Barbara Lewis
Barbara Lewis ( born February 9, 1943 in Salem ( Michigan), Michigan, United States) is an African American singer who interpreted mainly rhythm and blues (R & B).
Musical career
Barbara Lewis grew up in her native Salem, west of Detroit on in a musically influenced family. In nearby South Lyon, she attended the High School as the only colored. The age of nine she began to compose songs, and as a teenager, she sang her first record. Your first producer was Ollie McLaughlin, a colored radio disc jockey. A first local success had Lewis with the self-penned title My Heart Do Dat Da, which was recorded at the Detroit record company Karen 1961.
McLaughlin saw more potential in the song and reached that this was because published under the slightly different title My Heart Went Do Dat at the US-wide label Atlantic Records for the second time. Although it did not make the title in the second run in the U.S. Charts, Atlantic kept the team Lewis / McLaughlin under contract. 1962, with the third - Atlantic plate, the desired success has been achieved. The re- written by Lewis Hello Stranger title was recorded by Billboard magazine in the R & B charts and in the Hot 100, where it reached the 1 and 3 Bestnotierungen. By 1967, Lewis was a regular place in the U.S. charts. With the 1965 titles Baby I'm Yours ( Hot 100 11 / R & B 5 ) and Make Me Your Baby ( 11 / 9 ), she came again on front ranks. McLaughlin remained throughout their recording career her producer, also known as 1970 recording contract with Atlantic expired. The last common single was released in 1972 with the titles Rock & Roll Lullaby and I'm So Thankful on Reprise Records.
In 1974, Barbara Lewis retired from the music business. They shuttled between its own jewelery shop and a security firm, without being recognized as someone who once successful singer. Although she assured in interviews, not to mourn her previous life behind, she started in 1993 to reactivate the old contacts and stepped over several years mainly in oldies shows on. From the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, she was honored with the Pioneer Award in 1999. In 2008, she retired from show business finally back.