Loleatta Holloway

Biography

Loleatta Holloway was born in Chicago, Illinois, where she began singing gospel at age five with the Holloway Community Singers, a traveling group of over 100 members founded and led by her mother. She studied drama in school and, at 17, joined the renowned gospel group The Caravans led by Albertina Walker, recording eight albums from 1967 to 1972 with hits like 'Carry Me Home' and 'Jesus Will Fix It.' During this time, she opened for artists like Aretha Franklin and Redd Foxx, and performed in the Chicago cast of the musical 'Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope.' In 1971, during a break from The Caravans, she met songwriter/producer Floyd Smith, whom she later married, marking her transition to secular music with the regional hit 'Rainbow '71.'

Holloway's secular career gained momentum with Floyd Smith producing her debut albums on Atlanta's Aware Records, including the 1975 release 'Cry to Me,' which featured a Top 10 R&B single and drew comparisons to Diana Ross and Gladys Knight. Her breakthrough came in 1976 with producer Norman Harris at Salsoul's Gold Mind label, yielding disco classics like 'Hit and Run,' 'Dreamin’,' 'Love Sensation' (with Dan Hartman), and 'Queen of the Night.' Known for her powerful, emotive vocals in Philly soul, disco, and later house music, she scored nine disco hits between 1977 and 1979. A major resurgence occurred in the 1980s and 1990s via sampling, though she faced a bitter legal battle with Black Box over their unauthorized use of her vocals on 'Ride on Time.'

Holloway's legacy endures as one of the most-sampled voices in dance music, influencing Chicago house and post-disco with her intense, gospel-rooted delivery. She continued performing into the 2000s, releasing tracks like 'Strong Enough' with remixes by Larry Levan and Francois Kevorkian, and passed away on March 21, 2011, at age 64.

Fun Facts

• Holloway turned down secular recording until Floyd Smith hustled funds by selling pop bottles to record 'Rainbow ’71' within a week in 1971.
• She performed a benefit concert from her hospital bed in 1974 after getting doctor's permission, showcasing her dedication.
• Black Box initially claimed her sampled vocals on 'Ride on Time' were not hers, but fans in Europe recognized her voice despite the dispute.
• She was nearly hired by Martha Wash for a project but Wash recorded it for less money after persistent calls.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Albertina Walker - Led The Caravans gospel group that Holloway joined at 17 (Albums including 'Carry Me Home' and 'Jesus Will Fix It' (1967-1972)) [1967-1972]
• Floyd Smith - Producer, manager, and husband who launched her secular career (Albums 'Loleatta' (1973) and 'Cry to Me' (1975) on Aware Records) [1971-1970s]

Key Collaborators

• Norman Harris - Key producer for disco hits on Gold Mind/Salsoul ('Hit and Run,' 'Dreamin’,' albums 'Loleatta' (1977), 'Queen of the Night' (1978)) [1976-1979]
• Dan Hartman - Producer and co-collaborator on major tracks ('Love Sensation,' 'Relight My Fire') [Late 1970s]
• Tom Moulton - Disco producer on specific tracks ('You Light Up My Life') [1970s]

Artists Influenced

• Black Box - Sampled her vocals extensively, leading to legal battle; boosted her visibility ('Ride on Time' (1989-1990)) [Late 1980s-1990s]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #disco, #r&b, #soul