....
in 1955, at the start of their tenure with Herman Lubinsky and Ozzie Cadena
Ozzie Cadena
Oscar "Ozzie" Cadena was an American record producer with Savoy Records and Prestige Records who recorded gospel and jazz music in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, and helped popularize jazz music in Los Angeles.-Background:...
's record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Savoy Records
Savoy Records
Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part...
of Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. How she came to sing with one of gospel's famous groups is a typical Golden Age gospel tale. Raised in the Church of God in Christ
Church of God in Christ
The Church of God in Christ is a Pentecostal Holiness Christian denomination with a predominantly African-American membership. With nearly five million members in the United States and 12,000 congregations, it is the largest Pentecostal church and the fifth largest Christian church in the U.S....
, she was a soloist in the choir of Faith Temple in New York, pastored by Bishop A.A. Childs (the church would later serve as the site of Malcolm X
Malcolm X
Malcolm X , born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its...
's last rites). Ruth Davis was attending a broadcast at which Jackie was singing and the rest is gospel history. Jackie Verdell possessed a powerful mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
voice, and her performances on records such as "Lord Don't Leave Me", "Following Him", and "I Don't Know What I'd Do" made an impression on the young Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, amongst others. "I also considered Jackie Verdell of the Davis Sisters one of the best and most underrated female 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...
singers of all time" said Franklin in her 1999 autobiography Aretha: From These Roots. ""It was through Jackie that I learned the expression 'Girl, you peed tonight'--meaning you were dynamite. Several nights Jackie sang so hard she literally had a spot or two on her robe from peeing. Singing far too hard, I also peed here and there in the early days; I quickly realized no one should sing that hard." Verdell was second lead for The Davis Sisters between 1955 and 1960, featuring on many of their Savoy recordings.
Like Franklin, she left the gospel field in 1960 and began singing pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, her voice having deepened to a contralto
Contralto
Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above...
and losing the upper register. She signed with Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
-based Peacock Records
Peacock Records
Peacock Records was a record label started in 1949 by Don D. Robey in Houston, Texas."Hound Dog" by Big Mama Thornton was a bit hit for Peacock in 1953. Other significant rhythm & blues artists on Peacock were Marie Adams, James Booker, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Little Richard, Memphis Slim, and...
, releasing three singles between 1961 and 1964. None of them charted, but her own composition, "Why Not Give Me A Chance", produced by Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington, born Ruth Lee Jones , was an American blues, R&B and jazz singer. She has been cited as "the most popular black female recording artist of the '50s", and called "The Queen of the Blues"...
's former producer Clyde Otis
Clyde Otis
Clyde Otis, born in Prentiss, Mississippi, , was an American songwriter and producer best known for his collaboration with singer Brook Benton, and for being one of the first African American A&R executive for a major label.According to the music licensing organization Broadcast Music Inc., Otis is...
, seems to have attained a small level of popularity, being covered in later years by soul singers O.V. Wright
O.V. Wright
Overton Vertis "O. V." Wright was an American singer who is regarded as one of Southern soul's most authoritative and individual artists...
on Peacock's subsidiary Back Beat Records
Back Beat Records
Back Beat Records was the soul sub-label of Duke Records started in 1957. It was later acquired by ABC Records in the 70's. The label's biggest hits included "Treat Her Right" by Roy Head & The Traits, "Tell Me Why" by Norman Fox and The Rob Roys, and "Everlasting Love" by Carl Carlton...
in the late 1960s, and by Ruby Wilson on Malaco Records
Malaco Records
Malaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
in the early 1980s. The Davis Sisters' recording session information in Gospel Records 1943 - 1969 suggests that Verdell was absent from the group during 1960 and 1961, returned in 1962 for further recordings on Savoy, was absent again in 1963, and then returned again in 1964 for more recordings on Savoy and RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, apparently departing for good around 1966. Some television appearances with The Davis Sisters and Brother Joe May which were posted to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
in 2006 and 2007 appear to date from 1964.
After further unsuccessful pop singles on Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
(US) and its Coral Records
Coral Records
Coral Records was a Decca Records subsidiary formed in 1949. It recorded pop artists McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer, as well as rock and roller Buddy Holly....
subsidiary, the late 1960s and early 1970s found her contributing background vocals (along with Cissy Houston
Cissy Houston
Emily "Cissy" Houston is a Grammy Award–winning American soul and gospel singer. She led a very successful career as a backup singer for such artists as Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Wishbone Ash and Aretha Franklin, and is now primarily a solo artist...
, Judy Clay
Judy Clay
Judy Clay was an American soul and gospel singer, who achieved greatest success as a member of two recording duos in the 1960s.-Life:...
, and other members of The Drinkard Singers
The Drinkard Singers
The Drinkard Singers were an American gospel singing group, most successful in the late 1950s and important in the careers of singers Cissy Houston, Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee Warwick, and Judy Clay.-Musical career:...
or The Sweet Inspirations) to records by Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100...
("Cole, Cooke & Redding"), Dee Dee Warwick
Dee Dee Warwick
Dee Dee Warwick was an American soul singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey as Delia Mae Warrick, she was the sister of Dionne Warwick, niece of Cissy Houston and cousin of Whitney Houston....
(Turning Around), Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
(Moondance
Moondance
Moondance is the third solo album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on Warner Bros. Records on 28 February 1970 and peaked at #29 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart....
), Clarence Wheeler & The Enforcers, Horace Silver
Horace Silver
Horace Silver , born Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silva in Norwalk, Connecticut, is an American jazz pianist and composer....
, and Martha Veléz
Martha Veléz
Martha Carmen Josephine Hernandéz Rosario de Veléz is an American singer and actress of Puerto Rican descent. Veléz is the former wife of famous trumpet player Keith Johnson. Her son is performance artist,writer/poet, singer, Taj Johnson. Taj appeared as series regular for two years on Parker...
, as well as a further solo single for Stax Records
Stax Records
Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and...
' Gospel Truth and Respect labels under the name of Jacqui Verdell. Her only solo album, Lay My Burden Down, produced by former soul singer Joe Simon
Joe Simon (musician)
Joe Simon is an American chart-topping, Grammy Award winning, soul and R&B musician. Amongst other chart singles, Simon secured three number one hits on the US Billboard R&B chart between 1969 and 1975.-Career:...
, and including Houston & Warwick on background vocals, was released on Spring Records in 1983, and on CD by Ace Records (UK)
Ace Records (UK)
Ace Records Ltd. was started in 1978. Initially the company only gained permission from the label based in Mississippi to use the name in the UK, but eventually also acquired the rights to publish their recordings. When Chiswick's pop side was licensed to EMI in 1984, Ace switched to more licensing...
in 1993. Viv Broughton's 1985 book Black Gospel: An Illustrated History Of The Gospel Sound stated, "Whereas Aretha Franklin lives in fabulous, if troubled, luxury - Jackie Verdell, who made the same move at the same time made nothing at all and is now back singing gospel to a faintly suspicious audience" (paperback edition, page 107). She once complained to gospel maven Anthony Heilbut
Anthony Heilbut
Anthony Heilbut , is an American writer, and record producer of gospel music. He is noted for his biography of Thomas Mann, and has also won a Grammy Award.-Life:He has a doctorate in English from Harvard University....
: "I'd like to be an evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
, but these crooked promoters won't pay my money". In 1988, she sang in the choir on the Carman
Carman (singer)
Carmelo Domenic Licciardello known by his stage name, Carman, is a contemporary Christian music artist and evangelist.-Biography:...
album Live: Radically Saved. She died in 2002 without receiving the acclaim or financial remuneration she felt was due in either the pop or gospel fields.
Discography
- "You Ought to Know Him"/"Bye Bye Blackbird" (Peacock 45 1905, 1961)
- "Why Not Give Me A Chance"/"Hush" (Peacock 45 1921, 1962)
- "YKW"/"Come Let Me Love You" (Peacock 45 1930, 1964)
- "Are You Ready for This"/"I'm Your Girl" (Decca 45 32118, 1967)
- "Does She Ever Remind You Of Me"/"Don't Set Me Free" (Decca 45 32181, 1967)
- "Call On Me"/"If We Are Really In Love" (Coral 45 62555, 1968)
- Blues That Gave America Soul (Duke LP 82, 1960's) - includes "Why Not Give Me A Chance"
- "He's Mine"/"We're Gonna Have A Good Time" (Respect 45 2505,1974)(as by Jacqui Verdell, originally issued on the Gospel Truth label)
- Save The Children (Motown LP 800, 1974) - includes "I'm Too Close To Heaven To Turn Around" (with Rev. Jesse Jackson & the PUSH Expo Choir)
- "Lay My Burden Down" (vocal)/(instrumental) (Lection/Spring 45 3004, 1982)
- Lay My Burden Down (Spring LP 6739, 1983; Ace (UK) CD 375, 1993)
- The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles Volume 3, 1972-1975 (Stax CD 4415, 1994) - includes "He's Mine"
- The Soul Of Spring (Kent CD 151, 1999) - includes "Can I Get A Witness"
- When Gospel Was Gospel (Shanachie CD 6064, 2005) - includes "You're Gonna Need Him" (with Brother Joe May)
- The Soul Of Spring, Volume 2 (Kent CD 268, 2007) - includes "Walk All Over God's Heaven"
- Carman: Live: Radically Saved (Sparrow/Capitol 51349; Benson 2463, 1988)(member of choir)
- The Davis Sisters: The Famous Davis Sisters (Savoy LP 14000, c. 1955)(JV lead vocals on "He's My King", "Lord, Don't Leave Me", "Oh Happy Day")
- The Davis Sisters: Jesus Gave Me Water (Savoy LP 14036, c. 1959) (JV lead or co-lead vocals on "We Need Power", "I'm Going Home", "He's Alright", "Save Me", "Jesus Gave Me Water", "Bye And Bye", "Trees")
- The Davis Sisters: The Davis Sisters Sing Authentic Southern Style Gospel (RCA Victor LP LPM/LSP 2851, 1964) (Recorded live in Little Rock, AR. JV lead or co-lead vocals on "The Man Is Alright", "Life's Evening Sun", "I'm On the Right Road Now")
- The Davis Sisters: The Best of the Davis SistersThe Best of the Davis SistersThe Best of the Davis Sisters is a double LP/single CD album by the famous Philadelphia gospel group, released in 1978 on LP and in 2001 on CD . It collects 24 of their recordings made for Savoy Records between 1955 and 1968...
(Savoy LP/CD 7017, 1978/2001) (JV lead or co-lead vocals on "He's My King", "Plant My Feet On Higher Ground", "Sinner Man Where You Gonna Run To", "I Want To Be More Like Jesus", "When I Get Inside", "My Wonderful Counselor", "Jonah", "What He's Done For Me", "We Need Power", "Jesus Gave Me Water", "Bye And Bye", "He's My Precious King". Sang in group on several other tracks.) - Morrison, Van: MoondanceMoondanceMoondance is the third solo album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on Warner Bros. Records on 28 February 1970 and peaked at #29 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart....
(Warner Bros. LP/CD 3103)(background vocals) - Pickett, Wilson: Wilson Pickett's Greatest Hits (Atlantic CD 81737, 1989)(background vocals)
- Pickett, Wilson: A Man And A Half (Rhino/Atlantic CD 70287, 1992) (background vocals on "Cole, Cooke & Redding")
- Silver, Horace: The United States Of Mind (Blue Note CD 73157) (vocals)
- Veléz, Martha: Hypnotized (Polydor LP 5034, 1972) (background vocals)
- Warwick, Dee Dee: Turning Around (Atco LP 33-337, 1970)(background vocals)
- Warwick, Dee Dee: She Didn't Know - The Atco Sessions (Ichiban Soul Classics CD 2111, 1996)(background vocals)
- Wheeler, Clarence, & The Enforcers: Doin' What We Wanna (Atlantic LP/CD 648727) (background vocals)
External links
- CDconnection.com (Compact Discs in print featuring Jackie Verdell's solo or background recordings)
- Coral Records 62000 series 45 discography - retrieved 23 May 2007
- Savoy Records Album Index - retrieved 23 May 2007
- "You're Gonna Need Him" television performance by Jackie Verdell & Brother Joe May, early 1960s - retrieved 26 May 2007
- "By And By" television performance by The Davis Sisters, Ruth Davis & Jackie Verdell leads - retrieved 26 May 2007
- "We Need Power Lord" television performance by The Davis Sisters with Jackie Verdell lead, and Brother Joe May announcement - retrieved 26 May 2007
- [ Jackie Verdell credits at allmusic.com] - retrieved 26 May 2007