Dorothy Moore

Dorothy Moore
Birth name	Dorothy Moore
Born	13 October 1946 (1946-10-13) (age 65) Jackson, Mississippi
Genres	R&B, soul, disco
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1965–present
Labels	Malaco, Volt, Rejoice, Farish Street

Dorothy Moore (born 13 October 1946, Jackson, Mississippi^[1]) is an American pop, R&B, and soul singer best known for her 1976 hit song, "Misty Blue".

Career

Born to Mary Moore and Melvin Hendrex Snr., aka Melvin Henderson of the Mississippi Blind Boys, Dorothy was raised by her great grandmother.^[2] She began singing with The New Strangers Home Baptist Church Choir at the age of five, and, eventually, she became a soloist.^[2] While attending Jackson State University, she formed an all-female group called The Poppies^[2] with Petsye McCune and Rosemary Taylor. The group recorded for Epic Records' Date subsidiary, reaching number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1966 with "Lullaby Of Love". Abortive solo singles for the Avco, GSF and Chimneyville labels followed

Her career took off with a series of ballads for Malaco Records. "Misty Blue" (number 1 R&B, number 3 Pop) and "Funny How Time Slips Away" (the Willie Nelson penned song, number 7 R&B, number 58 Pop) scored in 1976, while "I Believe You" (number 5 R&B, number 27 Pop) charted the following year.^[1] Moore's recordings in the next few years were not nearly as successful as she succumbed increasingly to the disco trend.^[2]

Moore left the music industry for several years, but in 1986 recorded a gospel set, Givin' It Straight To You, in Nashville album cover photographed by Kenny Rogers, Tennessee for the Rejoice label.^[2] It yielded a cover of Brother Joe May's "What Is This" that became a Top 10 gospel hit.^[2] Moore returned to secular music in 1988, recording two albums for the Volt subsidiary of Fantasy Records. In 1990 she returned to her original label, Malaco, for whom she recorded several albums during the ensuing decade and into the new millennium. The same year she toured the UK, with Ben E. King and Eddie Floyd.^[2]

Her own label, Farish Street Records released her holiday album, Please Come Home for Christmas, in 2002.^[1]

Moore has four Grammy Award nominations.^[2] Her version of "Misty Blue" appeared on the 2005 compilation album, Classic Soul Ballads. She has been inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Award Monterey Bay Blues Festival, Jus Blues Award, Mississippi Arts Commission Achievement Award, Mississippi Blues Trail Markers.

Farish Street Records

Moore started the record label Farish Street Records in 2002. The label is named to honor the street and neighborhood where Dorothy was raised. Not far from her childhood home, Farish Street was the home to live and juke blues music that filled Dorothy's head and heart even in her early years.

Moore's albums Please Come Home For Christmas, Gittin' Down Live, and I'm Doing Al were released on the label.

Discography

Albums

• 1966: Lullaby of Love (Epic)
• 1976: Misty Blue (Malaco) - U.S. #29, R&B #10
• 1977: Dorothy Moore (Malaco) - US #120, R&B #26
• 1978: Once Moore with Feeling (Malaco)
• 1979: Definitely Dorothy (Malaco)
• 1986: I'm Givin' It Straight To You (Rejoice) - Gospel #23
• 1988: Time Out for Me (Volt)
• 1989: Winner (Volt)
• 1990: Feel the Love (Malaco) - R&B #49
• 1991: Talk to Me (Malaco)
• 1992: Stay Close to Home (Malaco)
• 1996: Misty Blue & Other Hits (Malaco)
• 1996: More of Moore (Malaco)
• 1998: Songs to Love By (601)
• 2002: Please Come Home For Christmas (Farish Street)
• 2005: I'm Doing Alright (Farish Street)
• 2005: Gittin' Down Live (Farish Street)

^[3]

Singles

• 1974: "Don't Let Go" - single only
• 1976: "For Old Time Sake" - R&B #53
• 1976: "Funny How Time Slips Away" - U.S. #58, R&B #7, UK #38
• 1976: "Misty Blue" - US #3, R&B #2, UK #5
• 1977: "I Believe You" - US #27, R&B #5, UK #20
• 1977: "We Should Really Be In Love" - R&B #74
• 1978: "1-2-3 (You and Me)" - R&B #93
• 1978: "Let The Music Play" - R&B #50
• 1978: "Special Occasion" - R&B #30
• 1978: "With Pen In Hand" - R&B #12
• 1979: "(We Need More) Loving Time" - R&B #81
• 1980: "Talk To Me/Every Beat Of My Heart" - R&B #87
• 1991: "All Night Blue" - R&B #75

^{[4] [5]}

See also

• List of soul musicians
• List of disco artists
• List of people from Mississippi
• List of performers on Top of the Pops

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Allmusic.com biography by Ron Wynn
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Soulwalking.co.uk biography
3. ^ Allmusic.com - album discography
4. ^ Allmusic.com - single discography
5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 377. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links

• Dorothy Moore on AMG
• Dorothy Moore on Billboard
• Dorothy Moore on Soul Walking
• Farish Street Records

Persondata
Name	Moore, Dorothy
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	13 October 1946
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death