Biography
Flora Yvonne Coleman, known professionally as Yvonne Fair, was born on October 21, 1942 in Richmond, Virginia, and grew up partly in the Bronx, New York.[1][5] Raised in the church and drawn early to rhythm and blues, she left school in her teens and initially married Leroy Fair, from whom she took the surname she would keep onstage.[1][6] Fair idolized powerhouse vocalists such as Etta James, shaping her own style around gritty, gospel-inflected soul singing and an extroverted stage presence that soon made her a draw on the club and revue circuit.[5]
Her professional break came in the early 1960s when she joined James Brown’s revue and became one of his protégées, touring extensively and recording several singles with the James Brown Band for King Records, including “I Found You” (1962), a song Brown later reworked into his smash hit “I Got You (I Feel Good)”.[1] Between 1962 and 1966 she cut at least five singles for King, followed by stints with Smash and Soul Records in the late 1960s as she continued honing a hard-edged, emotive soul style.[1] In the early 1970s she signed with Motown, appeared (and sang) in the Diana Ross film Lady Sings the Blues (1972), and worked closely with producer Norman Whitfield on singles such as “Love Ain’t No Toy”, “Walk Out the Door If You Wanna”, and a fiery version of “Funky Music Sho’ Nuff Turns Me On”.[1] Her sole Motown album, The Bitch Is Black (1975), yielded her signature hit, a dramatic cover of “It Should Have Been Me” that reached the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1976 and rose to No. 5 on the UK charts, cementing her reputation among soul and Northern soul audiences.[1]
Fair’s music blended classic soul, gospel shouts, and the orchestral funk of Whitfield-era Motown, delivered with theatrical humor and blistering emotional intensity that made her a favorite onstage even if mainstream chart success was limited.[1][4] She continued to perform into the 1980s, and her recordings later found renewed life on the UK Northern soul scene and in film and television soundtracks, introducing her to new generations of listeners.[1][2][4] In her personal life she married singer Sammy Strain of Little Anthony & the Imperials and later The O’Jays, and had two children, including daughter Venisha Brown with James Brown.[1][2] Yvonne Fair died in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 6, 1994, at the age of 51, leaving behind a compact but influential body of work revered by soul collectors for its raw power and attitude.[1][2]
Fun Facts
- Her 1962 single “I Found You” with the James Brown Band provided the basis for James Brown’s classic hit “I Got You (I Feel Good)”, one of the most recognizable soul songs of all time.[1]
- Her biggest hit, the fiery breakup anthem “It Should Have Been Me”, was actually a cover of a song previously recorded by Kim Weston and Gladys Knight, yet Fair’s version became the one that stormed the UK Top 5 in 1976.[1]
- Her lone Motown album was provocatively titled The Bitch Is Black, a bold statement in 1975 that matched her reputation as a no‑nonsense, high‑drama performer.[1]
- She had a daughter, Venisha Brown, with James Brown; Venisha later became publicly known in her own right as part of the extended Brown family, highlighting Fair’s close personal ties to one of soul music’s most iconic figures.[1][2]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- James Brown - Bandleader and early-career mentor; she joined his revue, toured with him, and recorded as part of the James Brown Band in the early 1960s, with Brown overseeing her sessions and reworking her song “I Found You” into his hit “I Got You (I Feel Good)”. (Singles for King Records including “I Found You”, “Say So Long”, “It Hurts To Be In Love”, “Say Yeah Yeah” (1962–1963); Brown’s later hit “I Got You (I Feel Good)” derived from her track.) [c. 1962–1966[1][2]]
- Etta James - Stylistic inspiration; Fair is reported to have idolized Etta James and patterned aspects of her hard-hitting, blues–soul vocal style after James. (No direct collaborations, but James’s classic Chess-era recordings served as a vocal model.) [Influence noted from her youth onward, especially 1950s–1960s listening.[5]]
Key Collaborators
- James Brown Band / James Brown Revue - Backing band and touring revue with which she recorded and performed extensively early in her career. (King Records singles including “Say So Long” / “Tell Me Why”, “I Found You” / “If I Knew”, “It Hurts To Be In Love” / “You Can Make It If You Try”, “Say Yeah Yeah” / “Straighten Up”, and “Tell Me Why” / “You Can Make It If You Try”.) [1962–1966[1][2]]
- Norman Whitfield - Motown producer who crafted her 1970s singles and album sessions in his trademark psychedelic soul/funk style. (Singles “Love Ain’t No Toy”, “Walk Out the Door If You Wanna”, “Funky Music Sho’ Nuff Turns Me On” and material on the album The Bitch Is Black.) [Early–mid 1970s[1][4]]
- Motown Records / Motown film projects - Label and production environment; she recorded as a solo artist and appeared as a performer in Motown’s film vehicle for Diana Ross. (Album The Bitch Is Black (1975); performance in the film Lady Sings the Blues (1972).) [Early–mid 1970s[1][2][4]]
- The Chantels - Classic girl group with whom she is reported by Motown sources to have sung, reflecting a period of group-based vocal work before or alongside her solo career. (Live performances as part of the group (specific recordings not clearly documented).) [1960s (exact years not clearly specified).[3][4]]
- Sammy Strain - Spouse and fellow performer; member of Little Anthony & the Imperials and later The O’Jays, with whom she shared personal and professional circles. (No known joint recordings, but overlapping touring and R&B group milieu.) [Marriage prior to their later divorce (exact dates not specified).[1][2]]
Artists Influenced
- Northern soul DJs and UK soul revival artists (e.g., Adeva as a later interpreter) - Her dramatic 1970s recordings, especially “It Should Have Been Me”, became staples of the UK Northern soul scene and were later revived and reinterpreted by other singers, contributing to the enduring popularity of this repertoire. (Her version of “It Should Have Been Me” (UK Top 5 in 1976), later covered by Adeva; ongoing reissues and DJ spins of The Bitch Is Black tracks.) [Impact from mid‑1970s onward, particularly 1980s–1990s Northern soul revival.[1]]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| The Bitch Is Black | 2008-01-01 | Album |
| The Motown Anthology (2CD) | 2005-01-01 | Album |
| Roots Of A Revolution | 1989-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- It Should Have Been Me (The Bitch Is Black)
- Straighten Up (James Brown's Original Funky Divas)
- I Found You (Roots Of A Revolution)
- If I Knew (James Brown's Original Funky Divas)
- It Should Have Been Me (R&B Soul)
- Let Your Hair Down (The Bitch Is Black)
- Straighten Up - Loko Velocet Remix (Straighten Up (Loko Velocet Remix))
- Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On (The Bitch Is Black)
- Stay A Little Longer (The Bitch Is Black)
- Say Yeah Yeah (James Brown's Original Funky Divas)
External Links
Heard on WWOZ
Yvonne Fair has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 6, 2025 | 20:22 | Let Your Hair Downfrom The Bitch is Black | Soul Powerw/ Soul Sister |