Jeanie Tracy
Jeanie Tracy | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Also known as | Jeanie Tracy-Smith, Silhouette,[1] Technodiva[2] |
Born | Houston, Texas, U.S. |
Genres | house · R&B · disco · soul · Hi-NRG · gospel |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, record producer, actress |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, piano |
Years active | 1970–present |
Labels | Mamahouse Records, Carrillo Music, AM Records, TommyBoy, Megatone |
Website | www |
Jeanie Tracy is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and record producer. She rose to fame in the late 1970s as a background singer of Sylvester, an American disco singer. Her first album, Me and You (1982), featured post-disco hits "I'm Your Jeanie","Sing Your Own Song" and the overlooked 1983 smash R&B and Funk hit,"Can I Come Over And Play With You Tonight". From late 1984 to early 1985, she performed on television Show Star Search where she was the winner in the Female Vocalist category for six weeks. In 1995, Tracy released her second album It's My Time.
In 2012, Tracy portrayed gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in the theater production Mahalia: A Gospel Singer. She released an extended play Making New Friends (2015), which features past singles.
Throughout her career, Tracy has scored four number-one dance singles: "The Power" (2001), "Cha Cha Heels" (2004), "Party People" (2006), and "Livin' for Your Love (Your Love)" (2016).
Early life
Jeanie Autre Tracy was born in
Career
1975–1981: Sylvester and background singing
In 1975, Tracy released her debut single "Making New Friends" on the Brown Door Records.[4] In 1976, she contributed vocals to Richard "Dimples" Fields' album Ready For Anything. In 1979, Tracy relocated to San Francisco, California where she was introduced to Harvey Fuqua, the manager for American disco singer Sylvester. Soon after meeting Sylvester, Tracy became friends with him and began singing backgrounds for him in addition to his then-current background singers Two Tons o' Fun (Martha Wash and Izora Armstead).[3] In March 1979, she debuted as his background vocalist on Sylvester's live album Living Proof which was performed at the War Memorial Opera House.[5] In the same year, Tracy contributed her vocals to the soundtrack of Francis Ford Coppola's film, Apocalypse Now.[3]
In 1980, Tracy sang background vocals on Two Tons o Fun first-two albums Two Tons of Fun and Backatcha. In 1981, Sylvester released his fifth and final album Too Hot to Step. The album featured two duet songs from Sylvester and Tracy called "Here Is My Love" and "Give It Up", both of which peaked at number 20 on Billboard's Disco chart. In the same year, she appeared as a featured vocalist on the song "You're Gonna Lose Me" for jazz musician Freddie Hubbard's album Splash.[6]
1982–1988: Me and You
In 1982, Tracy released her debut album
In 1987, Tracy took a brief hiatus from the mainstream spotlight to take care of friend Sylvester, who had now been diagnosed with AIDS.
1989–1998: Transition to house music and It's My Time
In 1990, Tracy made a transition in
In 1994, Tracy signed to UK record label Pulse-8 Records. In August 1994, she released "If This Is Love" as the lead single from forthcoming album.
1999–2016: Rosabel and Altar
In 1999, Tracy released a single "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", remixed by Rosabel and released on AM Records. The single peaked at number twenty on Billboards Dance chart.[8] In March 2000, Tracy released another single produced by Rosabel called "Keep The Party Jumpin" on AM Records.[10] The single charted at number five on Billboards Dance chart.[8] In another collaboration with house music duo Rosabel, Tracy released a single "The Power" in 2001. The single peaked at number one on Billboards Dance chart, spending one week at number one.[8] In June 2004, they released another single "Cha Cha Heels",[11] which also peaked at number one on Billboard's Dance chart.[8]
In March 2006, Tracy released a single titled "Party People", a collaboration with house music duo
In 2010, she appeared on
On April 20, 2015, Tracy released an extended play Making New Friends.[14] The extended play consisted of four past singles: "Can I Come Over And Play With You Tonight", "Hot (For Your Love)", "Making New Friends", and "Trippin' on the Sounds".
2017–present: Recent projects
In May 2018, she released a single "Is This My Last Stop for Love".[15]
Legacy
In 2012, Tracy was inducted into the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame.[16] In the same year, she was also inducted into the Just Circuit Award Hall of Fame Artist Award.[1] Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle, both of whom have recorded with Tracy, have considered Tracy to be "One of the Top Ten Voices in the World".[2][7] As of 2016, Tracy has collectively accumulated a total of four number-one dance singles.[8]
Personal life
She is married to her husband William Smith.[17] As a devout Christian, she regularly attends Acts Full Gospel Church in Oakland, California.[17] She is also fluent in the French language.
Discography
Albums
- Me and You (1982)
- It's My Time (1995)
Singles
- As a main performer
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Dance [8] |
US Electronic [8] |
UK
[9] | |||
"Making New Friends" | 1975 | — | — | — | Non-album single |
"Your Old Standby" | 1982 | — | — | — | Me and You |
"I'm Your Jeanie" | — | — | — | ||
"Me and You" | — | — | — | ||
"Can I Come Over And Play With You Tonight" | 1983 | 15 | — | — | Non-album single |
"Hot (For Your Love)" | 1983 | 45 | — | — | Non-album single |
"Sing Your Own Song" | 1984 | 33 | — | — | Me and You |
"Time Bomb" | 33 | — | — | Non-album single | |
"Manhunt"[a] | — | — | — | ||
"Don't Leave Me This Way" | 1985 | 22 | — | — | |
"Let's Dance" | 1988 | — | — | — | |
"I Found Love"[b] | 1990 | — | — | — | |
"Picture This"[b] | — | — | — | ||
"Funkin' With Yo Emotion"[b] | — | — | — | ||
"Party Up (Feel The Funky Beat)"[b] | 1991 | — | — | — | |
"It's My Time" | 1993 | — | — | 82 | It's My Time |
"If This Is Love" | 1994 | — | — | 83 | |
"Do You Believe In The Wonder" | — | — | 57 | ||
"Do You Wanna Be" | 1995 | — | — | — | |
" It's A Man's Man's Man's World" )
(with Bobby Womack |
— | — | 73 | ||
"Crying In My Sleep" | — | — | — | ||
"Happiness" | 1997 | — | — | — | Non-album single |
"Answer My Prayer" | 1998 | — | — | — | |
"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" | 1999 | 20 | — | — | |
"Keep The Party Jumpin" | 2000 | 5 | — | — | |
"The Power" (featuring Rosabel) |
2001 | 1 | — | — | |
"Cha Cha Heels" (featuring Rosabel) |
2004 | 1 | — | — | |
"Party People" (featuring Altar )
|
2006 | 1 | — | — | |
"Everybody Up" (featuring Altar) |
2008 | 7 | — | — | |
"Turn It Up" (featuring Altar) |
2009 | 7 | — | — | |
"Feel Good" (featuring Edson Pride) |
2010 | — | — | — | |
"Getcha" | 2012 | — | — | — | |
"We Will Be Free Tonight" (with Altar) |
— | — | — | ||
"Viva" (with Altar) |
2014 | — | — | — | |
"Stand Strong" (featuring Rosabel) |
5 | 33 | — | ||
"Andalé" (with Altar) |
2015 | 20 | — | — | |
"Livin' For Your Love (Your Love)" (featuring Rosabel) |
2016 | 1 | 27 | — | |
"Is This My Last Stop for Love" | 2018 | — | — | — | |
"Happiness 2020" (featuring Wand) |
2020 | — | — | — |
- As a featured performer
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US R&B [18] |
US Dance [18] | |||
"Here Is My Love" (Sylvester featuring Jeanie Tracy) |
1982 | 20 | 44 | Too Hot to Sleep |
"Give It Up (Don't Make Me Wait)" (Sylvester featuring Jeanie Tracy) |
20 | — | ||
"Call It Love" (Billy "Jack" Williams featuring Jeanie Tracy) |
1996 | — | — | Non-album single |
"Into Tomorrow" (Full House featuring Jeanie Tracy) |
1997 | — | — | |
"Put Some Funk In Your Shoes" (In Between featuring Jeanie Tracy and Larry Batiste) |
2007 | — | 20 | |
"I Got a Feeling" (Vicki Shepard featuring Jeanie Tracy) |
— | 15 | ||
"Fabulous" (Dirty Disco featuring Jeanie Tracy) |
2016 | — | 13 | |
"Absolute Danger" (Dirty Disco featuring Jeanie Tracy) |
2017 | — | — | |
"Santa Baby" (Dirty Disco featuring Jeanie Tracy) |
2019 | — | — |
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
References
- ^ a b Published by McFarland. (July 5, 2013). First Ladies of Disco: 32 Stars Discuss the Era and Their Singing Careers. Page 217. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=cfwQAAAAQBAJ&dq=West+Coast+Blues+Hall+of+Fame+%22jeanie+tracy%22&pg=PA217
- ^ a b c Jeanie Tracy Interview. Disco Disco. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ a b c d e Jeanie Tracy | Biography & History | AllMusic. All Music Guide. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ Jeanie Tracy – Making New Friends / Trippin On The Sounds. Discogs. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ Living Proof – Sylvester | Overview | AllMusic. All Music Guide. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ Splash – Sylvester | Credits | AllMusic. All Music Guide. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ a b c d e f Jeanie Tracy Biography Archived February 23, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Bredband. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Jeanie Tracy Billboard Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ a b Jeanie Tracy UK Chart history. Official Charts. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ Keep the Party Jumpin' – Jeanie Tracy | Overview. All Music Guide. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ Cha Cha Heels – EP by Rosabel and Jeanie Tracy on Apple Music. Apple Music. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ Party People – Single by Altar Featuring Jeanie Tracy on Apple Music. Apple Music. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ Everybody Up – Single by Altar Featuring Jeanie Tracy on Apple Music. Apple Music. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ Making New Friends – EP by Jeanie Tracy on Apple Music. Apple Music. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ Is This My Last Stop for Love – Single by Jeanie Tracy on Apple Music. Apple Music. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ Vallejo musicians inducted into West Coast Blues Hall of Fame. Times Herald. April 4, 2019
- ^ a b Jeanie Tracy gets into the spirit of gospel. SF Gate. Retrieved on April 3, 2019
- ^ a b Sylvester Billboard Chart History
External links
- Official website
- Jeanie Tracy at AllMusic
- Jeanie Tracy discography at Discogs
- Jeanie Tracy at IMDb
- Jeanie Tracy Facebook page