Anna King

• Genres: Rhythm & Blues
• Instrument: Trumpet, Vocals, Performer Representative Album: "Back to Soul"

Biography

One of numerous woman singers who passed through James Brown's touring show as a protégée of sorts, Anna King made one solid Brown-produced album in 1964, Back to Soul, which contained a couple of modest hit singles. A member of the True Light Gospel Singers while growing up, King did a couple of obscure early-'60s singles before she replaced Tammy Montgomery (later to record as Motown star Tammi Terrell) in Brown's show in 1963. In 1963 and 1964, she recorded sessions on which Brown not only produced, but also wrote much of the material (sometimes under pseudonyms), yielding the low-charting single "If Somebody Told You" and a duet with Bobby Byrd, "Baby Baby Baby," that reached number 52 in the pop charts. Given Brown's involvement, King's releases for the Smash label often resembled his own early-'60s singles in their tough brand of early soul, though Anna had a respectably strong, earthy voice of her own. King left Brown's show in early 1965, and strangely considering the modest commercial success she enjoyed, she released just one more single, which came out in 1965 on the End label. She did later sing with Duke Ellington's band for about a year and a half (though she didn't record with them), but left popular music for gospel, performing and recording as part of the Brockington Choral Ensemble. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

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