Dorothy Moore
Dorothy Moore | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | October 13, 1946 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, soul, disco, gospel, blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Labels | Malaco, Volt, Rejoice, Farish Street |
Dorothy Moore (born October 13, 1946)[1] is an American blues, gospel, and R&B singer best known for her 1976 hit song, "Misty Blue".
Career[edit]
Moore's parents were Mary Moore and Melvin Hendrex Senior. Her father performed under the stage name Melvin Henderson as a member of the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi. She was raised by her great grandmother and began singing in the church choir at a young age.[2] She was a member of the Poppies with Petsye McCune and Rosemary Taylor when she was attending Jackson State University.[2] The group recorded for Epic Records' Date subsidiary, reaching number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1966 with "Lullaby of Love". Solo singles for the Avco, GSF and Chimneyville labels followed.
Her career took off with several ballads for Malaco Records. "Misty Blue" (1976) reached number 2 on the R&B chart and number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Funny How Time Slips Away" (also 1976) reached number 7 on the R&B chart and number 58 on the pop chart. "I Believe You" was number 5 on the R&B and number 27 on the pop chart in 1977.[1] The album of the same name was rated four and a half out of five stars retrospectively by Bil Carpenter of AllMusic.[3]
After a hiatus, Moore recorded a gospel album, Givin' It Straight to You (1986) for the Rejoice label of Nashville.[2] The album included a cover of "What Is This".[2] She next recorded two albums for Volt Records. She returned to the Malaco label in 1990, for whom she recorded several albums during the ensuing decade and into the new millennium.[2]
Moore has four Grammy Award nominations.[2] Her version of "Misty Blue" appeared on the soundtrack for the 1996 movie Phenomenon, and on the 2005 compilation album, Classic Soul Ballads. Moore serves on the National Advisory Board of the MS Grammy Museum in Cleveland. She has been inducted into the MS Musicians Hall of Fame, Drum Major for Justice MLK Award 2008, Lifetime Achievement Award Monterey Bay Blues Festival, James Brown Heritage Jus' Blues Award 2009, the Blues Foundation Board of Directors Award 2006-2012, nominated for two Blues Music Awards 2013, Mississippi Arts Commission Achievement Award, MS Blues Trail Markers.[citation needed] On June 6, 2015, Moore was inducted into the Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in Clarksdale. Moore continues to sing live at events in and outside of the US in 2018.
Farish Street Records[edit]
Moore started the record label Farish Street Records in 2002. The label is named to honor Farish Street, the home to live and juke blues music in the neighborhood where Dorothy was raised.
Moore's albums Please Come Home For Christmas,[1] Gittin' Down Live, I'm Doing Alright and Blues Heart were released on the label.
Discography[edit]
Albums[edit]
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Label | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [4] |
US R&B [4] |
US Gospel [4] |
AUS [5] | ||||||
| 1966 | Lullaby of Love (with The Poppies) | — | — | — | — | Epic | |||
| 1976 | Misty Blue | 29 | 10 | — | 10 | Malaco | |||
| 1977 | Dorothy Moore | 120 | 26 | — | — | ||||
| 1978 | Once Moore with Feeling | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1979 | Definitely Dorothy | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1980 | Talk to Me | — | — | — | — | Epic | |||
| 1984 | Just Another Broken Heart | — | — | — | — | Streetking | |||
| 1986 | I'm Givin' It Straight to You | — | — | 23 | — | Rejoice | |||
| 1988 | Time Out for Me | — | — | — | — | Volt | |||
| 1989 | Winner | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1990 | Feel the Love | — | 49 | — | — | Malaco | |||
| 1991 | Talk to Me | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1992 | Stay Close to Home | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1996 | Misty Blue & Other Hits | — | — | — | — | ||||
| More of Moore | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1998 | Songs to Love By | — | — | — | — | 601 | |||
| 2002 | Please Come Home for Christmas | — | — | — | — | Farish Street | |||
| 2005 | I'm Doing Alright | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Gittin' Down Live | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 2012 | Blues Heart | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 2020 | I'm Happy with the One I Got Now[6] | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | |||||||||
Singles[edit]
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Certifications | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [4] |
US AC [7] |
US Dance [8] |
US R&B [4] |
AUS [5] |
UK [9] |
CAN |
CAN AC | |||
| 1973 | "Cry Like a Baby" | — | — | — | 79 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1974 | "Don't Let Go" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1976 | "For Old Time Sake" | — | — | — | 53 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Misty Blue" | 3 | 14 | — | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 4 | ||
| "Funny How Time Slips Away" | 58 | 46 | — | 7 | — | 38 | — | 71 | ||
| 1977 | "I Believe You" | 27 | 24 | — | 5 | — | 20 | 13 | 29 | |
| "We Should Really Be in Love" (With Eddie Floyd) | — | — | — | 74 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978 | "1-2-3 (You and Me)" | — | — | — | 93 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Let the Music Play" | — | — | 32 | 50 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Special Occasion" | — | — | — | 30 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "With Pen in Hand" | 101 | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979 | "(We Need More) Loving Time" | — | — | — | 81 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1980 | "Talk to Me"/"Every Beat in My Heart" | — | — | — | 87 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Once or Twice" | — | — | — | — | 52 | — | — | — | ||
| 1982 | "Whats Forever For" | — | — | — | 90 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1984 | "Just Another Broken Heart" | — | — | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1991 | "All Night Blue" | — | — | — | 75 | — | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||||||
See also[edit]
- List of soul musicians
- List of disco artists (A-E)
- List of people from Mississippi
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Wynn, Ron. "Dorothy Moore | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Dorothy Moore Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ Carpenter, Bil. "Review for Misty Blue". AllMusic. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Dorothy Moore - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 207. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Dorothy Moore | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ "Dorothy Moore - Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ "Dorothy Moore - Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 377. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Dorothy Moore - Misty Blue". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
External links[edit]
- Dorothy Moore on AMG
- Dorothy Moore on Billboard
- Dorothy Moore on Soul Walking
- Farish Street Records
- An in-depth interview with Dorothy Moore at Soul Express
- An interview at Soul Express in November 2012
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
- 1946 births
- 20th-century American singers
- 21st-century American singers
- Living people
- American gospel singers
- American contraltos
- American women pop singers
- American rhythm and blues singers
- Musicians from Jackson, Mississippi
- Jackson State University alumni
- Mississippi Blues Trail
- Singers from Mississippi
- 20th-century American women singers
- 21st-century American women singers
- Malaco Records artists
- Prelude Records artists