Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Playlists
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Music»Artists - A to K»Artists - E
    Artists - E Music - 1950s Music - 1960s 2 Mins Read

    Esther Phillips

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    Esther Phillips was born Esther Mae Jones in Galveston, Texas, on 23 December 1935.

    She was brought up singing in church and, at the age of 13, was reluctant to enter a talent contest at the local Barrelhouse Club – a blues club owned by bandleader Johnny Otis (of Willie and the Hand Jive fame) – but her sister insisted.

    esther_phillips

    She won the contest and Otis was so impressed that he recorded her for Modern Records and added her to his travelling revue (The California Rhythm and Blues Caravan), billed as “Little Esther”.

    Her inimitable ravaged voice – part Nina Simone, part Dinah Washington – combined with patronage from Otis saw her soar to the US R&B chart top spot in 1950 with Double Crossing Blues, Mistrustin’ Blues and Cupid Boogie.

    She was back at the top again in 1962 with her sublime cover of Release Me, this time with the help of Kenny Rogers, who had tipped his talent scout brother Lelan off to her potential (Lelan signed her to his Lenox label).

    The subsequent album saw her tackle more emotion-sapping country standards, Charlie Rich‘s No Headstone On My Grave and Hank Williams‘ I Can’t Help It and Why Should We Try Anymore? providing a cathartic salve for hearts cruelly ripped apart.

    Esther was a favourite performer of The Beatles, who had her appear on their British TV special in November 1965. She scored her third-biggest hit that year with her version of their song, And I Love Her.

    In 1973, she was nominated for a Grammy for Best Female R&B Artist. She lost, but winner Aretha Franklin promptly handed her trophy over to Esther, who she said should have won.

    Although her career was consistently disrupted by the trials of drug and alcohol addiction, she scored another Top 20 hit in 1975 with her remake of the Dinah Washington song What A Difference A Day Makes.

    Esther Philips died on 8 August 1984, aged just 48, of complications from liver and kidney ailments.

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Rufus Thomas
      Rufus Thomas
      Born on 26 March 1917 in Cayce, Mississippi, Rufus Thomas…
    • Muddy Waters
      Muddy Waters
      Muddy Waters - real name McKinley Morganfield - was born…
    • Blues Incorporated
      Blues Incorporated
      Blues Incorporated was formed in 1962 by Cyril Davies and…
    • Kim Weston
      Kim Weston
      Kim Weston was born Agatha Natalie Weston on 30 December…
    • Johnny Mathis
      Johnny Mathis
      Johnny Mathis was born in September 1935 in Gilmer, Texas,…
    • T-Bone Walker
      T-Bone Walker
      The man who brought the electric guitar to the forefront…
    • Johnny Cash
      Johnny Cash
      He was born J.R. Cash ('John' came later, and 'Johnny'…
    • Guitar Slim
      Guitar Slim
      One of the great lost blues figures, New Orleans' Guitar…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleEscorts, The
    Next Article Etta James

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    You May Also Like
    • Richardsons, The
      Charlie Richardson was born in Camberwell, south-east London in […]
    • Heathcliff
      1 9 8 0 – 1 9 8 4 (USA/France) 32 x 30 minute episodes […]
    • Bullseye
      1 9 8 1 – 1 9 9 3 (UK) A good throwing arm and a fair […]
    • Don Rickles Show, The
      1 9 7 2 (USA) 13 x 30 minute Episodes This CBS sitcom featured […]
    • Fargo (1996)
      The Coen brothers (director/writer Joel and producer/writer […]
    • 20 Million Miles To Earth (1957)
      A spaceship returning from the first manned space flight to […]
    Twitter Feed
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2022 Nostalgia Central
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.