Thelma Houston
| Thelma Houston | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Thelma Jackson |
| Born |
May 7, 1946 Leland, Mississippi, United States |
| Genres | R&B, soul, disco, quiet storm, Motown, gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, actress |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Labels | Dunhill, Motown, RCA, MCA, Reprise, Shout Factory |
| Associated acts | Sisters of Glory |
| Website | www.thelmahouston.com |
Thelma Houston (née Jackson; born May 7, 1946) is an American singer and actress. She scored a number-one hit in 1977 with her cover version of the song "Don't Leave Me This Way", which won the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Houston was born in Leland, Mississippi. She is the daughter of a cotton picking mother. She and her three sisters grew up primarily in Long Beach, California. After marrying and having two children, she joined the Art Reynolds Singers gospel group and was subsequently signed as a recording artist with Dunhill Records. She is not related to Whitney Houston.
In 1969, Houston released her debut album, entitled Sunshower, produced, arranged and composed by Jimmy Webb except for one track. In 1971 she signed with Motown Records but her early recordings with them were largely unsuccessful. Her most notable single during that period was "You've Been Doing Wrong for So Long" which peaked at #64 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart in 1974. However Houston's vocal prowess on that track secured her a nomination for a Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. In 1973 Motown Productions announced a projected biopic of Dinah Washington which would star Houston; however the project was dropped due to difficulties in getting clearance from Washington's relatives. In April 1974 Houston joined the cast of The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine, playing various characters during the show's skits. The show was canceled in August and for the next several years her work was limited to demo recordings and performing at small venues.
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