Cissy Houston (born Emily Drinkard on September 30, 1933) is a gospel and soul singer. Houston's last recording session with The Sweet Inspirations was in October 1969, since she wanted to pursue a solo career and concentrate on her family. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Estelle Brown in Jacksonville, Florida, born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, who passed away on January 24, 2021, at the age of 80, leaving to mourn family and friends. Within a month of their chart climb, the group began work on their second album - a gospel record entitled Songs Of Faith & Inspiration. KTBS 3 Public File | KPXJ 21 Public File. Related Playlists. Estelle Brown joined the team soon after, and the line-up that was to become an Atlantic recording group was set. The session produced the group's biggest R&B hit in some time. The group sang backup for many stars, including Solomon Burke, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Esther Phillips. Deep down inside, he knew the deal. Later they began traveling around the area and singing at various venues. He once again criticized Westmoreland during the summer 1975 tour, telling audiences, among other things, that she would "take affection from anybody, anyplace, anytime. There was one person in particular who had sent the message. I always say, God I thank you and Elvis I thank you too!. That session produced the first two singles released by Atlantic, a version of Why (Am I Treated So Bad), a song previously recorded by 'The Staple Singers' and a soulful version of Let It Be Me, a French song which had been a pop and R&B hit for Betty Everett & Jerry Butler in 1964. The quartet began in 1964 when Martin Cook, a teacher at Swain County High School, invited several young men to his home for evenings of singing. When Elvis heard that sound he just had to have them sing with him. In the video, Smith shared that she and Elvis were often flirty with each other, however, they worked together. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Marion Keiske Who Discovered Elvis Presley? Elvis Gold Piano Elvis Piano at Graceland. Myrna also backed Elvis up during his 1976 Graceland recordings, both in February of that year, and in the October/November sessions, resulting in two albums. Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. 96 were here. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. While still singing with the Blackwood Brothers in 1962, Sumner took on the added responsibilities of managing the Stamps Quartet, developing them into one of the top gospel groups in the country. But then when we went to rehearsal with him for the first time, it was just like a marriage. Lee, who was the mother of Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, had also adopted another daughter named Judy Guions (who would later become known as Judy Clay). The Penticton Pacific Northwest Elvis Festival Society is a not-for-profit society whose main goal is to celebrate the life and music of the greatest entertainer ever known Elvis Presley. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', At the end of the year, The Sweets would record Sweet Sweet Soul with Ugene Dozier and Thom Bell at Sigma Sound in Philadelphia, and (Gotta Find) A Brand New Lover would become their biggest hit since Sweet Inspiration in early 1970. I don't know how you can do it all. It was all symptomatic of the drug-induced, physical decline that would culminate in Elvis' death from an overdose two years later. This original backup group that was so in demand among producers, publishers, artists, and songwriters in the early '60s included Myrna's cousins Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, Doris Troy and Judy Guions (later Judy Clay). The group sang backup for many stars, including Aretha Franklin . Smith even married Schilling briefly from 1982-1987. Fontana Interview with Charlie Hodge Interview with Ernst Jorgensen Elvis Presley & the TCB Band, Copyright 2022 by www.elvis.com.au & www.elvispresley.com.au, https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/the-sweet-inspirations.shtml. Read More. Liverpool Echo Arena Auditorium, Liverpool, UK. Until Now! Sausage And Cheese. Estelle Brown Sweet Inspirations In Las Vegas Sweets are headed to the UK for unprecedented Fall Tour starts Nov 3rd Visit http://www.elvisworldtour.co.uk/ for all the information Nov3 Shawn Klush Fall UK Tour Thursday, November 3Thu, Nov 3 Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK Bill Baize, The Stamps Quartet, still active. Even after singing and performing in concerts, they allegedly would continue to sing and jam all night. In addition to the work they were doing at Atlantic (basically taking the place of The Cookies who, as The Raelettes, had moved on when Brother Ray did in 1960), they would also back folks like Chuck Jackson and Maxine Brown for Wand, and become an integral part of the 'session scene' in town. Hes still here because as long as were here and were keeping him going, hes here. No wonder that he used to have them open his concerts. Their sound was defined by the piercing tenor vocals of Archie Watkins and the booming bass of Mike Holcomb. The Sweet Inspirations : Female vocal group, formed 1967 in New York, New York. The Sweet Inspirations were an American R&B girl group founded by Emily "Cissy" Houston (ne Drinkard), mother of Whitney Houston, and sister of Lee Warwick (herself the mother of well-known sisters Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick). Product Vendor: Sweet Inspirations LLC. Clockwise from top. The remainder of the album was recorded in November 1970, with Shemwell, Brown, Smith, and new member Ann Williams, a friend of Brown's who stayed for what turned out to be the group's last full Atlantic album. No he hasnt! container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Stay safe. . Cissy Houston (4-pk) Cissy, meanwhile, was also the director of the Gospelaires, the young people's choir at her church, New Hope Baptist, in Newark. The Sweet Inspirations were one of the first Gospel groups to have an album released on a major record label, which was a live recording (released in 1959), of their performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. Doctors said he died of a heart attack, likely brought on by his addiction to prescription barbiturates. They would sing behind him for the rest of his life. Gordon Stoker died at 88 at his Brentwood, Tennessee, home on March 27, 2013, after a long illness. They dated for a while but remained close after it ended and Elvis continued to ask her to share his bed as friends for comfort. The tragic pattern of Elvis' final years are familiar to nearly everyone. Popular music icon Elvis Presley dies in Memphis, Tennessee. . The pop-rock-gospel trio of Don Sumner, Sean Nielsen and Tim Beaty is The Voice, which has being the opening act and backup group for Elvis Presley. Kathy Westmoreland, backing vocalist, still active. Featuring Elviss original backing singers The Sweet Inspirations who toured with Elvis from 1969-1977 and featured in concert movies Thats The way It Is, Elvis On Tour and TV special Aloha From Hawaii. Simply put, The Sweet Inspirations is essential listening for anyone with an interest in late-'60s soul music. Thanks for visiting our page! Myrna also backed Elvis up during his 1976 Graceland recordings, both in February of that year and in the October/November sessions. Ultimate Elvis tribute Artists Shawn Klush and Cody Ray Slaughter with Images of the King Champion Michael Chambliss with special guests Elvis' Sweet Inspirations. Although they would hit the R&B chart twice more for the label, by 1971, with Wexler now merely an employee and the Warner owned company's focus shifting to acts like Led Zeppelin, Derek & the Dominoes and Crosby, Stills and Nash, they chose not to renew The Sweets' contract in 1972. Over the years, Elvis Presley had a number of backing singers, including The Sweet Inspirations. Elvis dear friend, Jerry Schilling, loved Smith too. Saturday, 4th March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. It was released in 1968 under the name "Cissy Drinkard & The Sweet Inspirations. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. The Sweet Inspirations Top Songs #1: "Sweet Inspiration" #2: "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)" #3: "Let It Be Me" #4: "To Love Somebody" #5: "Unchained . I'm sure he said, 'And I want your daughter to drive them'. 4/14/2020. The concert will feature backup singers Estelle Brown and Portia Griffin of the legendary Sweet Inspirations" who backed Elvis on several nationwide tours. Taking over for Cook is another fouding member of the group, former tenor Archie Watkins. The Sweet Inspirations were an all-female gospel/soul quartet consisting of Cissy Houston, mother of the late Whitney Houston, Sylvia Shernwell, Myrna Smith, and Estelle Brown. In addition to being an amazing musician, singer and entertainer, Elvis was a down-to-earth and humble person with a big heart, says Torres Martin. Cissy Houston left in 1969 to pursue her own solo career but the Sweet Inspirations remained loyal to the king of rock & roll. The group at this point was composed of Houston, Brown, Shemwell, and Smith. Myrna Smith, The Sweet Inspirations, died in 2010. In 1951, they would appear with Jackson, Clara Ward, and Rosetta Tharpe at a sold-out Carnegie Hall, after which they would record a few singles for Savoy, in addition to broadcasting live from Symphony Hall in New Jersey every Sunday. This place is the perfect spot to grab something delicious to satisfy your morning sweet tooth. At that time, Sylvia Shemwell (sister of Judy Clay) replaced Troy, while Cissy Houston took over from Dionne, with Dee Dee Warwick as the group's official leader. Shawn Klush, Cody Ray Slaughter, Elvis' Sweet Inspirations and Elvis' original drummer DJ Fontana. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. Kathy explained: I dated him for about six months on a regular basis it was fun. Despite excellent songwriting and production from David Porter and Ronnie Williams, 'Slipped and Tripped', the 45 released from Estelle, Myrna and Sylvia failed to dent the charts. CAFE SWEET INSPIRATIONS - 72 Photos & 16 Reviews - Coffee & Tea - 311 Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines - Restaurant Reviews - Phone Number - Yelp Cafe Sweet Inspirations 16 reviews Unclaimed Coffee & Tea, Mongolian, Filipino Open 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM See 72 photos Victorino's Kanto Freestyle Breakfast The Sweet Inspirations did a great job of blending their voices to make a soulful sound that Elvis couldnt get enough of. The Sweet Inspirations had evolved from the Gospelaires group. Berns would go on to use them on just about every record he cut from then on, most notably on the subsequent string of hits he produced on Solomon Burke for Atlantic. According to Elvis.com, Elvis loved the song so much that he contacted the group to have them sing back up for him. (4-pk) $ 40.00 Quantity: Product Type: Product Vendor: Sweet Inspirations LLC. Really, really, like it. The comparison between the old and new is obvious as they are both a compilation of the best of Sweet's recordings, satisfaction guaranteed. Featuring a live band, orchestra and support from the incredible Ben Thompson performing the early years of the King. Shemwell died on February 13, 2010. Featuring a live band, orchestra and support from the incredible Ben Thompson performing the early years of the King. The event also stars hometown celebrity, Philadelphia Freedom (Live at the Las Vegas Hilton), Sweets are headed to the UK for unprecedented Fall Tour starts Nov 3rd. "If you believe it'll work out, you'll see opportunities. shrimp, mushrooms, red onions, parmesan and feta cheese. In 2001, Sylvia suffered a stroke which left her unable to perform. No part of any article on this site may be re-printed for public display without permission. The Sweet Inspirations were an American R&B girl group founded by Emily "Cissy" Houston (ne Drinkard), mother of Whitney Houston, and sister of Lee Warwick (herself the mother of well-known sisters Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick). She died on December 24, 2010, in Canoga Park, California, after an illness, five months short of her 70th birthday.[1]. You can also hear Estelle's voice on the records of Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Wilson Picket, Van Morrison and Dionne Warwick. This entire property is amazing! The Sweet Inspirations were one of the premier female harmony groups of the 1960s, supporting Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, and Wilson Pickett. In 1978, The Sweet Inspirations sang background on Frankie Valli's number one smash, Grease (! The late April session produced a version of The Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody", which became the group's fourth R&B chart hit, and a version of The Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody," which gave the group a charted, though minor hit. $2.99. Small Pecan Pie Bites w/Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream Filling 8 oz. The Sweet Inspirations were top-tier background singers and an accomplished recording act in their own right. Myrna Yvonne Smith (May 28, 1941 December 24, 2010)[1] was an American songwriter and singer. Perhaps the most striking example of their contributions during this period is their uncredited mind-blowing appearance behind Garnet Mimms on Cry Baby in 1963. The original line-up comprised of group leader Emily "Cissy" Houston, Sylvia Shemwell, Myrna Smith and Estelle Brown. Though their first singles lacked much chart success, Atlantic was committed to the group, and an August session in Memphis yielded the bulk of songs used for the group's self-titled debut album, released in the late fall of 1967. I do feel his spirit is here, yes. The follow-up, Let It Be Me, which had been recorded at those same New York sessions, did even better, just missing the R&B top ten. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio. In 1978, the group sang backing vocals on Frankie Valli's No.1 hit "Grease" from the film of the same name. This is an excellent release no fan should be without it. Learn more about the Soul Explosion celebration: https://found.ee/SoulExplosionSplash-gThe Sweet Inspirations were one of the most in-demand backing acts of . It was Wexler who dubbed them 'The Sweet Inspirations' and, as he said in the book, 'Rhythm and the Blues', they 'they became one of the pillars of the Atlantic Church of Sixties Soul ultimately it was only a matter of common decency to put them under contract as a featured group'. " The original song was made for the new film SCREAM VI, and even comes with a music video. While performing on the "Elvis: The Concert" European tour in March 2010, Smith developed pneumonia which eventually led to kidney failure and a stroke. The Sweet Inspirations; Inspirations magazines. Artists Moods Energetic Positive Sweet Yearning Devotional Soothing Wistful Elegant Exciting Lively Relaxed Romantic Sentimental Sophisticated Strong Uplifting Warm Gentle Striding Gutsy Passionate Dreamy Artists Themes Faith Housework In Love Compassion Heartache Introspection Religion Yearning Healing/Comfort Passion Peace Chosen as their first Atlantic release, their phenomenal version of Pops Staples' 1965 Civil Rights anthem Why (Am I treated So Bad) would break into the R&B top 40 (and even hit #57 on the Hot 100) during the Summer of Love. By the way, I'm writing this with the album playing away. ELVIS PRESLEY told girlfriend and backing singer of seven years, Kathy Westmoreland, that he knew he would die soon. At that point, Brown had had enough and walked off the stage. Rare Original '67 The SWEET INSPIRATIONS Atlantic Records Premiere Self Titled Stereo Vintage U.S Vinyl Press Lp Near MINT Sixties Funk Soul IsWhatIGot (1,123) $24.00 FREE shipping sweet sixteen svg / sweet 16 svg / sixteen svg / digital download CaffeinatedArtStudio (3,451) $1.30 $1.45 (10% off) The Sweet Inspirations were founded by 'Cissy' Houston(Born Emily Drinkard, married to Gary Houston at age 21 for two years) mother of Whitney Houston, and sister of Lee Warrick (herself the mother of well-known sisters, Myrna Smith's cousins Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick). She became a high school English teacher in South Brunswick, New Jersey in the 1960s, while she also pursued her singing career. Myrna Smith is one of the original Sweet Inspirations, the backing group who sang with Elvis in concert from 1969 until the end. Westmoreland had had a relationship with Elvis, and when she refused to pick up where they had left off during a concert tour earlier that year and started dating a member of the band, he began to introduce her at performances using "a string of veiled and not-so-veiled sexual references." Direct from the USA, the world's most successful Elvis tribute artist of all time returns to the UK by popular demand. 2021 will soon be with us and hopefully have Sweet performing at a Venue near you. Elvis Australia was founded in 1996 www.elvis.com.au was literally born from the concept of wanting to represent 'Elvis in Australia', so www.elvis.com.au Read more. Judy joined the group, along with Ann Moss and Marie Epps, and their appearances at the Newport Jazz Festival introduced them to a wider audience. The 'Sweets' worked with Elvis in Vegas, on his national concert tours and on recordings from 1969 to 1977. In 1963 she and three other singers formed a backup group that became known as the Sweet Inspirationsand performed around the country with various headliners. Re-released in 1991, it is still . Soon after, Shawn was also crowned the first ever Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion' in Memphis, Tennessee. One more single that didn't do much would follow in 1974 and, when Stax went under the following year, they took their contract with them.Through this, they were still performing with Elvis. So whenwe got there, we were greeted by this little blonde in a convertible and she had to drive us around and she was his daughter. 'Songs of Faith and Inspiration' by 'Cissy Drinkard & The Sweet Inspirations' would be released in the summer of 1968, right in between 'Tighten Up' by Archie Bell & the Drells and The Midnight Mover by Wilson Pickett. It was that song that caught the attention of Elvis Presley, who signed them to provide backing vocals and be an opening act for his record-breaking 1969 Las Vegas engagement, his official return to the live concert stage after his triumphant '68 TV special and the end of his Hollywood movie contract obligations. Presley's on-stage behavior became increasingly bizarre, and, on the final night of the tour, he took requests, threw his guitar into the crowd, and gave away a $6,500 ring to an audience member. She added: And he continues to. I am still missing a few and would be interested in buying some of them once you get organized. The Sweet Inspirations recorded by themselves for the first time in April 1967 for Atlantic Records. We thought it didnt fit. And musicians who back Elvis and are no longer with us but left their legacy of great rock n roll music for over 3 decades from the mid 1950s mid 1970s, Elvis Musician Bill Black died died 1965. The Sweet Inspirations met him when they arrived for the first rehearsals for the '69 engagement. Smith had many fond memories of Elvis in which she reflected on his love for music as well as his love for black women, particularly her. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Smith was replaced with Los Angeles-based singer Kelly Jones; as of March 2011[update], the Sweet Inspirations are continuing to perform backup vocals with Elvis: The Concert and continue to do many concerts worldwide with Elvis Presley Enterprises' first ever "Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist", Shawn Klush,[9] sometimes as a duo and other times as a trio. Hugh Jarrett died at 78 on May 31, 2008, from injuries sustained in an auto accident in March. However, following Elvis' tragic death, they backed Frankie Valli on his number one single 'Grease'. Myrna Smithalso backed Elvis up during his 1976 Graceland recordings, both in February of that year and in the October/November sessions, resulting in two albums. Featuring Elvis's original backing singers 'The Sweet Inspirations' who toured with Elvis from 1969-1977 and featured in concert movies That's The way It Is, Elvis On Tour and TV special Aloha From Hawaii. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images), Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, 2 Backup Singers Walk Out on Elvis Presley During Performance. Welcome to the Official website of The Sweet Inspirations! ", On March 30, 1968, the group scored their first and only top forty hit on the Billboard Top 40 Pop Chart with the song "Sweet Inspiration" on Atlantic Records. Local breaking news delivered as it happens. Friday, June 24, 2016 Sunday, June 26, 2016Fri, Jun 24, 2016 Sun, Jun 26, 2016, Penticton Elvis Fest, 5902 Lakeshore Rd, Penticton, British Columbia. Emily and Lee were members of The Drinkard Singers, a family group that had the distinction of recording the first Gospel album to appear on a major label: A live recording from The Newport Jazz Festival in 1959. Myrna Smith began singing at the age of five she when she sang Jesus Loves Me with her father's gospel group, on 'The Sons of Harmony Radio Show'. It simply doesn't get any closer than this! Matters came to a head during an evening performance in Norfolk.
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