Gloria Lynne
Gloria Lynne (born Gloria Wilson; November 23, 1929 – October 15, 2013) was… Read Full Bio ↴Gloria Lynne (born Gloria Wilson; November 23, 1929 – October 15, 2013) was an American jazz vocalist with a recording career spanning from 1958 to 2007. She grew up in Harlem; her mother, Mary, was a gospel singer.
Lynne was born in Harlem in 1929 to John and Mary Wilson. As a young girl, Lynne sang with the local African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Choir. At the age of 15, she won first prize at the "Amateur Night" at the Apollo Theater. She shared the stage with contemporary night club vocal ensembles as well as with Ella Fitzgerald, recording as part of such groups as the Enchanters and the Dell-Tones in the 1950s. She recorded as a soloist under her birth name, though most of her work was released under her stage name on the Everest and Fontana labels. She was signed to Everest in 1958.
Although showing much promise early on, especially after TV appearances, including the Harry Belafonte Spectacular, her development suffered through poor management: some unscrupulous recording "executives" profited while she was left virtually penniless, saved by the fact that she was able to work steadily and earn her money from performances—a victim of unpaid royalties.
In the 1960s she had several hits including "June Night", "Love I Found You", "I'm Glad There Is You", "I Wish You Love" (1964)—which became her signature song—and her answer to Gene McDaniels's "Tower Of Strength", "(You Don't Have to Be a) Tower Of Strength", a pop hit that proved how versatile she could be in the studio. After her time with Everest Records she moved to Fontana and recorded such albums as Soul Serenade, Love And A Woman, Where It's At, and Here, There And Everywhere, all of which showcased her versatility in jazz, RnB, soul and melodic "pop".
During her earlier years on the road Gloria Lynne shared bills with some of the giants of RnB, jazz, pop and standards including Ray Charles, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Mathis and Ella Fitzgerald. Notable TV specials include two with Harry Belafonte and duets with Billy Eckstine. As Lynne moved into jazz in her later career she worked with top flight musicians and arrangers and performed with many of the jazz greats, including Quincy Jones, Bobby Timmons, Philly Joe Jones, Harry "Sweets" Edison.
She famously wrote lyrics for “Watermelon Man” with Herbie Hancock, and “All Day Long” with Kenny Burrell. New York City proclaimed July 25, 1995 as Gloria Lynne Day. In 1996 Lynne received the International Women of Jazz Award and she was honored with a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1997. Other awards and recognitions include the National Treasure Award from the Seasoned Citizens Theatre Company (2003); induction into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame; Living Legend Award from the State of Pennsylvania (2007).
She and her husband, Harry Alleyne, had a son, Richard. Gloria and Richard Alleyne ran a production company, Family Bread Music Inc. Gloria and Harry Alleyne divorced in 1968.
She died of a heart attack on October 15, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey.
Lynne was born in Harlem in 1929 to John and Mary Wilson. As a young girl, Lynne sang with the local African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Choir. At the age of 15, she won first prize at the "Amateur Night" at the Apollo Theater. She shared the stage with contemporary night club vocal ensembles as well as with Ella Fitzgerald, recording as part of such groups as the Enchanters and the Dell-Tones in the 1950s. She recorded as a soloist under her birth name, though most of her work was released under her stage name on the Everest and Fontana labels. She was signed to Everest in 1958.
Although showing much promise early on, especially after TV appearances, including the Harry Belafonte Spectacular, her development suffered through poor management: some unscrupulous recording "executives" profited while she was left virtually penniless, saved by the fact that she was able to work steadily and earn her money from performances—a victim of unpaid royalties.
In the 1960s she had several hits including "June Night", "Love I Found You", "I'm Glad There Is You", "I Wish You Love" (1964)—which became her signature song—and her answer to Gene McDaniels's "Tower Of Strength", "(You Don't Have to Be a) Tower Of Strength", a pop hit that proved how versatile she could be in the studio. After her time with Everest Records she moved to Fontana and recorded such albums as Soul Serenade, Love And A Woman, Where It's At, and Here, There And Everywhere, all of which showcased her versatility in jazz, RnB, soul and melodic "pop".
During her earlier years on the road Gloria Lynne shared bills with some of the giants of RnB, jazz, pop and standards including Ray Charles, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Mathis and Ella Fitzgerald. Notable TV specials include two with Harry Belafonte and duets with Billy Eckstine. As Lynne moved into jazz in her later career she worked with top flight musicians and arrangers and performed with many of the jazz greats, including Quincy Jones, Bobby Timmons, Philly Joe Jones, Harry "Sweets" Edison.
She famously wrote lyrics for “Watermelon Man” with Herbie Hancock, and “All Day Long” with Kenny Burrell. New York City proclaimed July 25, 1995 as Gloria Lynne Day. In 1996 Lynne received the International Women of Jazz Award and she was honored with a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1997. Other awards and recognitions include the National Treasure Award from the Seasoned Citizens Theatre Company (2003); induction into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame; Living Legend Award from the State of Pennsylvania (2007).
She and her husband, Harry Alleyne, had a son, Richard. Gloria and Richard Alleyne ran a production company, Family Bread Music Inc. Gloria and Harry Alleyne divorced in 1968.
She died of a heart attack on October 15, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey.
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Gloria Lynne Lyrics
A Hundred Years From Today Life is such a great adventure Learn to live it as…
A Long Long Story Dreary days are over Life's a four leaf clover Sessions of d…
All Night Long Through a long and sleepless night I whisper your name Throu…
Am I Blue I'm just a woman, a lonely woman Waiting on the weary…
Am I Blue? I'm just a woman, a lonely woman Waiting on the weary…
April In Paris I never knew the charm of spring I never met it…
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Baby Won't You Please Come Home I've got the blues, I feel so lonely I'd give…
Bali Ha'i Most people live on a lonely island Lost in the middle…
Be My Love Be my love, for no one else can end this…
Bewitched After one whole quart of brandy, Like a daisy Iâ??m awake. …
But Beautiful Love is funny or it's sad, Or it's quiet or…
But Not for Me They're writing songs of love, but not for me A lucky…
Do I Love You Goodbye, no use leading with our chins This is where our…
Don't Take You Love From Me Tear a star from out the sky and the sky…
Don't Worry About Me Don't worry 'bout me I'll get along Forget about me Just be …
Drinking Again Ooh, It's almost two and I'm sitting here Wishing that I…
End of a Love Afair So I walk a little too fast, and I drive…
Folks Who Live On The Hill Many men with lofty aims, Strive for lofty goals, Others p…
For All We Know For all we know We may never meet again Before we go Make…
For You Princess cards she sends me with her regards Oh, bar-room e…
Getting to Know You Getting to know you, getting to know all about you. Getting…
Greensleeves Alas, my love, you do me wrong, To cast me off…
Hands Across The Table Dinner is ended, the music is grand, Softly the lanterns gle…
Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe It seems like happiness is just a thing called Joe He's…
Home I've got the blues, I feel so lonely I'd give…
I Believe In You You have the cool clear eyes of a seeker of…
I Can't Give You Anything But Love Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid. It's not a…
I Cover The Waterfront I cover the waterfront, I'm watching the sea,, Will the one …
I Get a Kick Out of You My story is much too sad to be told But practically…
I Got Rhythm Days can be sunny, with never a sigh Don't need what…
I Know Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
I See Your Face Before Me I see your face before me Crowding my every dream There is…
I Should Care I know I should pity me But I don't because, you…
I Thought About You Seems that I read, or somebody said That out of sight…
I Wish You Love Goodbye, no use leading with our chins This is where our…
I'll Be Around This is our fork in the road Love's last episode There's…
I'll Buy You A Star There's nothing that I know here on this earth good…
I'm Glad There is You In this world of ordinary people Extraordinary people I'm …
I'M So In Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
If I Loved You If I loved you, Time and again I would try to…
Impossible If they had ever told me How sweet a kiss could…
In Love In Vain It's only human for anyone to want to be in…
Indian Love Call Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo, Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo When I'm calling you Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo,…
It Could Happen To You Hide your heart from sight, Lock your dreams at night, It co…
Joey Joey Joey Joey, Joey, Joey Joey, Joey, Joey, Joe You've been too long…
June Night Just give me a June night The moonlight and you in…
Just in Time I was resting comfortably, face down in the gutter Life was…
Let's Take An Old Fashioned Walk Let's take an old fashioned walk, I'm just bursting with…
Long Ago and Far Away Dreary days are over Life's a four leaf clover Sessions of d…
Mack the Knife Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
My Devotion My devotion Is endless and deep as the ocean And like a…
My Reverie Our love is a dream, but in my reverie I can…
Out Of This World You're clear out of this world When I'm looking at you, I…
People Will Say We're In Love Why do they think up stories that link my name…
Please Be Kind This is my first affair, so please be kind Handle my…
Serenade in Blue When I hear that Serenade in blue I'm somewhere in another…
Somewhere In The Night Somewhere in the night There must be someone for me Somewh…
Speaking Of Happiness Speaking of happiness You never thought of mine Mentioning l…
Stormy Monday Blues I said they call it Stormy Monday But I said I…
Sunday Monday And Always Sunday, Monday or Tuesday Wednesday, Thursday or Friday I wa…
Teach Me Tonight Did you say that I've got a lot to learn…
That's My Desire To spend one night with you in our old rendezvous, And…
The End Of A Love Affair So I walk a little too fast, and I drive…
The Folks That Live On The Hill Many men with lofty aims, Strive for lofty goals, Others p…
The Folks Who Live On The Hill Many men with lofty aims, Strive for lofty goals, Others pla…
The Jazz in You You have the cool clear eyes of a seeker of…
The Lamp Is Low Dream beside me in the midnight glow, the lamp Is…
The Night Has A Thousand Eyes Don't whisper things to me you don't mean For words deep…
The Second Time Around Love is lovelier the second time around Just as wonderful wi…
Then I'll Be Tired Of You You look at me and wonder, you look at me…
There Is No Greater Love There is no greater love Than what I feel for you No…
Through A Long And Sleepless Night Through a long and sleepless night I whisper your name Throu…
Try a Little Tenderness Oh she may be weary Them young girls they do get…
Watermelon Man Uh-huh, watermelon man Uhhhh, watermelon man Cause he got th…
Whispering Grass You promised me, green grass, not to tell what you…
Wild Is the Wind Love me, love me, love me, say you do Let me…
Without a song Without a song the day would never end Without a song…
Wouldn't It Be Loverley It's rather dull in town, I think I'll take me to…
You Don't Know What Love Is You don't know what love is 'Til you've learned the meaning…