Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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ELLISON, Lorraine

(b c1943, Philadelphia PA) Soul singer. The Ellison sisters formed a gospel group while in high school; the Ellison Singers performed at the Festival of Two Worlds in Italy '64. Lorraine's manager Sam Bell signed her to Mercury; 'I Dig You Baby' made R&B chart '65. The next year she was on WB, who released 'Stay With Me' (co-written, prod. by Jerry Ragovoy), which reached no. 11 R&B, Hot 100 pop; it is still regarded as a classic of the genre for its sheer intensity. 'Heart Be Still' on WB subsidiary Loma also made both charts in '69, but she never did it again, despite the high regard of soul connoisseurs and good choice of material: 'You Really Got A Hold On Me', 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother', 'Many Rivers To Cross', etc. All her work was out of print in USA; 'Stay With Me' was reissued by WB in UK '81.

'Stay With Me' was co-written and produced by Jerry Ragovoy (b 4 September 1930; d 13 July 2011), who also wrote or co-wrote 'Time Is On My Side' (Irma Thomas, Rolling Stones), 'Piece Of My Heart' (Erma Franklin, Janis Joplin), many more.