You Could Never Love Him (Like I Love Him)
Barbara McNair (March 4, 1934 - February 4, 2007) was an African-American s… Read Full Bio ↴Barbara McNair (March 4, 1934 - February 4, 2007) was an African-American singer and actress.
Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, McNair studied music at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Her big break came with a win on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, which led to bookings at The Purple Onion and the Cocoanut Grove.
She soon became one of the country's most popular headliners and a guest on such television variety shows as The Steve Allen Show, Hullabaloo, The Bell Telephone Hour, and The Hollywood Palace, while recording for the Coral, Signature, and Motown labels. Among her hits were You're Gonna Love My Baby and Bobby. In the early 60s, Barbara made several musical shorts for Scopitone, a franchise of coin-operated machines that showed what were then the forerunners of today's music videos.
McNair's acting career began on television, guesting on series such as Dr. Kildare, I Spy, Mission: Impossible, Hogan's Heroes and McMillan and Wife. She caught the attention of the movie-going public with her much-publicized nude sequences in the gritty crime drama If He Hollers Let Him Go (1968) opposite Raymond St. Jacques, then donned a nun's habit alongside Mary Tyler Moore for Change of Habit (1969), Elvis Presley's last feature film. She portrayed Sidney Poitier's wife in They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! (1970) and its sequel, The Organization (1971).
McNair's Broadway credits include The Body Beautiful (1958), No Strings (1962), and a revival of The Pajama Game (1973).
McNair was one of the very first African-American entertainers to host her own primetime television variety series, but it lasted only from 1969-71, despite the wattage provided by A-list guests like Tony Bennett and Sonny and Cher. She & her third husband Rick Manzi were arrested for heroin possesion in 1972, and even after she was cleared of the charge, career offers began to dwindle . In 1976, her husband, Rick Manzi, was murdered, and Mafia boss-turned-FBI-informant Jimmy "The Weasel" Frattiano later claimed in his book The Last Mafioso that Manzi had been a Mafia associate who tried to put a contract on the life of a mob-associated tax attorney with whom he had a legal dispute. The ensuing publicity did little to help McNair's floundering career.
Her recordings include Livin' End, I Enjoy Being a Girl, and The Ultimate Motown Collection, a 2-CD set with 48 tracks that include her two albums for the label plus a non-album single and B-side and an entire LP that never was released.
Into her seventies, McNair resided in the Los Angeles area, playing tennis and skiing to keep in shape on a regular basis and touring on occasion. She died at age 72 on February 4, 2007 after developing a skull based tumor that was originally overlooked. By the time it was diagnosed it was inoperable.
Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, McNair studied music at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Her big break came with a win on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, which led to bookings at The Purple Onion and the Cocoanut Grove.
She soon became one of the country's most popular headliners and a guest on such television variety shows as The Steve Allen Show, Hullabaloo, The Bell Telephone Hour, and The Hollywood Palace, while recording for the Coral, Signature, and Motown labels. Among her hits were You're Gonna Love My Baby and Bobby. In the early 60s, Barbara made several musical shorts for Scopitone, a franchise of coin-operated machines that showed what were then the forerunners of today's music videos.
McNair's acting career began on television, guesting on series such as Dr. Kildare, I Spy, Mission: Impossible, Hogan's Heroes and McMillan and Wife. She caught the attention of the movie-going public with her much-publicized nude sequences in the gritty crime drama If He Hollers Let Him Go (1968) opposite Raymond St. Jacques, then donned a nun's habit alongside Mary Tyler Moore for Change of Habit (1969), Elvis Presley's last feature film. She portrayed Sidney Poitier's wife in They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! (1970) and its sequel, The Organization (1971).
McNair's Broadway credits include The Body Beautiful (1958), No Strings (1962), and a revival of The Pajama Game (1973).
McNair was one of the very first African-American entertainers to host her own primetime television variety series, but it lasted only from 1969-71, despite the wattage provided by A-list guests like Tony Bennett and Sonny and Cher. She & her third husband Rick Manzi were arrested for heroin possesion in 1972, and even after she was cleared of the charge, career offers began to dwindle . In 1976, her husband, Rick Manzi, was murdered, and Mafia boss-turned-FBI-informant Jimmy "The Weasel" Frattiano later claimed in his book The Last Mafioso that Manzi had been a Mafia associate who tried to put a contract on the life of a mob-associated tax attorney with whom he had a legal dispute. The ensuing publicity did little to help McNair's floundering career.
Her recordings include Livin' End, I Enjoy Being a Girl, and The Ultimate Motown Collection, a 2-CD set with 48 tracks that include her two albums for the label plus a non-album single and B-side and an entire LP that never was released.
Into her seventies, McNair resided in the Los Angeles area, playing tennis and skiing to keep in shape on a regular basis and touring on occasion. She died at age 72 on February 4, 2007 after developing a skull based tumor that was originally overlooked. By the time it was diagnosed it was inoperable.
You Could Never Love Him
Barbara McNair Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Barbara McNair:
A World Without You My world is empty without you, babe My world is empty…
Best Is Yet to Come Out of the tree of life I just picked me…
Everything Is Good About You So sweet you are Like a shining star You brighten my whole…
For Once In My Life For once in my life I have someone who needs…
Hi-Lili Hi-Lo {From Lili} On every tree there sits a bird, singing a song…
Hunter Gets Captured By The Game Everyday brings change, and the world puts on a new…
I Hear A Symphony You've given me a true love and ev'ry day I…
If I Were a Bell Ask me how do I feel, Now that we're cosy and…
If You Can Wait Oh you may not love me now but I'm stayin'…
Message To Michael Spread your wings for New Orleans Kentucky bluebird, fly awa…
My World Is Crumbling My world is empty without you, babe My world is empty…
Old Devil Moon I look at you and suddenly Something in your eyes I…
Shadow Of Your Smile The shadow of your smile When you have gone Will color all…
Steal Away Tonight All I need is someone like you to love me All…
Strangers in The Night Strangers in the night, Exchanging glances Wandering the ni…
Talking In My Sleep Heard so much about you Before I even knew your name They…
The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game Everyday brings change, and the world puts on a new…
The Shadow Of Your Smile The shadow of your smile When you have gone Will color all…
The Sweetheart Tree They say there′s a tree in the forest A tree that…
You're Gonna Love My Baby Who started this? I don't know You're already packed and rea…
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Alex Lalande
A very underrated Female Singer with amazing vocals ...This was a huge Ballad in the UK
Adam Brocklehurst
It wasn't sadly, I'm from the UK.
T. Manuel Campuzano
Shame Motown didn't promote her, they claim they didn't know what category she would fit into, I know had I been old enough to buy records I would have bought this
Joe Miller
Motown put Barbara on ice and never released a lot of her best stuff. Diahann Carroll was the top Black Singer actress at the time but McNair was for awhile along with Leslie Uggams (who Motown also signed )stiff competition for Diana Ross who Berry Gordy was trying to launch in Hollywood. McNair looked more physically like Billie Holiday than any of the others and she had the acting experience and had the Jazz/Cabaret background Diana lacked. McNair's syndicated TV show propelled her forward and was a pioneering step for black enetertainers but at the same time, it slowed down her Hollywood career's momentum. Her Acting career somehow completely lost focus and she disappeared from Acting all together and was active mostly as a cabaret performer. Miss McNair was an incredible Singer /Actress and a great beauty. She had everything needed to be a major star!