Jean Terrell
Jean Terrell (* 26. November 1944 as Velma Jean Terrell in Belzoni , Mississippi ) is an American soul singer who, above all, as the lead singer of Motown - girl group The Supremes became known from the 1970th At the time she replaced Diana Ross , who started a highly successful solo career.
biography
Terrell sang with the Supremes until 1973. Even if the group had passed its commercial zenith, Terrell managed to convince the audience right away. Top 10 successes such as Up the Ladder to the Roof , Stoned Love (1970, the last number one in the R&B charts), River Deep - Mountain High (with the Four Tops ), Nathan Jones (1971) and Floy were created Joy (1972). Terrell's first LP with the Supremes was called Right on (1970), the last was The Supremes Live! In Japan (1973).
After leaving the Supremes, it was initially quiet about Terrell. It wasn't until 1978 that she signed a solo contract with A&M . The album I Had to Fall in Love published here was all about disco music of the time . With the single Don't Stop Reaching for the Top , Terrell only reached an extremely modest number 72 in the American R&B charts. The album flopped. In the following years she sang background for artists Les McCann , Ronnie Laws and Rockie Robbins, among others .
In the 1980s, Terrell teamed up with other former members of the Supremes to go back on tour and make records. Since the rights to the group name Supremes remained with Motown, strange alternative names such as FLOS - Former Ladies Of The Supremes were used .
In the past few years, Terrell has changed genre and occasionally appeared as a jazz singer. In 2004 she released an autobiographical DVD called Through the Eyes of a Supreme .
Private
Jean Terrell's brother Ernie Terrell (1939-2014) was a well-known heavyweight boxer and WBA world champion. With him and his companion band The Heavyweights, she recorded the single Grandpa's House in 1969 for the small soul label Calla, but was unsuccessful.
Discography
Albums
- 1978: I Had to Fall in Love (A&M)
Web links
- Jean Terrell at Allmusic (English)
- Jean Terrell at Discogs (English)
- Jean Terrell in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Joel Whitburn: Top R&B Singles 1942-1995, 1996 ISBN 0-89820-115-2
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Terrell, Jean |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Terrell, Velma Jean (maiden name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American soul singer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | November 26, 1944 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Belzoni , Mississippi |