DArrow FLetcher

Biography

Darrow Fletcher is an American soul singer born on January 23, 1951, in Inkster, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, and raised on Chicago’s South Side.[1][7] Encouraged by his stepfather and mentor Johnny Haygood, he began singing as a child and was already performing locally by his early teens.[1] While still a freshman in high school, Fletcher entered the studio in December 1965 and, at just 14, recorded “The Pain Gets a Little Deeper,” which he co‑wrote with producer Ted Daniels and cut with Haygood’s support.[1] Released in early 1966, the single reached the R&B charts, drew comparisons to Frankie Lymon’s youthful heartbreak records, and quickly established him as a prodigious new voice in Chicago soul.[1][2]

Through the late 1960s and early 1970s, Fletcher recorded close to twenty singles across nine different labels, including Jacklyn, Groovy, Revue, and Crossover, building a reputation for intense, emotionally mature performances that belied his age.[1][2] He toured the chitlin’ circuit and shared bills at major venues like the Apollo Theater, the Uptown, and Chicago’s Regal with artists such as B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, The Elgins, Lee Dorsey, Jimmy Ruffin, The Capitols, and local acts like the Sharpees and Jo Ann Garrett, and appeared on regional TV shows including the Chicago version of Soul Train and Ken Hawkins’ World of Soul in Cleveland.[1] His records ranged from driving Northern soul dancers such as “The Pain Gets a Little Deeper,” “Gotta Draw the Line,” and “Changing by the Minute” to poignant ballads and socially conscious sides like “My Young Misery,” “My Judgement Day,” and “When Love Calls,” helping place him within the classic Chicago soul tradition while also appealing to later European mod and Northern soul scenes.[1][2]

In 1974 Fletcher moved to California after Ray Charles, impressed by tapes brought to him by Crossover Records A&R representative Pat Bush, financed recording sessions at his Los Angeles studio and briefly signed him, praising Fletcher’s work ethic and emotional delivery.[1] Although this collaboration did not yield major commercial success, he continued to record into the late 1970s before gradually stepping back from the music business and eventually returning first to Detroit in the early 1980s, then to Chicago around 1987, where family bereavements and the death of Haygood led to a period of depression.[1] Later involvement with the church and gospel singing, along with a revival of interest in his records among Northern soul collectors—reflected in high auction prices and reissue projects such as Ace Records’ compilation “The Pain Gets a Little Deeper: The Complete Early Years 1965–1971”—brought him renewed recognition and concert appearances in both the United States and the UK, securing his legacy as a cult favorite and “iconic soul man” for dedicated fans worldwide.[1][2]

Fun Facts

• Fletcher cut his debut single “The Pain Gets a Little Deeper” at just 14 years old while still a high‑school freshman, and it reached the R&B charts in early 1966.[1][2]
• During a July 1966 show at Chicago’s Regal Theater, he shared the bill with a remarkable lineup including B.B. King, The Elgins, Stevie Wonder, The Capitols, Lee Dorsey, Jimmy Ruffin, the Sharpees, and Jo Ann Garrett—with tickets reportedly costing about $1.25.[1]
• His early singles like “The Pain Gets a Little Deeper” and “Gotta Draw the Line” were among the very first U.S. 45s spun on the fledgling Northern soul scene in the UK, later becoming highly prized collector’s items.[1][2]
• Elton John has singled out “The Pain Gets a Little Deeper” as one of the best soul records he has ever heard, contributing to Fletcher’s status as a cult favorite among connoisseurs.[2]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Johnny Haygood - Stepfather who discovered Fletcher’s talent as a youngster, encouraged him to pursue singing, and helped engineer his entry into the recording business. (Coordinated and supported the sessions for Fletcher’s debut single “The Pain Gets a Little Deeper” and early recordings.) [Early 1960s–late 1970s[1]]
• Ray Charles - Legendary soul musician who, impressed by Fletcher’s demo recordings, financed recording sessions in Los Angeles and briefly worked with him at his Crossover Records operation. (Four songs recorded at Ray Charles’ Los Angeles studio after Fletcher moved to California in 1974 (material associated with the Crossover period).) [Mid‑1970s (around 1974–1975)[1]]

Key Collaborators

• Ted Daniels - Producer and co‑writer who partnered with Fletcher on his breakthrough debut single and helped shape his early Chicago soul sound. (Co‑wrote and produced “The Pain Gets a Little Deeper” and other mid‑1960s Chicago recordings.) [1965–late 1960s[1][2]]
• Pat Bush - A&R representative for Crossover Records who saw Fletcher perform at the Regal in Chicago, took his recordings to Ray Charles, and facilitated his move to Los Angeles. (Introduced Fletcher’s demo recordings to Ray Charles, leading to Crossover‑era sessions in L.A.) [Early–mid‑1970s[1]]

Artists Influenced

• Northern soul DJs and collectors (UK and Europe) - Fletcher’s 1960s singles became staples of the Northern soul and mod revival scenes, where DJs championed his records and collectors drove up their prestige and value. (Key favorites include “The Pain Gets a Little Deeper,” “Gotta Draw the Line,” “Changing by the Minute,” “What Good Am I Without You,” and “My Young Misery.”) [Late 1970s–present (particularly 1980s mod revival onward)[2]]
• Elton John - High‑profile admirer who has cited Fletcher’s debut single as one of the greatest soul records, helping to reinforce Fletcher’s reputation among later generations of soul fans. (Public praise specifically for “The Pain Gets a Little Deeper,” often referenced in liner notes and reissue commentary.) [Commented retrospectively; cited in reissue notes published 2000s–2010s[2]]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. What Good Am I Without You (My Young Misery)
2. My Young Misery (My Young Misery)
3. The Pain Gets a Little Deeper (My Young Misery)
4. No Limit (My Young Misery)
5. What Have I Got Now (My Young Misery)
6. Now Is the Time for Love, Pt. 1 (My Young Misery)
7. Sitting There That Night (My Young Misery)
8. My Judgement Day (My Young Misery)
9. Now Is the Time for Love - Pt. 2 (The Pain Gets a Little Deeper)
10. Sitting There That Night (Laugh Now, Cry Later: Chicano Lowrider Oldies 1959-1973)

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz