Loleatta Holloway

LOLEATTA WAS born in Chicago in 1946 and, like most of her peers, began singing in gospel groups before striking out on a solo career through GRC subsidiary Aware. In 1976, she was signed to the Norman Harris-helmed Gold Mind, an offshoot of Salsoul Records, where she recorded all of her best work, usually working with Harris. Although she made a number of classic recordings it was through her live work that Loleatta excelled, often performing at the gay clubs of the era, like the Paradise Garage and Better Days. Her vocal were later sampled by Black Box for their controversial hit 'Ride On Time'. Loleatta died on March 21st after a short period of ill health.