b. Flora Yvonne Coleman, 21st October 1942, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A.
d. 6th March 1994, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.
Yvonne Fair was a Soul singer, who is, probably, best remembered for her mid Seventies chart hit, ‘It Should Have Been Me’.
Born in Richmond, Virginia, Flora Yvonne Coleman, was musically involved with James Brown and the Chantels during the early Sixties.
Whilst working with James Brown (as his protege), she recorded the song ‘I Found You’.
james brown and yvonne
James was to later re-work the song into the singers evergreen hit, ‘I Got You (I Feel Good)’.
Between 1962 and 1966, Yvonne recorded 5 singles with the James Brown Band, for the King Records imprint.
say so long b/w tell me why - 1962 / i found you b/w if i knew - 1962
These included ‘Say So Long’ b/w ‘Tell Me Why’ (in 1962), ‘I Found You’ b/w ‘If I Knew’ (in 1962), ‘It Hurts To Be In Love’ b/w ‘You Can Make It If You Try (in 1962), ‘Say Yeah Yeah’ b/w ‘Straighten Up’ (in 1963) and ‘Tell Me Why’ b/w ‘You Can Make It If You Try’ (in 1966)
1963 - e.p.
After stays at the Smash and Soul Records imprints (in the late Sixties), Yvonne signed to the Motown Records imprint at the outset of the Seventies.
She sang in the Diana Ross movie vehicle ‘Lady Sings The Blues’, whilst at the label.
Yvonne also collaborated with the innovative producer Norman Whitfield, where she recorded the singles ‘Love Ain't No Toy’, ‘Walk Out the Door If You Wanna’, and their take on the Norman Whitfield/Edwin Starr song ‘Funky Music Sho' 'Nuff Turns Me On’.
the bitch is black - 1975
When her debut Motown album was finally released in 1975, the single helped construct the finished product.
Entitled ’The Bitch Is Black’, the single ‘It Should Have Been Me’ reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1976.
The song (a cover version of the Kim Weston/Gladys Knight song) was hugely popular in the U.K., where it reached number 5 in February 1976.
'It Should Have Been Me' was later covered by the singer Adeva.
Yvonne was married to Sammy Strain, of Little Anthony and the Imperials and The O'Jays.
She was the mother of two children called Leroy Fair Jr. and Venisha Brown.
Venisha is also the daughter of James Brown.
Yvonne passed away from undisclosed causes in Las Vegas, Nevada on the 6th of March 1994 at the age of 51.
Albums:
The Bitch Is Black (Motown Records 1975)
