Esther Phillips (December 23, 1935 – August 7, 1984) was an American singer… Read Full Bio ↴Esther Phillips (December 23, 1935 – August 7, 1984) was an American singer. Phillips was known for her R&B vocals, but she was a versatile singer, also performing pop, country, jazz, blues and soul music.
Born Esther Mae Jones in Galveston, Texas, when she was an adolescent, her parents divorced, and she was forced to divide her time between her father in Houston and her mother in the Watts area of Los Angeles. Because she was brought up singing in church, she was hesitant to enter a talent contest at a local blues club, but her sister insisted and she complied. A mature singer at age fourteen, she won the amateur talent contest in 1949 at the Barrelhouse Club owned by Johnny Otis. Otis was so impressed that he recorded her for Modern Records and added her to his traveling revue, the California Rhythm and Blues Caravan, billed as 'Little Esther Phillips' (she reportedly took the surname from a gas station sign).
Her first hit record was Double Crossing Blues, recorded in 1950 for Savoy Records. After several hit records with Savoy, including her duet with Mel Walker on Mistrusting Blues, which went to number one that year, as did "Cupid Boogie". Other Phillips records that made it onto the U.S. Billboard R&B chart in 1950 include "Misery" (number 9), "Deceivin' Blues" (number 4), "Wedding Boogie" (number 6), and "Faraway Blues" (number 6). Few female artists, R&B or otherwise, had ever enjoyed such success in their debut year. Phillips left Otis and the Savoy label at the end of 1950 and signed with Federal Records.
But just as quickly as the hits had started, they stopped. Although she recorded more than thirty sides for Federal, only one, Ring-a-Ding-Doo, charted; the song made it to number 8 in 1952. Not working with Otis was part of her problem; the other part was her drug usage. By the middle of the decade Phillips was chronically addicted to drugs.
In 1954, she returned to Houston to live with her father to recuperate. Short on money, she worked in small nightclubs around the South, punctuated by periodic hospital stays in Lexington, Kentucky, stemming from her addiction. In 1962, Kenny Rogers re-discovered her while singing at a Houston club and got her signed to his brother Lelan’s Lenox label.
Phillips ultimately got well enough to launch a comeback in 1962. Now billed as Esther Phillips instead of Little Esther, she recorded a country tune, Release Me, with producer Bob Gans. This went to number 1 R&B and number 8 on the pop listings. After several other minor R&B hits on Lenox, she was signed by Atlantic Records. Her cover of The Beatles' song And I Love Him nearly made the R&B Top Ten in 1965 and the Beatles flew her to the UK for her first overseas performances.
She had other hits in the 1960s on the label, but no more chart toppers, and she waged a battle with heroin dependency. With her addiction worsening, Phillips checked into a rehab facility. While undergoing treatment, she cut some sides for Roulette in 1969, mostly produced by Lelan Rogers. On her release, she moved back to Los Angeles and re-signed with the Atlantic label. A late 1969 gig at Freddie Jett's Pied Piper club produced the album Burnin'. She performed with the Johnny Otis Show at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1970.
One of her biggest post-1950s triumphs was in 1972 with her first album for Kudu Records. The song penned by Gil Scott-Heron, Home Is Where the Hatred Is, - an account of drug use — was lead track on From a Whisper to a Scream which went on to be nominated for a Grammy Award. When Phillips lost to Aretha Franklin, the latter presented the trophy to Phillips, saying she should have won it instead.
Taylor continued to cut albums with her until in 1975, she scored her biggest hit single since "Release Me" with a disco-style update of Dinah Washington's What a Diff'rence a Day Makes. It reached a high of a Top 20 chart appearance in the U.S., and Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart. On November 8, 1975 she performed the song on an episode of NBC's Saturday Night hosted by Candice Bergen. The accompanying album of the same name became her biggest seller yet, with arranger Joe Beck on guitar, Michael Brecker on tenor sax, David Sanborn on alto sax, and Randy Brecker on trumpet to Steve Khan on guitar and Don Grolnick on keyboards.
She continued to record and perform throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, completing a total of seven albums on Kudu and four with Mercury Records, for whom she signed in 1977. In 1983, she charted for the final time on a tiny independent label, Winning with Turn Me Out, which reached #85 R&B. She completed recording her final album a few months before her death, but it was not until 1986 that the label (Muse) released the record.
Phillips died at UCLA Medical Center in Carson, California in 1984, at the age of 48 from liver and kidney failure due to drug use. Her funeral services were conducted by Johnny Otis, and she was buried in the Morning Light section, at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles. The bronze marker recognizes her career achievements, as well as quoting a Bible passage, "In My Father's House Are Many Mansions" - St. John 14:2
Born Esther Mae Jones in Galveston, Texas, when she was an adolescent, her parents divorced, and she was forced to divide her time between her father in Houston and her mother in the Watts area of Los Angeles. Because she was brought up singing in church, she was hesitant to enter a talent contest at a local blues club, but her sister insisted and she complied. A mature singer at age fourteen, she won the amateur talent contest in 1949 at the Barrelhouse Club owned by Johnny Otis. Otis was so impressed that he recorded her for Modern Records and added her to his traveling revue, the California Rhythm and Blues Caravan, billed as 'Little Esther Phillips' (she reportedly took the surname from a gas station sign).
Her first hit record was Double Crossing Blues, recorded in 1950 for Savoy Records. After several hit records with Savoy, including her duet with Mel Walker on Mistrusting Blues, which went to number one that year, as did "Cupid Boogie". Other Phillips records that made it onto the U.S. Billboard R&B chart in 1950 include "Misery" (number 9), "Deceivin' Blues" (number 4), "Wedding Boogie" (number 6), and "Faraway Blues" (number 6). Few female artists, R&B or otherwise, had ever enjoyed such success in their debut year. Phillips left Otis and the Savoy label at the end of 1950 and signed with Federal Records.
But just as quickly as the hits had started, they stopped. Although she recorded more than thirty sides for Federal, only one, Ring-a-Ding-Doo, charted; the song made it to number 8 in 1952. Not working with Otis was part of her problem; the other part was her drug usage. By the middle of the decade Phillips was chronically addicted to drugs.
In 1954, she returned to Houston to live with her father to recuperate. Short on money, she worked in small nightclubs around the South, punctuated by periodic hospital stays in Lexington, Kentucky, stemming from her addiction. In 1962, Kenny Rogers re-discovered her while singing at a Houston club and got her signed to his brother Lelan’s Lenox label.
Phillips ultimately got well enough to launch a comeback in 1962. Now billed as Esther Phillips instead of Little Esther, she recorded a country tune, Release Me, with producer Bob Gans. This went to number 1 R&B and number 8 on the pop listings. After several other minor R&B hits on Lenox, she was signed by Atlantic Records. Her cover of The Beatles' song And I Love Him nearly made the R&B Top Ten in 1965 and the Beatles flew her to the UK for her first overseas performances.
She had other hits in the 1960s on the label, but no more chart toppers, and she waged a battle with heroin dependency. With her addiction worsening, Phillips checked into a rehab facility. While undergoing treatment, she cut some sides for Roulette in 1969, mostly produced by Lelan Rogers. On her release, she moved back to Los Angeles and re-signed with the Atlantic label. A late 1969 gig at Freddie Jett's Pied Piper club produced the album Burnin'. She performed with the Johnny Otis Show at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1970.
One of her biggest post-1950s triumphs was in 1972 with her first album for Kudu Records. The song penned by Gil Scott-Heron, Home Is Where the Hatred Is, - an account of drug use — was lead track on From a Whisper to a Scream which went on to be nominated for a Grammy Award. When Phillips lost to Aretha Franklin, the latter presented the trophy to Phillips, saying she should have won it instead.
Taylor continued to cut albums with her until in 1975, she scored her biggest hit single since "Release Me" with a disco-style update of Dinah Washington's What a Diff'rence a Day Makes. It reached a high of a Top 20 chart appearance in the U.S., and Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart. On November 8, 1975 she performed the song on an episode of NBC's Saturday Night hosted by Candice Bergen. The accompanying album of the same name became her biggest seller yet, with arranger Joe Beck on guitar, Michael Brecker on tenor sax, David Sanborn on alto sax, and Randy Brecker on trumpet to Steve Khan on guitar and Don Grolnick on keyboards.
She continued to record and perform throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, completing a total of seven albums on Kudu and four with Mercury Records, for whom she signed in 1977. In 1983, she charted for the final time on a tiny independent label, Winning with Turn Me Out, which reached #85 R&B. She completed recording her final album a few months before her death, but it was not until 1986 that the label (Muse) released the record.
Phillips died at UCLA Medical Center in Carson, California in 1984, at the age of 48 from liver and kidney failure due to drug use. Her funeral services were conducted by Johnny Otis, and she was buried in the Morning Light section, at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles. The bronze marker recognizes her career achievements, as well as quoting a Bible passage, "In My Father's House Are Many Mansions" - St. John 14:2
Wild Child
Esther Phillips Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Wild Child' by these artists:
18Veno Ayy LayZ, what′s up? Ayo Pluto, you goin' brazy Ayy Sometime…
6.16 - Adrian Lux & Marcus Schossow ft. JJ (I'm out of my mind) (I'm out of my mind) Feeling the…
A Wedding Anniversary Who are you who is born in the next room so loud…
Adrian Lux (I'm out of my mind) (I'm out of my mind) Feeling the…
Adrian Lux & Marcus Schossow ft JJ (I’m out of my mind) (I’m out of my mind) Feeling the…
Adrian Lux & Marcus Schossow [feat. JJ & JJ] (I'm out of my mind) (I'm out of my mind) Feeling the…
Adrian Lux & Marcus Schössow feat. JJ (I’m out of my mind) (I’m out of my mind) Feeling the…
Al Stone Wild child You hear the calling Of a voice that never speaks…
Anzi Destruction I saw your face today Lights out, pretty unstable I watch yo…
Baby Alpaca You said I was a loser You said I was a…
BEDROOM - Enya Ever close your eyes Ever stop and listen Ever feel alive An…
BikaBreezy ‘Cause u are feel like i’m being high Spent my life…
Brett Dennen I am a wild child, yes I am I love the…
Burton Cummings Oh how she yearns and oh how she burns Just…
Cale John Lou Reed & Nico I was talkin' to Chuck in his Genghis Khan suit And…
Cardiknox If you wanna be tongue tied You better know where I…
Crazy Lixx Turn out the lights and say your prayers Sleep tight now,…
Cross Country Driver WILD CHILD I'm livin' on the Mexican border, No room to brea…
Cyantific Friends, tell me I am crazy That I′m wasting time with…
Da Youngsta's Yeah, Youngsta′s in effect for ' You know what I′m sayin'? A…
Dakota Bradley We hauled it out the back door The second the party…
David Wilcox I was born on a barstool Tellin' lies to the lady…
Dee Watkins Gasky got that gas dee What the fuck look I'm just a…
DKE I'm trying to get crazy, party like a rockstar Sip on…
Drayco McCoy It's going down all around town yeah Bitch I'm smoking loud,…
E.G. Daily Wild child, Wild child, Wild child, Let your dreams go on…
Elen Levon Feet in the sand Waves are high And I ain't got no…
Elijah Wolf One step over mine To let go in time Brown eyes far…
Emm Closer To me Love don't leave you the same One breath One he…
End of Green I ride, I ride the winds that bring the rain A…
Enigma and Enya Ever close your eyes Ever stop and listen Ever feel alive An…
Freedom Fry I sleep all my days I live all my nights Stumbling home…
G. Love You played hookie from school and you can't go out…
G.L.A.S.S. I feel like moses this water deep so i split…
Grace Potter/Kenny Chesney Looks like royal in a thrift store dress Keeps my heart…
Guthrie Brown Woohooh woohooh woohooh Are you a bad kid like Peter Rabbit …
Heart It's too late to turn back When the green lights flash Too…
Henrik Berggren Life was great when I grew up Everyone around me seemed…
Highland Glory [Bonus track] [W.A.S.P. Cover] I ride, I ride the wind…
Jackal the Wind I was the boy who lived under the mountain And the…
Jae Jin I believe that you Been looking near and far I believe that…
John Cale/Lou Reed/Nico I was talkin' to Chuck in his Genghis Khan suit And…
John Cale/Lou Reed/Nico ? I was talkin' to Chuck in his Genghis Khan suit And…
Joseph Arthur I was talking to Chuck In his, dark suit, in…
Juliet Simms Oh, I'm comin' in hot And those eyes keep lookin' at…
Kenny Chesney Looks like royal in a thrift store dress Keeps my heart…
KITCHEN 1 - The Black Keys I'm just a stranger With a twisted smile and a wandering…
Kongsted Whoaa Ahaha, I´m a Wild Child Mama don´t speak You know, I´m…
Kongsted & Cisilia Whoaa Ahaha, I′m a Wild Child Mama don't speak You know, I′m…
LIVING ROOM - Lou Reed I was talkin' to Chuck in his Genghis Khan suit And…
LIVING ROOM - The Black Keys I'm just a stranger With a twisted smile and I'm wondering,…
Lou Reed I was talkin' to Chuck in his Genghis Khan suit And…
Lou Reed John Cale & Nico (Velvet Underground) I was talkin' to Chuck in his Genghis Khan suit And…
Lupe Fiasco feat. Jake Torrey And they say, and they say, and they say Uh, yeah,…
Manchado Imma beat down Imma separate, conjugate and never back out …
Marcus Schossow & Adrian Lux feat. JJ (I’m out of my mind) (I’m out of my mind) Feeling the…
Never Shout Never Ever since I laid eyes on you, You tore my little…
Nico/John Cale/Lou Reed I was talkin' to Chuck in his Genghis Khan suit And…
Noodah05 (What's happenin', Chi Chi?) Daddy died before I was born A…
OFFICE - The Black Keys I'm just a stranger With a twisted smile and I'm wondering,…
Ozzy Osbourne-Quiet Riot-April Wine-Judas Priest-WASP I ride, I ride the winds that bring the rain A…
QX-1 I feel like moses this water deep so i split…
Rascal Martinez Waiting for that wild child Waiting for that wild child To t…
Richard Clapton Lord above, Who is this child That's flown into my dreams?…
Robby Valentine Darling's on the run For a world so wrong Don't know where…
Roisin and Celtic Spirit Ever close your eyes Ever stop and listen Ever feel alive …
ROXXI Wake up every morning I got you on my mind But you…
Scorpions Don't hear the phone that rings I know the fever's coming Go…
Seven Collar T-Shirt Losing all my tunes I can't get over how beautiful You and…
SHEL I'm gonna race my heart a hundred miles I'm gonna wake…
Susperia I ride, I ride the winds that bring the rain A…
Synne Sanden I wish to dare I need to show I want to swear…
Tha D.R.E. Picture me Coming out of the West My mama stressed because t…
The Black Keys I'm just a stranger With a twisted smile and a wandering…
The Blancos I pour my glass then I drink I clean my wounds…
The Cult Wild child full of grace Savior of the human race Your cool…
The Doors Alright Wild child full of grace Savior of the human race Y…
The Doors (BF) (bOXsET CD2) All right Wild child full of grace Savior of the human race…
The Doors - 2008 - Vinyl box set: The soft parade Alright Wild child full of grace Savior of the human race Y…
The Doors渀 All right Wild child full of grace Savior of the human race…
The Ghost of Paul Revere And I said No you're my wild child Wild child, I love…
The Savage Rose The sunlight hits the city As a hammer hits the glow The…
The Smokey Honey Bluesband Awaken spirit, flow into the wind A wild child A quiet child…
The Struts Yeah, I'm pleasure and I'm worth the pain Just like thunder…
Tommy Genesis I'ma wild child I'ma listen Throw it down on the bed…
Tony Toni Toné I know you've been lookin' for a real man For a…
Tony Toni Toné I know you've been, looking for a real man for…
Vinnie Vincent Invasion Ride the wild pony cried the stallion in heat assassin wit…
W.A.S.P I ride, I ride the winds that bring the rain A…
W.A.S.P. I ride, I ride the winds that bring the rain A…
Wasp I ride, I ride the winds that bring the rain A…
We Are Enfant Terrible Sid was not so vicious and punk are not all…
Wekeed When I lose all my energy Then I cry but I…
Wild Child I really don't follow the rules I'm really not here to…
Wonggoys Hey there If you a wild child put your hands up It's…
Y & T (Yesterday & Today) This old heart of mine Has been hurt before Never seen the…
Y&T This old heart of mine Has been hurt before Never seen the…
Heart It's too late to turn back When the green lights flash Too…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Esther Phillips:
'til Me Back Ain't Got No Bone Standing in the rain I can feel a cold chill Up and…
'Tis Autumn D …
A Beautiful Friendship This is the end of a beautiful friendship, It ended a…
Aged I've got a strange philosophy Nothing here appeals to me I l…
Alone Again In a little while from now If I'm not feeling any…
Am I That Easy To Forget You say you've found somebody new But that won't stop my…
And I Love Him I give him all my love that's all I do and if…
Baby What makes me treat you the way I do Gee,…
Baby I'm for Real Baby, baby, ooh Baby, baby you just don't understand How mu…
Be Honest With Me Be honest with me, dear Whatever you do Remember, you're my …
Brand New Day When all the dark clouds roll away And the sun begins…
Brother Brother Oh, brother, brother, brother I know you've been layin back …
Bye Bye Blackbird Pack up all my care and woe Here I go, singin'…
C. C. Rider said see, see, see rider Oh, see what you have done I…
can Today I passed you on the street And my heart fell…
Catch Me I Everybody loves somebody sometime Everybody falls in love s…
Crazy Tonight I'm gonna break away Just you wait and see I've neve…
Do Right Woman Do Right Man Take me to heart and I'll always love you And nobody…
Dream Oooh-wooh-oooh-wah-aah Ooooooooh-oooh-wah-aah Sweet dreams,…
Ev Every time we say goodbye, I die a little Every time…
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye Every time we say goodbye, I die a little Every time…
Every Time We Say Goodbye Every time we say goodbye, I die a little Every time…
Fa Fa Fa Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa I keep …
Fever Never know how much I love you Never know how much…
Fools Rush In "Romance is a game for fools" I used to say A game…
For All We Know For all we know We may never meet again Before we go Make…
From a Whisper to a Scream From a whisper in the wind To a loud scream The message…
Girl from epanema Tall and tan and young and lovely The girl from Ipanema…
Hello Walls Hello, walls - (hello) (hello) How'd things go for you today…
Home Is Where the Hatred Is A junkie walking through the twilight I'm on my way home I…
I You and I must make a pact We must bring salvation…
I Can Stand a Little Rain I can stand a little rain, I can stand a little…
I Can't Help It Today I passed you on the street And my heart fell…
I Could Have Told You So I could have told you she would hurt you, She'd love…
I Don't Want to Do Wrong I, I don't wanna do wrong But you've been gone, gone…
I Got A Guy The poets say that all who love are blind But I'm…
I Love Paris Every time I look down on this timeless town Whether blue…
I Really Don How many arms have held you And hated to let you…
I Wish You Love Goodbye, No use leading with our chins, This is where our…
I'd Fight The World I don't care what anybody thinks of me My pride is…
I'll Be There You and I must make a pact We must bring salvation…
I'm A Bad Bad Girl I′m a bad girl Just as bad as I can be Yes,…
I'm A Bad, Bad Girl I’m a bad girl Just as bad as I can be Yes,…
I'm in Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
I'm Sorry I'm sorry, so sorry That I was such a fool…
I've Forgotten More Than You'll Ever Know About Him You think you know the smile on his lips The thrill…
I've Never Found A Man Isaiah 55: 6-7 6 Seek the LORD while He may be…
If It Today I passed you on the street And my heart fell…
In The Evenin When your good gal done quit ya And the sun is…
It Could Happen To You Hide your heart from sight, Lock your dreams at night, It co…
It's So Good The poets say that all who love are blind But I'm…
Just Out Of Reach Love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't let…
Just Say Goodbye I can't forget the night you told me that you…
Let There Be Love Let there be you, Let there be me. Let there…
Love Oh Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
Makin' Whoopee Another bride, another June Another sunny honeymoon Another …
Misery Can't you find A little space in your heart, For a fool…
Mo Jo Hannah Thendral Vanthu Theendum Pothu Enna Vannamo Manasula Thingal…
Native New Yorker New York girl, ooh, ooh, ooh Runnin' pretty, New York City…
No Headstone On My Grave Oh, don't, don't, don't Don't put no headstone on my grave. …
One Night Affair Hey, wine me and dine me Take me in a way…
Party The party's over, it's time to call it a day They've…
Party's Over The party's over, it's time to call it a day They've…
People People, People who need people, Are the luckiest people in t…
Philadelphia Freedom I used to be a rolling stone You know if the…
Please Send Me Someone to Love Heaven please send to all mankind, Understanding and peace o…
Release Me Please release me, let me go I don't love you anymore To…
Romance In The Dark In the dark It's just you and I Not a sound Ther's not…
S.O.S Hey, hey, hey I'm sending out an S.O.S. Hey, hey, hey I'm…
S.O.S. Hey, hey, hey I'm sending out an S.O.S. Hey, hey, hey I'm se…
Shangri-La Your kisses take me to Shangri-La Each kiss is magic that…
Some Things You Never Get Used To Some things you never get used to It's the same routine…
Somebody Else Is Taking My Place Somebody else is taking my place, Somebody else now shares y…
Such A Night 'T was a night mmmmm, what a night it was…
Sweet Dreams Oooh-wooh-oooh-wah-aah Ooooooooh-oooh-wah-aah Sweet dreams,…
That's All Right with Me If you wanna make love to me If you want to…
The Blues I've got a strange philosophy Nothing here appeals to me I l…
The Deacon Moves In Look out fat deacon Do ya really think about we kind Well…
The Girl From Ipanema Tall and tan and young and lovely The girl from Ipanema…
The Party The party's over, it's time to call it a day They've…
The Shadow Of Your Smile The shadow of your smile When you have gone Will color all…
Tis Autumn D …
Tomorrow Night I'm sorry, so sorry That I was such a fool I didn't…
Try Me If you really wanna know if I can stand your…
Turn Around Look At Me There is someone walking behind you, Turn around, look at…
Unforgettable Unforgettable That's what you are Unforgettable Tho' near or…
Ups and Downs Every dog has his day Another thirty nine inch thick classi…
Use Me My friends feel it's their appointed duty They keep trying t…
We've Got a Good Thing Going Bad news, bad news I heard you're packing to leave I come…
What A Diff What a diff'rence a day made Twenty-four little hours Brough…
When A Woman Loves A Man I'm in love, yes I am I'm in love, yes I…
Why Should We Try Anymore What's the use to deny? We've been living a lie That…
You Goodbye, No use leading with our chins, This is where our…
You Can Today I passed you on the street And my heart fell…
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@geraldthorburn1123
Little Esther's nasal delivery was so distinctive. Thanks for sharing this little gem.
@madkeysfilms
I played with Esther..’Black Eyed Blues’ and then some club dates…I learned a lot from Esther. One time we played a Detroit club …the pick up band was, James Jamerson, Eddie Willis, Pistol Allen and myself…a 26 year old boy from London…quite and experience!
@hubertusjung7802
Fantastic tune. Mindblowing sax at 0:55.
Thanks Bill
@AN-xe5ly
Quel titre!! Un délice!
@DavidMiller-kf1ss
Okmulgee, oklahoma via Houston oil. Thanks!
@alain59200
great great track bill thank
@busterjones
What a record, yeah it's a Monster
@michelemoureau9938
Vraiment super
@jussix48
👍🏿