Cry to me..........
Fire Island featuring Loleatta Holloway - Shout To The Top
The Original Salsoul version of Dreamin
Influences
Interview with Legendary Diva Loleatta Holloway
Conducted and provided by Dayna Newman of Dva music.
(Dayna)-Hi Loleatta, Thank you for your time and your spirit..
I have some questions that I and some of your fan's from Discomusic.com would love to ask you.
1-(Dayna)-Girl I heard you tore the roof off of Splash the other week, Lady Bunny and I are very good friends she as well as Ron Richardson said you were on FIRE and when you did "Worn Out Broken Heart" you were beating on tables and the floor.
Does the atmosphere have a lot to do with your energy level at a gig or is it just programmed into you after being in the business for the length of time you've been in it?
(Loleatta Holloway)- (both of us giggling"Oh thank you darlin, and the energy has everything to do with it, I play off the energy and it really gets me going. I had a great time at that gig.
2- Miss Loleatta ,as you know I run your myspace page and I have to tell you that I have never seen anyone with such devoted fans..and I've dealt with lots of other artists fans.
The love they show is amazing.
How does it make you feel to know that you are so loved and idolized?
(Loleatta Holloway)-It feels great, I thought the children had forgot about me, with me going off to Japan and things like that.
(Dayna) Oh trust me girl ,the children have most definitely not forgotten about you.
You're a legend and one of the most distinctive voices in music history.
(Loleatta Holloway)-That's good to know, That makes me happy, thank you for saying so.
3-(Dayna)-I have to give it up for Mr Ron Richardson, he is an amazing person and we have a kiki when we blow up the phone. He has to be fun to work with ?
(Loleatta Holloway)-Oh I love Ron.
I don't talk to anyone on the phone as long as I do with Ron ,we laugh and carry on, I have really grown to love him.
4- I have to ask you about working with Dan Hartman, How was that experience for you and
even though he's not with us anymore the record you did together as well as his other work including producing The Mega hit "Love Sensation" will keep him with us forever. Did you and he have a special bond ?
(Loleatta Holloway)- Oh yes we had a very special bond.
When he first came to me with "Relight My Fire"he had a choice of using Bette Midler, Patti Labelle or me, he chose me obviously.
He told me that he heard Hit and Run and said "I have to have Loleatta Holloway".
And with "Love Sensation" he showed me the song and then we went in the studio it was the hardest song I have ever sang, I had to do it 29 times.
I had to do it so many times I lost my voice ,I couldnt even talk the second day so I told him to get me some Vicks vapor rub and I swallowed it with some coffee and that's how I was able to hold that note so long.
(Dayna)- I know you were workin girl."both laughing"...Because that song is off the charts hot.
5-(Dayna) When I say Vince Montana Jr. What words come to mind ?
(Loleatta Holloway)-Runaway...Vince was really cool, I never had a problem with any of my producers, they kind of let me take the reins .
6-(Dayna)-Johan aka Videoskooter from DiscoMusic.com would like me to ask you if while you recording all your fabulous tracks "too many to name" would you imagine so many years later they would still be packing dance floors and you would be basically designated as "THE VOICE".?.Oh he sends a big kiss to you as well. and he's fine too,"both LOL"
(Loleatta Holloway)- For real? No I would have never thought so.
I never thought of myself as a good singer..
(Dayna)- GIRL~!!!..OMG, You have such a clear voice with so much range.
(Loleatta Holloway)- When I was five years old I started singing in church and I hated my voice because I sounded like a grown woman not a child.
I was ashamed of it.
I have always loved to listen to people sing and never thought of myself as a singer.
That's why I don't have that jealousy issue that a lot of artists have.
7-(Dayna)-How was it working with Norman Harris on the legendary "Hit and Run"?
That song still makes me weak.
(Loleatta Holloway)-It was beautiful, Norman was like a baby.
But when I sang Hit and Run I said "this is the longest song I have ever heard"
"both of us laughing"..You know it was disco and that song was long~!!
It took us three days in the studio.
8-(Dayna) How was it working on Good Vibrations with Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch how did you resist grabbin Mark Walberg's booty lol?
I would have had to get me a good feel.
(Loleatta Holloway)-"both laughing"...Imma leave that alone, They really don't talk about that song anymore..
(Dayna)-OH I see, because Mark Walberg is a big movie star now he thinks he can erase it just like that, WELL, he cant take away the fact that you laid down some Fierce vocals on it and he never will be able to.
(Loleatta)-When they did the video the first time I was in it ,everything was in black and white but I was in color singing.
They redid the video and took me out all but for a second I flash on the screen ,but if you blink you will miss me.
(Dayna)- That's a Travesty.
9-(Dayna)-I Love "Crash Goes Love" was that what you would call freestyle?
It had that latin miami freestlye vibe to it and I must say that I love that vibe.
(Loleatta Holloway)-Oh I don't know what it was but I do know that the first day they gave me that song they said come on Loleatta and get in here and lets just hear a little bit of how it might sound.
I said I have to take it home and learn it first, and they said why don't you just try it ,so I got in the recording booth and I sang it and they said "That's it "
we have what we need.
I got that song in one take.
10-(Dayna)-I'm scared a you.."both lol"Who are your favorite artists to work with?
Because I know not all are a good time waiting to be had"TRUST"..
(Loleatta Holloway)-I don't mess with a lot of people I go to my dressing room and mind my business, I finish mine and I'm gone, I have always had kids so I had to get my rest on..
Or go shopping I LOVE to shop. and I use to give fierce parties that would go on for days..
Men dressed like mermaids and oh all kinds of carrying on.
and if I have to get in something I use what's called the LONG SPOON..
That way you can stir and not get caught..
(Dayna)-I aint mad at ya "both LOL" but I was "ROTF"@ The Long Spoon .
Girl I need to get me one of those long spoon's mines to short I always get caught stirring the sh*t..
(Loleatta)-"both still lol" But I love working with Melba Moore, I'm very comfortable working with her plus I love to hear her sing, that lady is a worker.
I use to work with the caravan and listen to Aretha Franklin and other artist as well.
I love listening to other people sing.
11-(Dayna)-If you could only use one song to define your career what song would it be?
(Loleatta Holloway)-Love Sensation.
That song has been sampled so many times .Madonna was the first to sample it.
I was sitting in the theater watching Toys with Robin Williams and he was playing with some kind of box and all of a sudden I thought I heard my voice coming through it and I thought well maybe it isn't me but he pushed it again and again and it was defiantly me singing "Love Sensation",but in different parts, not in order.
12-(Dayna) Loleatta you don't seem to slow down girl.
What do you think the secret to your longevity is ,besides the fact that your fans are always begging for more?
(Loleatta)-God
(Dayna)-Amen
13-(Dayna)- Tom Moulton wanted me to tell you hello, . Oh as well as Evelyn Champagne King, Taana Gardner, Linda Clifford, Carol Williams, Ultra Nat'e, Tom Moulton, Colonel Abrams, Dimitri From Paris,Donna Mcghee and countless others..They send messages via your myspace page.
(Loleatta Holloway)-Oh really ? That's so nice..I haven't talked to Tom in so long tell him I said hello as well as the rest of them.
(Dayna)-I will..
14-(Dayna)-I have heard a lot of shady business about black entertainers and royalty checks
did you have any problems with getting your royalty checks, and was it different for white artists?
(Loleatta)-Show me the first white person that said "I didn't get a royalty check"
They're mostly quiet about it so not to cause an uproar.
I have not received one check that said ROYALTY on it~!!!!
The way the black artists really made our money was the gigs.
And all these record's I have ? Please..
And when Black Box did "Ride On Time" they used a skinny drag queen as the so called lead singer..and they even went on Soul Train.
Those people at Soul Train knew that was me singing that song, they sold me out .
They were perpetrating~!!
There was a venue that had Black Box perform one night and then me the next week as the voice of Black Box and they paid them more than me~!!
(Dayna)-I'm shocked, but then again I have heard this from Taana Gardner and others as well
Mel Cheren never gave Taana what she was owed either from what she told me
I just don't understand how people get treated this way?.
(Loleatta) They don't care, People don't care Dayna.
(Dayna)-Well I am going to do my best to see what I can do as far as at least letting it be known that it's so lopsided and shady.
15-(Dayna)-Discodisc ,would like me to ask you what your favorite songs from your aware recordings are?
(Loleatta Holloway)-I don't have them near me, but I love the ballads, Disco was the thing so people really didn't mess with the ballads.
16-(Dayna)-Do you have any new projects in the works that we can look forward to ?
(Loleatta Holloway)-I always have something up my sleeve"then tell's me a couple of things that aren't out of the box yet"
(Dayna)-Sounds fabulous ,Thank you Loleatta and I love you.
(Loleatta)-I love you too baby
YES LEGENDARY SINGER LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY @ CLUB SPLASH ON SUNDAY, 9/16 50 WEST 17TH ST, BETWEEN 5AVE AND 6TH AVE.SHES GOING TO HIT AND RUN AT CHRISTINA VISCA'S BIRTHDAY PARTY AND JUNIOUR VAZQUEZ WILL BE ON THE WHEELS OF STEEL.AND LEGENDARY SINGER MELBA MOORE AND CAROL WILLIAMS WILL BE IN THE HOUSE. JUST TO NAME A FEW. THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF LIFE ANOTHER YEAR ANOTHER DAY.SO COME AND FEEL THE LOVE SENSATION FROM MS LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY. NYC YOU KNOW SHE DONT PLAY WITH HER SINGING SHE CAN MAKE THE WALLS CAVE IN LOL LOL SEE YOU THEIR TELL A FRIEND TO TELL A FREIND LETS PACK THE HOUSE ***RON***
It may surprise some that perennial dance diva Loleatta Holloway's highest charting solo record was a soulful ballad, "Cry to Me." Still, Holloway is best known for dancefloor workouts like "Love Sensation," "Hit and Run," and "Run Away." Born in Chicago in 1946, Holloway developed her throaty, full-bodied vocal style and dramatic presentation while singing with her mother in the gospel group, the Holloway Community Singers. She later began taking acting classes. As a teenager, she joined classic gospel group the Caravans led by Albertina Walker who recorded for Savoy Records. In the early '70s, she joined the Chicago cast of the musical Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope. Around this time, she met her future producer, manager, and husband Floyd Smith. Smith produced a cover of Gene Chandler's 1963/1965 hit "Rainbow '71" for his Apache label. Atlanta businessman Michael Thevis, who had just started GRC (General Recording Corporation), signed Holloway to his Aware label. The small double-sided hit "Our Love" (number 43 R&B)/"Mother of Shame" (number 63 R&B) charted during the summer of 1973. The tunes were included on her debut album, Loleatta (1973). "Cry to Me," the title track of her second album, gave Holloway her highest charting solo single on the R&B and pop charts; written by master songwriter Sam Dees, it hit number ten R&B in early 1975.
While with GRC, Holloway met promotion director Gus Redmond whom she would later work with at Salsoul Records. In 1976, GRC went out of business and Holloway signed with Norman Harris' Salsoul-distributed label, Gold Mind Records. Guitarist/arranger/songwriter/producer Harris was a veteran of the Philly soul scene, having been a member of MFSB, the studio band for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records. He'd joined with fellow MFSB vets bassist Ron Baker and drummer Earl Young to form Baker-Harris-Young Productions (the Trammps, First Choice, Double Exposure, Love Committee, Eddie Holman). Oddly enough (possibly the label was hedging their bets), dance-oriented Gold Mind's first release on Holloway was the Dees ballad "Worn Out Broken Heart." The catchy Harris-produced up-tempo flip side "Dreamin'" reached number 72 pop and was popular in discos. Her first Gold Mind LP Loleatta (released March 1977) was both produced in Chicago by Floyd Smith and in Philadelphia by Baker-Harris-Young. In addition to "Worn Out Broken Heart," the album included "Hit and Run," which peaked at number 56 R&B. The two elongated alternate jam session takes of "Hit and Run" are disco classics. "Run Away," co-written by Vincent Montana, Jr., was released as the Salsoul Orchestra featuring Loleatta Holloway and was Holloway's next chart single (number 89 R&B in late 1977). After Gold Mind folded, all of their acts were transferred to Salsoul. Her first Salsoul LP, Queen of the Night (September 1978), yielded the disco hits "Catch Me on the Rebound," "Mama Don't, Papa Won't," and "I May Not Be There When You Want Me." The LP also spawned her second highest charting single on the R&B charts, the duet ballad "Only You" by Loleatta Holloway and Bunny Sigler, which hit number 11 R&B in late summer 1978. Her next album, Loleatta Holloway (September 1979), included the disco hits "All About the Papers," "That's What You Said" (another Holloway/Sigler duet), "The Greatest Performance of My Life," and the deep-soul ballad "There Must Be a Reason." Around 1979, Holloway contributed vocals to "Relight My Fire," a massive disco hit for Dan Hartman ("Instant Replay," "I Can Dream About You"). Hartman produced what became the singer's signature tune, "Love Sensation," which caused quite a sensation on the disco charts. The song was also the title of Holloway's 1980 LP that spawned the disco hits "Dance What Cha Wanna" and "Short End of the Stick." Holloway was reunited with the Salsoul Orchestra on a track written and produced by Patrick Adams (Inner Life, Phreek), "Seconds." Though she never had a pop hit in the U.S., Holloway had a huge following in Europe and Japan. In the mid-'80s, Salsoul ceased operations and Holloway was without a recording contract. Shortly after producing a cover of Rufus & Chaka Khan's "Sweet Thing" for Holloway, Floyd Smith died in 1984. That same year, the singer signed with Streetwise Records, a label owned by producer Arthur Baker (Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force). The single "Crash Goes Love" b/w "Sweet Thing" peaked at number 86 R&B in late summer 1984. Throughout the '80s and '90s, Holloway recorded for a succession of labels: DJ International, Saturday, Warlock, and Select, among others. During the '90s, audio sampling became in vogue and snippets of Holloway's vocals can been heard on numerous dance records from around the world. This practice has led to some litigation (Blackbox's "Ride on Time"). Holloway's fortunes took a turn for the better when Mark Wahlberg, younger brother of New Kids on the Block's Donnie Wahlberg, sampled "Love Sensation" for his million-selling 1991 hit. "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch featuring Loleatta Holloway hit number one pop during the fall of that year. The disco diva was in more demand than ever, riding the momentum of a number one pop hit. Holloway occasionally tours and resides in Chicago
Girlfriend...I miss the heck out of you... always kind and loving towards me.. will never forget you... Blessings & Bounty... Sharon Brown I Specialize In Love
I just wanted to stop by Your Space Place and say hello. Also wanted to stop by and show some support and love. Here's sending it your way! I'll stop back by soon to see how you are doing. Have a great week!
hey Diva! Love you! still love Crash Goes Love! and all the wonderful moments at the Paradise G!!!! Best wishes to you and your family!!!! You are one of my TOP friends....thanks for the musical legacy ...RODNEY
Hi! Loleatta Holloway Just stopping by to wish you Happy Easter! "Love sensation" (Mario Leonard Private Mix) is still a Big Hit at the Club! Hope to have the chance to see you on stage... From DJ/Producer Mario Leonard
God doesn't give you the people you want, He gives you the people you NEED - To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be.
Dear God: The lady reading this, is beautiful, classy and strong, and I love her.. Help her live her life to the fullest. Please promote her and cause her to excel above her expectations.
Help her shine in the darkest places where it is impossible to love. Protect her at all times, lift her up when she needs you the most, and let her know when she walks with you, She will always be safe. Love you.
Now you're on the clock!!!! In 9 minutes something will make you happy. But you have to tell 9 sisters you love them, including me.
Hosted By:WWW. AQUA-BOOTY. COM When: Thursday Oct 23, 2008 at 10:00 PM Where SIN-SIN (THE LEOPARD LOUNGE) 248 EAST 5 STREET, UPSTAIRS NEW YORK, NY 10002 United States Description: WWW. AQUA-BOOTY. COM
Interview with Legendary Diva Loleatta Holloway
Conducted and provided by Dayna Newman of Dva music.
(Dayna)-Hi Loleatta, Thank you for your time and your spirit..
I have some questions that I and some of your fan's from Discomusic.com would love to ask you.
1-(Dayna)-Girl I heard you tore the roof off of Splash the other week, Lady Bunny and I are very good friends she as well as Ron Richardson said you were on FIRE and when you did "Worn Out Broken Heart" you were beating on tables and the floor.
Does the atmosphere have a lot to do with your energy level at a gig or is it just programmed into you after being in the business for the length of time you've been in it?
(Loleatta Holloway)- (both of us giggling"Oh thank you darlin, and the energy has everything to do with it, I play off the energy and it really gets me going. I had a great time at that gig.
2- Miss Loleatta ,as you know I run your myspace page and I have to tell you that I have never seen anyone with such devoted fans..and I've dealt with lots of other artists fans.
The love they show is amazing.
How does it make you feel to know that you are so loved and idolized?
(Loleatta Holloway)-It feels great, I thought the children had forgot about me, with me going off to Japan and things like that.
(Dayna) Oh trust me girl ,the children have most definitely not forgotten about you.
You're a legend and one of the most distinctive voices in music history.
(Loleatta Holloway)-That's good to know, That makes me happy, thank you for saying so.
3-(Dayna)-I have to give it up for Mr Ron Richardson, he is an amazing person and we have a kiki when we blow up the phone. He has to be fun to work with ?
(Loleatta Holloway)-Oh I love Ron.
I don't talk to anyone on the phone as long as I do with Ron ,we laugh and carry on, I have really grown to love him.
4- I have to ask you about working with Dan Hartman, How was that experience for you and
even though he's not with us anymore the record you did together as well as his other work including producing The Mega hit "Love Sensation" will keep him with us forever. Did you and he have a special bond ?
(Loleatta Holloway)- Oh yes we had a very special bond.
When he first came to me with "Relight My Fire"he had a choice of using Bette Midler, Patti Labelle or me, he chose me obviously.
He told me that he heard Hit and Run and said "I have to have Loleatta Holloway".
And with "Love Sensation" he showed me the song and then we went in the studio it was the hardest song I have ever sang, I had to do it 29 times.
I had to do it so many times I lost my voice ,I couldnt even talk the second day so I told him to get me some Vicks vapor rub and I swallowed it with some coffee and that's how I was able to hold that note so long.
(Dayna)- I know you were workin girl."both laughing"...Because that song is off the charts hot.
5-(Dayna) When I say Vince Montana Jr. What words come to mind ?
(Loleatta Holloway)-Runaway...Vince was really cool, I never had a problem with any of my producers, they kind of let me take the reins .
6-(Dayna)-Johan aka Videoskooter from DiscoMusic.com would like me to ask you if while you recording all your fabulous tracks "too many to name" would you imagine so many years later they would still be packing dance floors and you would be basically designated as "THE VOICE".?.Oh he sends a big kiss to you as well. and he's fine too,"both LOL"
(Loleatta Holloway)- For real? No I would have never thought so.
I never thought of myself as a good singer..
(Dayna)- GIRL~!!!..OMG, You have such a clear voice with so much range.
(Loleatta Holloway)- When I was five years old I started singing in church and I hated my voice because I sounded like a grown woman not a child.
I was ashamed of it.
I have always loved to listen to people sing and never thought of myself as a singer.
That's why I don't have that jealousy issue that a lot of artists have.
7-(Dayna)-How was it working with Norman Harris on the legendary "Hit and Run"?
That song still makes me weak.
(Loleatta Holloway)-It was beautiful, Norman was like a baby.
But when I sang Hit and Run I said "this is the longest song I have ever heard"
"both of us laughing"..You know it was disco and that song was long~!!
It took us three days in the studio.
8-(Dayna) How was it working on Good Vibrations with Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch how did you resist grabbin Mark Walberg's booty lol?
I would have had to get me a good feel.
(Loleatta Holloway)-"both laughing"...Imma leave that alone, They really don't talk about that song anymore..
(Dayna)-OH I see, because Mark Walberg is a big movie star now he thinks he can erase it just like that, WELL, he cant take away the fact that you laid down some Fierce vocals on it and he never will be able to.
(Loleatta)-When they did the video the first time I was in it ,everything was in black and white but I was in color singing.
They redid the video and took me out all but for a second I flash on the screen ,but if you blink you will miss me.
(Dayna)- That's a Travesty.
9-(Dayna)-I Love "Crash Goes Love" was that what you would call freestyle?
It had that latin miami freestlye vibe to it and I must say that I love that vibe.
(Loleatta Holloway)-Oh I don't know what it was but I do know that the first day they gave me that song they said come on Loleatta and get in here and lets just hear a little bit of how it might sound.
I said I have to take it home and learn it first, and they said why don't you just try it ,so I got in the recording booth and I sang it and they said "That's it "
we have what we need.
I got that song in one take.
10-(Dayna)-I'm scared a you.."both lol"Who are your favorite artists to work with?
Because I know not all are a good time waiting to be had"TRUST"..
(Loleatta Holloway)-I don't mess with a lot of people I go to my dressing room and mind my business, I finish mine and I'm gone, I have always had kids so I had to get my rest on..
Or go shopping I LOVE to shop. and I use to give fierce parties that would go on for days..
Men dressed like mermaids and oh all kinds of carrying on.
and if I have to get in something I use what's called the LONG SPOON..
That way you can stir and not get caught..
(Dayna)-I aint mad at ya "both LOL" but I was "ROTF"@ The Long Spoon .
Girl I need to get me one of those long spoon's mines to short I always get caught stirring the sh*t..
(Loleatta)-"both still lol" But I love working with Melba Moore, I'm very comfortable working with her plus I love to hear her sing, that lady is a worker.
I use to work with the caravan and listen to Aretha Franklin and other artist as well.
I love listening to other people sing.
11-(Dayna)-If you could only use one song to define your career what song would it be?
(Loleatta Holloway)-Love Sensation.
That song has been sampled so many times .Madonna was the first to sample it.
I was sitting in the theater watching Toys with Robin Williams and he was playing with some kind of box and all of a sudden I thought I heard my voice coming through it and I thought well maybe it isn't me but he pushed it again and again and it was defiantly me singing "Love Sensation",but in different parts, not in order.
12-(Dayna) Loleatta you don't seem to slow down girl.
What do you think the secret to your longevity is ,besides the fact that your fans are always begging for more?
(Loleatta)-God
(Dayna)-Amen
13-(Dayna)- Tom Moulton wanted me to tell you hello, . Oh as well as Evelyn Champagne King, Taana Gardner, Linda Clifford, Carol Williams, Ultra Nat'e, Tom Moulton, Colonel Abrams, Dimitri From Paris,Donna Mcghee and countless others..They send messages via your myspace page.
(Loleatta Holloway)-Oh really ? That's so nice..I haven't talked to Tom in so long tell him I said hello as well as the rest of them.
(Dayna)-I will..
14-(Dayna)-I have heard a lot of shady business about black entertainers and royalty checks
did you have any problems with getting your royalty checks, and was it different for white artists?
(Loleatta)-Show me the first white person that said "I didn't get a royalty check"
They're mostly quiet about it so not to cause an uproar.
I have not received one check that said ROYALTY on it~!!!!
The way the black artists really made our money was the gigs.
And all these record's I have ? Please..
And when Black Box did "Ride On Time" they used a skinny drag queen as the so called lead singer..and they even went on Soul Train.
Those people at Soul Train knew that was me singing that song, they sold me out .
They were perpetrating~!!
There was a venue that had Black Box perform one night and then me the next week as the voice of Black Box and they paid them more than me~!!
(Dayna)-I'm shocked, but then again I have heard this from Taana Gardner and others as well
Mel Cheren never gave Taana what she was owed either from what she told me
I just don't understand how people get treated this way?.
(Loleatta) They don't care, People don't care Dayna.
(Dayna)-Well I am going to do my best to see what I can do as far as at least letting it be known that it's so lopsided and shady.
15-(Dayna)-Discodisc ,would like me to ask you what your favorite songs from your aware recordings are?
(Loleatta Holloway)-I don't have them near me, but I love the ballads, Disco was the thing so people really didn't mess with the ballads.
16-(Dayna)-Do you have any new projects in the works that we can look forward to ?
(Loleatta Holloway)-I always have something up my sleeve"then tell's me a couple of things that aren't out of the box yet"
(Dayna)-Sounds fabulous ,Thank you Loleatta and I love you.
(Loleatta)-I love you too baby
It may surprise some that perennial dance diva Loleatta Holloway's highest charting solo record was a soulful ballad, "Cry to Me." Still, Holloway is best known for dancefloor workouts like "Love Sensation," "Hit and Run," and "Run Away." Born in Chicago in 1946, Holloway developed her throaty, full-bodied vocal style and dramatic presentation while singing with her mother in the gospel group, the Holloway Community Singers. She later began taking acting classes. As a teenager, she joined classic gospel group the Caravans led by Albertina Walker who recorded for Savoy Records. In the early '70s, she joined the Chicago cast of the musical Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope. Around this time, she met her future producer, manager, and husband Floyd Smith. Smith produced a cover of Gene Chandler's 1963/1965 hit "Rainbow '71" for his Apache label. Atlanta businessman Michael Thevis, who had just started GRC (General Recording Corporation), signed Holloway to his Aware label. The small double-sided hit "Our Love" (number 43 R&B)/"Mother of Shame" (number 63 R&B) charted during the summer of 1973. The tunes were included on her debut album, Loleatta (1973). "Cry to Me," the title track of her second album, gave Holloway her highest charting solo single on the R&B and pop charts; written by master songwriter Sam Dees, it hit number ten R&B in early 1975.
While with GRC, Holloway met promotion director Gus Redmond whom she would later work with at Salsoul Records. In 1976, GRC went out of business and Holloway signed with Norman Harris' Salsoul-distributed label, Gold Mind Records. Guitarist/arranger/songwriter/producer Harris was a veteran of the Philly soul scene, having been a member of MFSB, the studio band for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records. He'd joined with fellow MFSB vets bassist Ron Baker and drummer Earl Young to form Baker-Harris-Young Productions (the Trammps, First Choice, Double Exposure, Love Committee, Eddie Holman). Oddly enough (possibly the label was hedging their bets), dance-oriented Gold Mind's first release on Holloway was the Dees ballad "Worn Out Broken Heart." The catchy Harris-produced up-tempo flip side "Dreamin'" reached number 72 pop and was popular in discos. Her first Gold Mind LP Loleatta (released March 1977) was both produced in Chicago by Floyd Smith and in Philadelphia by Baker-Harris-Young. In addition to "Worn Out Broken Heart," the album included "Hit and Run," which peaked at number 56 R&B. The two elongated alternate jam session takes of "Hit and Run" are disco classics. "Run Away," co-written by Vincent Montana, Jr., was released as the Salsoul Orchestra featuring Loleatta Holloway and was Holloway's next chart single (number 89 R&B in late 1977). After Gold Mind folded, all of their acts were transferred to Salsoul. Her first Salsoul LP, Queen of the Night (September 1978), yielded the disco hits "Catch Me on the Rebound," "Mama Don't, Papa Won't," and "I May Not Be There When You Want Me." The LP also spawned her second highest charting single on the R&B charts, the duet ballad "Only You" by Loleatta Holloway and Bunny Sigler, which hit number 11 R&B in late summer 1978. Her next album, Loleatta Holloway (September 1979), included the disco hits "All About the Papers," "That's What You Said" (another Holloway/Sigler duet), "The Greatest Performance of My Life," and the deep-soul ballad "There Must Be a Reason." Around 1979, Holloway contributed vocals to "Relight My Fire," a massive disco hit for Dan Hartman ("Instant Replay," "I Can Dream About You"). Hartman produced what became the singer's signature tune, "Love Sensation," which caused quite a sensation on the disco charts. The song was also the title of Holloway's 1980 LP that spawned the disco hits "Dance What Cha Wanna" and "Short End of the Stick." Holloway was reunited with the Salsoul Orchestra on a track written and produced by Patrick Adams (Inner Life, Phreek), "Seconds." Though she never had a pop hit in the U.S., Holloway had a huge following in Europe and Japan. In the mid-'80s, Salsoul ceased operations and Holloway was without a recording contract. Shortly after producing a cover of Rufus & Chaka Khan's "Sweet Thing" for Holloway, Floyd Smith died in 1984. That same year, the singer signed with Streetwise Records, a label owned by producer Arthur Baker (Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force). The single "Crash Goes Love" b/w "Sweet Thing" peaked at number 86 R&B in late summer 1984. Throughout the '80s and '90s, Holloway recorded for a succession of labels: DJ International, Saturday, Warlock, and Select, among others. During the '90s, audio sampling became in vogue and snippets of Holloway's vocals can been heard on numerous dance records from around the world. This practice has led to some litigation (Blackbox's "Ride on Time"). Holloway's fortunes took a turn for the better when Mark Wahlberg, younger brother of New Kids on the Block's Donnie Wahlberg, sampled "Love Sensation" for his million-selling 1991 hit. "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch featuring Loleatta Holloway hit number one pop during the fall of that year. The disco diva was in more demand than ever, riding the momentum of a number one pop hit. Holloway occasionally tours and resides in Chicago
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