Why do I always remember the wrong parts of the conversation
December 16, 2010 12:19 AM Subscribe
NPRfilter: Female singer (from the 50s?) mentioned on NPR in the last week. She was characterized by the music critic as never overdoing vocal tricks, sining minimally and "just the right amount". The singing sample had very little musical backing. She retired early at the height of her popularity after getting sick of the music business.
I believe the singer was African-American. This might have been on Fresh Air but I can't find it in the archives, nor those of All Songs Considered. The show/clip was a rapid-fire list of various female artists with distinctive vocal styles. I got distracted after driving home and forgot to look her up immediately. My google-fu fails -- nothing twigs my memory on the usual "top 10" lists of jazz or rock female singers from that era.
I believe the singer was African-American. This might have been on Fresh Air but I can't find it in the archives, nor those of All Songs Considered. The show/clip was a rapid-fire list of various female artists with distinctive vocal styles. I got distracted after driving home and forgot to look her up immediately. My google-fu fails -- nothing twigs my memory on the usual "top 10" lists of jazz or rock female singers from that era.
Maybe you could say where you are or what station you were listening to and what time it must have been when you were driving home? That could narrow it down to a show.
posted by pracowity at 12:31 AM on December 16, 2010
posted by pracowity at 12:31 AM on December 16, 2010
Best answer: And here is the interview in question.
posted by roger ackroyd at 12:33 AM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by roger ackroyd at 12:33 AM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: "never singing more than necessary":
Jeri Southern
posted by roger ackroyd at 12:36 AM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Jeri Southern
posted by roger ackroyd at 12:36 AM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: crap. what happened to my link? Jeri Southern. She's the first singer profiled.
posted by roger ackroyd at 12:37 AM on December 16, 2010
posted by roger ackroyd at 12:37 AM on December 16, 2010
I work at Fresh Air and am pretty sure it wasn't on our show. Our music historian's (Ed Ward) archives are here...
posted by melodykramer at 5:31 AM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by melodykramer at 5:31 AM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
I heard that interview, too, but I was more interested in Blossom Dearie - the singer who sang the SchoolHouse Rock videos. Turns out she really has that little girl voice and she was a jazz singer way before doing Unpack Your Adjectives.
What a great book/interview. I'll have to re-listen when I get home.
posted by CathyG at 7:41 AM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
What a great book/interview. I'll have to re-listen when I get home.
posted by CathyG at 7:41 AM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! Southern's voice is fantastic -- I'm off to burn off some itunes credits.
posted by benzenedream at 9:40 AM on December 16, 2010
posted by benzenedream at 9:40 AM on December 16, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by roger ackroyd at 12:30 AM on December 16, 2010