Doris Troy
| Doris Troy | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Doris Elaine Higginsen |
| Also known as | Doris Payne |
| Born | January 6, 1937 |
| Origin | The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 16, 2004 (aged 67) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1962-1974 |
| Labels | Apple, Atlantic, People |
| Associated acts | Cissy Houston, Dee Dee Warwick, Barbara Lewis |
| Website | www.simonbell.com/doristroy.html |
Doris Troy (born Doris Elaine Higginsen; January 6, 1937 – February 16, 2004) was an American R&B singer and songwriter, 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. She took her stage name from Helen of Troy. Troy worked with Solomon Burke, the Drifters, Cissy Houston, and Dionne Warwick, before she co-wrote and recorded "Just One Look" (the songwriting credits use the name Doris Payne), which hit #10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1963.
"Just One Look" was the only charting US hit for Troy. The song was recorded in 10 minutes in October 1962, with producer Buddy Lucas, as a demo for Atlantic Records. However, after Atlantic Records heard the demo, they decided not to re-record it, but release it as is. The musicians included Ernie Hayes on organ, Wally Richardson on guitar, Bob Bushnell on bass, and Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on drums. The song has been covered by the Hollies, Faith, Hope & Charity, Major Lance, Linda Ronstadt, Bryan Ferry, Anne Murray, Klaus Nomi, and Harry Nilsson in a duet with Lynda Laurence. Troy's only foray into the UK Singles Chart, "Whatcha Gonna Do About It", peaked at #37 in December 1964.
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