Veda Brown
Encyclopedia
Mildred Pulliam Whitehorn (born 11 December 1949) is an African American
gospel
and former R&B
singer, who performed and recorded in the 1970s under the stage name
Veda Brown. Her most successful record was "Short Stopping" in 1973.
, the granddaughter of sharecroppers
and the daughter of a local welder and church pastor
. Her father's family were musical, and sang both blues
and gospel music. Mildred grew up singing gospel music, and first sang solo in her church at the age of 6.
She sang for a time with a rock band, The Decisions, and was encouraged by local radio station owner Larry Robinson to start a solo career in rhythm and blues
music. He won her a contract with Stax Records
in 1971, and she took the stage name of Veda Brown — Brown being her mother's maiden name
, and Veda being picked at random in a sweepstake
organised by the Stax office secretaries. Her first record, "Living A Life Without Love", was released by Stax in May 1972, and was followed by "I Know It's Not Right (To Be In Love With A Married Man)", recorded like many of her singles at Muscle Shoals, Alabama
. In 1973, her third single, "Short Stopping", written by Mack Rice
, Bobby Manuel
and Bettye Crutcher, and produced by Henry Rush and John Wesley, became her most successful release, reaching #34 on the Billboard
R&B chart
. Her follow-up single, "Don't Start Lovin' Me (If You're Gonna Stop)", described as "one of the heaviest pieces of soul put out by Stax in the 70s", also made the R&B chart, reaching # 87 in early 1974. She performed and toured extensively during the period, on one occasion sharing top billing with Johnnie Taylor
.
However, Stax Records fell into serious financial difficulties around this time, and her contract lapsed. Some of her recordings for Stax were issued by former company staff member John Wesley Smith on the small Raken label in 1975, but these were poorly distributed and were unsuccessful. In 1977, Larry Robinson paid for her final Memphis
session, producing the single "Play Brother, Play Sister" / "I Had A Fight With Love" on the Rav label, but again this failed to make the charts.
She returned to Missouri, married James Whitehorn, had a family, and worked as a cosmetologist
. A member of the Church of God in Christ
, she also became well known as a gospel singer and choir leader, at one time leading a choir of over 100 which won a contest on BET (Black Entertainment Television
). Particularly influenced by the music and work of Mahalia Jackson
, she has continued to perform and teach gospel music in Missouri's Bootheel
area. In the 1990s she was chosen to participate as a master artist in Missouri's Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. In 2006 she directed a Black History Month
program in celebration of black history at Kennett High School.
A number of her 1970s recordings, including some previously unissued, were released on a CD shared with Judy Clay
, Judy Clay & Veda Brown - The Stax Solo Recordings, on Kent Records
in 2008.
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...
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....
and former R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer, who performed and recorded in the 1970s under the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Veda Brown. Her most successful record was "Short Stopping" in 1973.
Life and career
Mildred Pulliam was born and raised in Hayti, MissouriHayti, Missouri
Hayti is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,207 at the 2000 census.In 1955, a small earthquake broke windows in the village.- Geography :Hayti is located at ....
, the granddaughter of sharecroppers
Sharecropping
Sharecropping is a system of agriculture in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a share of the crop produced on the land . This should not be confused with a crop fixed rent contract, in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a fixed amount of...
and the daughter of a local welder and church pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
. Her father's family were musical, and sang both blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and gospel music. Mildred grew up singing gospel music, and first sang solo in her church at the age of 6.
She sang for a time with a rock band, The Decisions, and was encouraged by local radio station owner Larry Robinson to start a solo career in rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
music. He won her a contract with 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...
in 1971, and she took the stage name of Veda Brown — Brown being her mother's maiden name
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
, and Veda being picked at random in a sweepstake
Sweepstakes
The United States consumer sales promotion known as a sweepstake has become associated with marketing promotions targeted toward both generating enthusiasm and providing incentive reactions among customers by enticing consumers to submit free entries into drawings of chance...
organised by the Stax office secretaries. Her first record, "Living A Life Without Love", was released by Stax in May 1972, and was followed by "I Know It's Not Right (To Be In Love With A Married Man)", recorded like many of her singles at Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
. In 1973, her third single, "Short Stopping", written by Mack Rice
Mack Rice
Mack Rice , is a American songwriter, whose compositions have been performed by many well-known artists, including The Staple Singers, Ike and Tina Turner, Albert King, Johnnie Taylor, Shirley Brown, Rufus Thomas, Etta James, Billy Eckstine, Eddie Floyd, Buddy Guy, The Rascals, Wilson Pickett,...
, Bobby Manuel
Bobby Manuel
Bobby Manuel is an American guitarist. He was hired by Stax Records in the late 1960s as an engineer and also quickly began doing studio work as a guitarist, becoming one of the company's most dependable and oft-used session players....
and Bettye Crutcher, and produced by Henry Rush and John Wesley, became her most successful release, reaching #34 on 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
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
. Her follow-up single, "Don't Start Lovin' Me (If You're Gonna Stop)", described as "one of the heaviest pieces of soul put out by Stax in the 70s", also made the R&B chart, reaching # 87 in early 1974. She performed and toured extensively during the period, on one occasion sharing top billing with Johnnie Taylor
Johnnie Taylor
Johnnie Harrison Taylor was an American vocalist in a wide variety of genres, from rhythm and blues, soul, blues and gospel to pop, doo-wop and disco.-Early years:...
.
However, Stax Records fell into serious financial difficulties around this time, and her contract lapsed. Some of her recordings for Stax were issued by former company staff member John Wesley Smith on the small Raken label in 1975, but these were poorly distributed and were unsuccessful. In 1977, Larry Robinson paid for her final Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
session, producing the single "Play Brother, Play Sister" / "I Had A Fight With Love" on the Rav label, but again this failed to make the charts.
She returned to Missouri, married James Whitehorn, had a family, and worked as a cosmetologist
Cosmetology
Cosmetology is the study and application of beauty treatment. Branches of specialty including hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/pedicures, and electrology....
. A member of 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 also became well known as a gospel singer and choir leader, at one time leading a choir of over 100 which won a contest on BET (Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
). Particularly influenced by the music and work of Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
, she has continued to perform and teach gospel music in Missouri's Bootheel
Bootheel
The Missouri Bootheel is the southeasternmost part of the state of Missouri, extending south of 36°30’ north latitude, so called because its shape in relation to the rest of the state resembles the heel of a boot. Strictly speaking, it is composed of the counties of Dunklin, New Madrid, and Pemiscot...
area. In the 1990s she was chosen to participate as a master artist in Missouri's Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. In 2006 she directed a Black History Month
Black History Month
Black History Month is an observance of the history of the African diaspora in a number of countries outside of Africa. Since 1976, it is observed annually in the United States and Canada in February, while in the United Kingdom it is observed in October...
program in celebration of black history at Kennett High School.
A number of her 1970s recordings, including some previously unissued, were released on a CD shared with 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:...
, Judy Clay & Veda Brown - The Stax Solo Recordings, on Kent Records
Kent Records
Kent Records was a Los Angeles based record label, launched in the 1960s by the Bihari brothers. It was a follow up to the bankrupted Modern Records and reissued Modern's records. It was later bought by Ace Records, England, which used the label name to release Northern Soul records.The label...
in 2008.
Singles
- "Living A Life Without Love" / "Take It Off Her (And Put It On Me)" (Stax 0123, 1972)
- "I Know It's Not Right (To Be In Love With A Married Man)" / "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You" (Stax 0143, 1972)
- "Short Stopping" / "I Can See Every Woman's Man But Mine" (Stax 0163, 1973) (Billboard]] R&B chart #34)
- "Don't Start Loving Me (If You're Gonna Stop)" / "Fever" (Stax 194, 1974) (R&B chart # 87)
- "Brand New Tomorrow" / "Shoutin' Out Love" (Raken 001, 1975)
- "I'm Loving Him Right" / "Trip" (Raken 002, 1975)
- "Play Brother, Play Sister" / "I Had A Fight With Love" (Rav 16, 1977)