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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHOLLIDAY, Jennifer(b 19 Oct. '60, Houston TX) USA soul singer. Grew up in choir of Rev. C.L. Jackson's Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, nationally renowned gospel group appearing regularly on TV. Got Broadway break when dancer Jamie Patterson spotted her in Houston with A Chorus Line, sent Holliday an air ticket and arranged audition for Your Arm's Too Short To Box With God; she got a part and stayed for 18 months, moving to Dreamgirls, another musical: she lived the part of Effie Melody White of female vocal trio the Dreamettes, based on the Supremes: Tom Eyen/Harry Krieger (lyrics/composer) wrote material especially for her and the result ran two years from Dec. '81, earned her rave reviews, a Tony for best actress in a musical and a Grammy for best R&B female vocalist ("And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going'). Long-awaited album Feel My Soul '83 prod. by Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire), a no. 31 USA chart album. Returned to the stage with title role of Sing, Mahalia, Sing, based on life of Mahalia Jackson; second album Say You Love Me released late '85; various prod. incl. Arthur Baker, Michael Jackson (wrote "You're The One'). Despite finding fame as surrogate Supreme, she owes more to gospel infl. and her idol Aretha Franklin; seems determined not to do too much too soon. Effie was all but edged out of Dreamettes due to her not fitting the slim, glamorous Diana Ross stereotype (the parallel with Florence Ballard); Holliday matches her large frame with an even larger voice. I'm On Your Side '91 appeared on Arista. |