Doris Troy

Doris Troy

Genres: soul, northern soul, 60s, funk, oldies

About Doris Troy

Doris Troy (January 6, 1937 – February 16, 2004) was an American Rhythm & Blues singer, 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. Troy worked with Solomon Burke, The Drifters, Cissy Houston, and Dionne Warwick, before she co-wrote and recorded "Just One Look", which hit #10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. The song has been covered by The Hollies, Linda Ronstadt, Bryan Ferry, Anne Murray, Klaus Nomi, and Harry Nilsson. Her only foray into the UK Singles Chart, "Whatcha Gonna Do About It", peaked at #37 in December 1964. As her solo career peaked, she sang back-up for the Rolling Stones, Humble Pie, Kevin Ayers, Pink Floyd (on their album The Dark Side of the Moon), George Harrison, Johnny Hallyday, Vivian Stanshall, Dusty Springfield, Nick Drake, Junior Campbell and Carly Simon. She was signed by The Beatles to their Apple Records label in 1969, and released the Doris Troy album the following year, co-produced by Troy and George Harrison. Troy worked in the UK throughout the 1970s, appearing at Ronnie Scott's Club and recording a live album, The Rainbow Testament. Her People Records album, Stretching Out, was not a big seller. Mama, I Want To Sing is a stage musical based on her life, and was co-written with her sister, Vy, a popular New York radio personality. It ran for 1,500 performances at the Heckscher Theatre in Harlem. Troy played her own mother, Geraldine. Chaka Khan played her aunt in the London production, as did Deniece Williams. The musical has been reinterpreted as an upcoming motion picture, starring Ciara, Patti Labelle and Hill Harper. Troy died from emphysema at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada, aged 67.

Taken from Last.fm

152,782 listeners  ·  662,352 plays via Last.fm

On RadioStar

46
stations playing
10
countries
19
tracks tracked
most active station (Germany)

Radio Stations sorted by tracks on rotation

oldies project
1 track on rotation
MP3 : 128
115 Likes

181.FM
1 track on rotation
MP3 : 128
24 Likes

7inch soul
1 track on rotation
MP3 : 160
24 Likes

Doris Troy — Top 20 songs

Artist Song title Like / Dislike
Doris Troy Just One Look
Doris Troy Just One Look (1963)
Doris Troy Just One Look
Doris Troy I'll Do Anything He Wants Me To Do
Doris Troy Kill Them All!
Doris Troy Just One Look (1963
Doris Troy Just one look
Doris Troy Face Up To The Truth
Doris Troy I'll Do Anything
Doris Troy You Tore Me Up Inside
Doris Troy Just One look
Doris Troy Ain't That Cute
Doris Troy I'll Do Anything (45)
Doris Troy Another Look
Doris Troy Lazy Days (When Are You Coming Home)
Doris Troy Please Little Angel (Single Version)
Doris Troy I'll Do Anything (He Wants Me To)
Doris Troy I'll Do Anything -- 1965
Doris Troy I'll do anything
Doris Troy Just One Look (Hard To Find 45s On CD: Sweet Soul Sounds)
Just One Look
Just One Look (1963)
Just One Look
I'll Do Anything He Wants Me To Do
Kill Them All!
Just One Look (1963
Just one look
Face Up To The Truth
I'll Do Anything
You Tore Me Up Inside
Just One look
Ain't That Cute
I'll Do Anything (45)
Another Look
Lazy Days (When Are You Coming Home)
Please Little Angel (Single Version)
I'll Do Anything (He Wants Me To)
I'll Do Anything -- 1965
I'll do anything
Just One Look (Hard To Find 45s On CD: Sweet Soul Sounds)