b. Dorothy Moore, 13th October 1946, Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.A.
Dorothy Moore hails from Jackson, Mississippi.
She was unique during the late Seventies, whilst a large tide of disco records permeated the music scene, her Southern vocal stylings still found success whilst others of her kind faltered and only found success in the South.
Born to Mary Moore and Melvin Hendrex Snr., Dorothy was raised by her great grandmother.
At age three, Dorothy’s mother discovered she posessed a vibrato in her vocal tones, and from then on her mother purchased her musical instruments and accompanied her to gospel programs.
Dorothy attended Smith Robertson Elementary School, Mary C. Jones Elementary, and Lanier High School (all Jackson public schools), and later graduated from JSU.
She began singing with The New Stranger Home Baptist Church Choir at the age of five, and, eventually, she became a soloist.
She later sang at the Alamo Theater talent show.
At the Jackson State University, Dorothy formed an all female group called the Poppies, whilst signing for the Epic Records label.
The Poppies worked with The Four Tops, Bobby Goldsboro, and Wilson Pickett.
They recorded the hit singles 'Lullaby of Love' and 'He’s Ready' for Columbia Records in 1966.
The group recorded for Columbia Records' Date subsidiary with their album reaching the National Charts and, subsequently, crossing over to the Pop Charts.
Dorothy established a solo career in 1976 with a series of ballads of the highest order for Malaco Records.
In 1976, 'Misty Blue' (number 1 R & B, number 3 pop), 'Funny How Time Slips Away' (the Willie Nelson song, number 7 R & B, number 58 pop), and 'I Believe You' (number 5 R & B, number 27 pop) in 1977 all became enormous hits and soul standards in their own right.
Dorothy's recordings in the next few years were not nearly as successful as she became swamped increasingly by the disco trend.
She left the business for several years, but in 1986 recorded a fine gospel album in Nashville, 'Giving It Straight To You' for the Rejoice label.
The album's cover photograph was taken by Kenny Rogers.
It yielded a masterful remake of Brother Joe May's 'What Is This' that became a Top 10 gospel hit.
Dorothy returned to secular music in 1988, recording, in a deep-soul style, two albums for the Volt subsidiary of Fantasy.
In 1989 Dorothy travelled to Japan for a seven-day tour.
She took with her three other Mississippi musicians, namely Charlie 'Love' Jacobs (who hails from Jackson and who worked with The Tangents) on sax and harmonica, Jimmy Jarratt from Madison on keyboard, and Dan Harrison from Yazoo City on bass.
Two Texans, Milton Harris (lead guitarist) and Johnny Munguis (drummer) also accompanied them.
In 1990, Dorothy began recording for her original label, Malaco, touring that year in the U.K. with Ben E. King and Eddie Floyd.
Dorothy Moore has earned many awards, including four Grammy nominations, an Image Award, NATRA Female R & B Vocalist of the Year, Billboard Magazine Award, Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, along with many other awards worldwide.
She released 'Please Come Home For Christmas' in late 2002.
A live album was released later in the 2004.
2005 saw the release of a new studio album entitled 'I'm Doing Alright'.
Dorothy, apparently, has a passion for fishing, has been in touch, and is a thoroughly nice woman!
Albums:
as the Poppies: Lullaby Of Love (Epic Records 1966)
Misty Blue (Malaco Records 1976)
Dorothy Moore (Malaco Records 1977)
Once More With Feeling (Malaco Records 1978)
Definitely Dorothy (Malaco Records 1979)
Talk To Me (Malaco Records 1980)
Giving It Straight To You (Rejoice Records 1986)
Time Out For Me (Volt Records 1988)
Winner (Volt Records 1989)
Feel The Love (Malaco Records 1990)
Stay Close To Home (Malaco Records 1992)
More of Moore (Malaco Records 1996)
Songs to Love By (601 Records 1998)
Please Come Home For Christmas (Farish Street Records 2002)
Gittin Down Live (Farish Street Records 2003)
I'm Doing Alright (Farish Street Records 2005)
