Thelma Houston

Thelma Houston (born May 7 1946) is a African-American R&B singer. She scored a #1 hit in 1977 with her cover of the song Don't Leave Me This Way.

Related Topics:
May 7 - 1946 - African - American - R&B - 1977

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The daughter of a cotton picker mother, Houston was born in Leland, Mississippi. She and her three sisters grew up primarily in Long Beach, California. After marrying and having two children, she joined the Al Reynolds Singers band. There, she met Marc Gordon, who signed her as a recording artist with Dunhill Records. In 1969, Houston released her first album.

Related Topics:
Cotton - Leland, Mississippi - Long Beach, California - Dunhill Records - 1969 - Album

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In 1971, she went on to sign with Motown Records, but she failed to score any big hits for some time. She went into acting, appearing in The Bingo Long Travelling All Stars and Motor Kings, alongside Billy Dee Williams and James Earl Jones. In 1976, she sang backgrounds for Motown labelmate Jermaine Jackson.

Related Topics:
1971 - Motown Records - Billy Dee Williams - James Earl Jones - 1976 - Jermaine Jackson

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1976 was the year that she recorded her Any Way You Like It album. In February of 1977, the album's single "Don't Leave Me This Way" hit #1 on the US Billboard pop and R&B charts. It had been a hit previously with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Her version incorporated some elements of the current disco style, and it became a popular hit in dance clubs, and has come to be regarded as one of the major songs of the disco era.

Related Topics:
February - Billboard - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - Disco

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Thelma Houston failed to produce another major hit. Her version of "Don't Leave Me This Way", however, continues to be popular, being mentioned by VH1 among the greatest dance songs in 2000, and also being featured on a VH1 show about "One Hit Wonders". Despite her lack of another hit, however, she won an episode of the NBC show Hit Me Baby One More Time with her renditions of her own hit and Fallin by Alicia Keys.

Related Topics:
VH1 - 2000 - Hit Me Baby One More Time - Alicia Keys

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