BARBARA MASON

Biography

Barbara Mason, born on August 9, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered the music industry as a teenager initially focusing on songwriting. At age 12, she led groups after winning local talent shows, and by 17, she released her debut single 'Girls Have Feelings Too' on Arctic Records, introduced by deejay Jimmy Bishop. Her breakthrough came in 1965 with the self-written 'Yes, I'm Ready,' peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on R&B, exemplifying the emerging Philly soul sound with her high, girlish vocals.[1][2][7][8]

Fun Facts

• She wrote 'Yes, I'm Ready' inspired by Curtis Mayfield's 'The Monkey Time' for Major Lance, recording it in two takes in a back room at Arctic Records.[2][6]
• In the 1970s, she pioneered frank 'raps' about romance and infidelity in songs like 'From His Woman to You' (a response to Shirley Brown's 'Woman to Woman').[1][2]
• Mason founded her own production company, Marc James Music (named after her son), releasing her 1975 album Love's the Thing under it, one of the first female artists to do so.[3]
• She befriended Dick Clark through TV appearances and rejected the disco era, focusing instead on heartfelt soul.[2][6]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Jimmy Bishop - Manager and Arctic Records founder who launched her career (Yes, I'm Ready (1965)) [1960s]
• Curtis Mayfield - Major inspiration; she was a big fan whose song influenced her hit (The Monkey Time (inspiration for Yes, I'm Ready)) [Early 1960s]
• Weldon McDougal - Producer who introduced her to Jimmy Bishop and produced early hit (Yes, I'm Ready (1965), I Am Your Woman, She Is Your Wife (1978)) [1960s-1970s]

Key Collaborators

• Curtis Mayfield - Producer for cover version (Give Me Your Love (1973)) [1973]
• Don Davis - Producer for soul tracks (From His Woman to You, Shackin' Up (mid-1970s)) [1970s]
• Bunny Sigler - Duet album partner (Locked In This Position (1977)) [1977]

Artists Influenced

• Hip-hop artists - Her music frequently sampled (Various hip-hop tracks) [1980s onward]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia