Doris Troy
Doris Troy (January 6, 1937 – February 16, 2004) was an American Rhythm & B… Read Full Bio ↴Doris Troy (January 6, 1937 – February 16, 2004) was an American Rhythm & Blues singer, known to her many fans as "Mama Soul".
She was born as Doris Elaine Higginsen, in The Bronx, the daughter of a Barbadian Pentecostal minister. She later took her grandmother's name and grew up as Doris Payne. Her parents disapproved of "subversive" forms of music like rhythm & blues, so she cut her teeth singing in her father's choir. She was working as an usherette at the Apollo where she was discovered by James Brown.
Troy worked with Solomon Burke, The Drifters, Cissy Houston, and Dionne Warwick, before she co-wrote and recorded "Just One Look", which hit #10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. The song has been covered by The Hollies, Linda Ronstadt, Bryan Ferry, Anne Murray, Klaus Nomi, and Harry Nilsson. Her only foray into the UK Singles Chart, "Whatcha Gonna Do About It", peaked at #37 in December 1964.
As her solo career peaked, she sang back-up for the Rolling Stones, Humble Pie, Kevin Ayers, Pink Floyd (on their album The Dark Side of the Moon), George Harrison, Johnny Hallyday, Vivian Stanshall, Dusty Springfield, Nick Drake, Junior Campbell and Carly Simon.
She was signed by The Beatles to their Apple Records label in 1969, and released the Doris Troy album the following year, co-produced by Troy and George Harrison. Troy worked in the UK throughout the 1970s, appearing at Ronnie Scott's Club and recording a live album, The Rainbow Testament. Her People Records album, Stretching Out, was not a big seller.
Mama, I Want To Sing is a stage musical based on her life, and was co-written with her sister, Vy, a popular New York radio personality. It ran for 1,500 performances at the Heckscher Theatre in Harlem. Troy played her own mother, Geraldine. Chaka Khan played her aunt in the London production, as did Deniece Williams. The musical has been reinterpreted as an upcoming motion picture, starring Ciara, Patti Labelle and Hill Harper.
Troy died from emphysema at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada, aged 67.
She was born as Doris Elaine Higginsen, in The Bronx, the daughter of a Barbadian Pentecostal minister. She later took her grandmother's name and grew up as Doris Payne. Her parents disapproved of "subversive" forms of music like rhythm & blues, so she cut her teeth singing in her father's choir. She was working as an usherette at the Apollo where she was discovered by James Brown.
Troy worked with Solomon Burke, The Drifters, Cissy Houston, and Dionne Warwick, before she co-wrote and recorded "Just One Look", which hit #10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. The song has been covered by The Hollies, Linda Ronstadt, Bryan Ferry, Anne Murray, Klaus Nomi, and Harry Nilsson. Her only foray into the UK Singles Chart, "Whatcha Gonna Do About It", peaked at #37 in December 1964.
As her solo career peaked, she sang back-up for the Rolling Stones, Humble Pie, Kevin Ayers, Pink Floyd (on their album The Dark Side of the Moon), George Harrison, Johnny Hallyday, Vivian Stanshall, Dusty Springfield, Nick Drake, Junior Campbell and Carly Simon.
She was signed by The Beatles to their Apple Records label in 1969, and released the Doris Troy album the following year, co-produced by Troy and George Harrison. Troy worked in the UK throughout the 1970s, appearing at Ronnie Scott's Club and recording a live album, The Rainbow Testament. Her People Records album, Stretching Out, was not a big seller.
Mama, I Want To Sing is a stage musical based on her life, and was co-written with her sister, Vy, a popular New York radio personality. It ran for 1,500 performances at the Heckscher Theatre in Harlem. Troy played her own mother, Geraldine. Chaka Khan played her aunt in the London production, as did Deniece Williams. The musical has been reinterpreted as an upcoming motion picture, starring Ciara, Patti Labelle and Hill Harper.
Troy died from emphysema at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada, aged 67.
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Doris Troy Lyrics
Ain't That Cute Some folks want to be big wheels, And stand up…
all that i've got All that I got, I want you to know, I…
Beg Me Baby you walked out on me-ee-ee Leaving me in misery Now you…
Exactly Like You I used to have a perfect sweetheart Not a real one,…
Get Back I see my baby walking down the track I'm gonna try…
Give Me Back My Dynamite Every time that I see you You keep coming on strong With…
Gonna Get My Baby Back I see my baby walking down the track I'm gonna try…
I Just one look and I fell so hard In love with…
I'll Do Anything He'd go to the end of the world Just to be…
Just One Look Just one look and I fell so hard In love with…
Just One Look 1963 Just one look and I fell so hard In love with…
Misty Look at me I'm as helpless as a kitten up a…
Please Little Angel Please little angel Send me someone to love Please little an…
So Far So far, gone and took my soul Left this heart that…
Someone Ain't Right Someone is gettin' in trouble Someone hasn't seen the light …
Stormy Weather Don't know why there's no sun up in the sky,…
Time This world has no patience, time It's spinning while we're w…
Trust In Me Come to me without more speculation Have no fear, give me…
What'cha Gonna Do About It Every time I call you on the phone They tell me…
What'cha Gonna Do About It? Our love, yeah Is slowly going on the rocks now Yeah,…
You Can't Always Get What You Want I saw her today at the reception A glass of wine…
You Give Me Joy Joy You make me happy, you make me glad You've given me…