Roberta Kelly
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Roberta Kelly (born November 23, 1942) is an American
From 1975 until 1983, she also performed as a backing vocalist with Thelma Houston and on a number of Donna Summer albums.
Career
Kelly grew up in Los Angeles, California. In August 1972, during the
Prior to releases in the US through composer
In 1975 she released the single "Love Power" a cover version of a 1967 hit by the Sandpebbles, written by Teddy Vann, and later made famous as part of the repertoire of Luther Vandross. The single was backed with "Drifter", never included in any album and an example of the pre-disco Moroder-Bellotte production, similar to Donna Summer's "Lady of the night" material. In April 1976, Kelly turned to disco with the single "Trouble-Maker" and released an album by the same name. The album contained five tracks, including an extended version of "Love Power".
In 1977, she released Zodiac Lady, a controversial album that
"One good thing about disco manufacturers is that they'll try anything. Here the gimmick is Jesus, invoked by name over unusually bright, bouncy, and consistent dance tracks flavored with gospel piano and some Jerry Jumonville saxophone. For me, this conjunction adds a perverse fillip to an already attractive record—I'm sure the folks at Studio 54 can use any kind of salvation that comes their way. Mary Magdalene would approve."
—Review of Gettin' the Spirit in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981)[5]
Gettin' the Spirit, followed in March 1978. Produced by Giorgio Moroder and Bob Esty, it was an album consisting of
When
In 1981, Kelly released the album, Tell Me, through Baby Records in Italy, featuring "Patty Cake", produced by Jürgen Koppers. It was a last attempt to revive disco. After that, Kelly's next release was not until 1995,[citation needed] when she issued The Sound of Color and "Jubilee in Germany", celebrating the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.
In mid-2008, Kelly resurfaced with the single, "America (The Sound of Colour Realized)".
Discography
Albums
- 1976: Trouble-Maker
- 1977: Zodiac Lady
- 1978: Gettin' the Spirit
- 1980: Roots Can Be Anywhere
- 1980: This Is Roberta Kelly
- 1981: Tell Me
- 1995: Sound of Color
Singles
- 1974: "Kung Fu Is Back Again"
- 1975: "Love Power"
- 1976: "Trouble-Maker"
- 1977: "Zodiacs"
- 1977: "Love Sign"
- 1977: "Funky Stardust"
- 1977: "I'm Sagittarius"
- 1978: "Oh Happy Day"
- 1978: "Gettin' the Spirit"
- 1979: "John Paul II"
- 1980: "Roots Can be Anywhere"
- 1980: "Kabacka Shacka"
- 1981: "Patty Cake"
- 2008: "America (The Sound of Colour Realized)"
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
References
- ^ "Roberta Kelly Offiial Website - HOME". www1.robertakelly.com.
- ^ "Roberta Kelly Offiial Website - ABOUT". Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ a b "Charts & Awards / Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
- ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 28, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.