Zulema
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2013) |
Zulema | |
|---|---|
LeJoint, The Sound Of Brooklyn | |
| Formerly of | Faith, Hope and Charity |
Zulema Cusseaux (January 3, 1947 – September 30, 2013),
Background
Zulema Cusseaux was born in Tampa, Florida,[2] and attended Howard W. Blake High School.[1]
Career
Zulema and her school friend
Zulema left Faith, Hope and Charity in 1971 shortly after a label switch to
After a second Sussex album, Ms Z (produced by Bobby Taylor), the singer signed to RCA records, where she released three albums: Zulema, R.S.V.P. and Suddenly There Was You. She was also one of the featured artists on the soundtrack to the Michael Schultz movie Honeybaby, Honeybaby, providing the track "I Just Can't Say Good-Bye." Her only charting record during that time was a cover of the early Michael Jackson Motown hit "Wanna Be Where You Are",[3] which reached #58 R&B.[citation needed] The single "Suddenly There Was You" was reviewed in the October 23, 1976 issue of Cash Box. It was from the album of the same name. The reviewer predicted it as a Top 40 chart record saying, "R&B DJs should tear this one right from the jacket and slap it on the turntable".[4] In 1978, she released the album Z-Licious on Le Joint Records, which featured a duet with long-term collaborator Van McCoy. McCoy also got Zulema on board for Aretha Franklin's 1979 disco album La Diva - having her write one of the songs and perform backing vocals on the entire album, joined once again by her former band members Hilliard and Bailey.
In 1980, Zulema had a starring role in the New York musical, Jazzbo Brown. In 1982, she formed a duo called Zalmac with Al Macdowell. Their album Whatcha Gonna Do on TSOB included the songs "Friends", "I Get Down" and "What's In It For Me". Zulema had recorded at least one single on the same label, "A Mother Cries", the year before.
Death
After returning to live in Tampa, she became lead musician at the First Baptist Church of West Tampa. She died after a short illness on September 30, 2013, at the age of 66.[1][3]
Discography
Albums
- Zulema (Sussex, 1972)
- Ms. Z. (Sussex, 1973)
- Zulema (RCA, 1975)
- RSVP (RCA, 1975)
- Suddenly There Was You (RCA, 1976)
- Z-Licious (Le Joint, 1978)
- Whatcha Gonna Do (The Sound of Brooklyn, 1982) (with Zalmac)
Charted singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| US R&B[5] | ||
| 1973 | "Telling the World Good-Bye (Try to Find Yourself)" | 91 |
| 1975 | "Wanna Be Where You Are" | 58 |
| 1978 | "Change" | 46 |
| 1979 | "I'm Not Dreaming" | 76 |
References
- ^ a b c Obituary, Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 12 October 2013
- ^ Allmusic (((Zulema>Biography))) Accessed May 25, 2010
- ^ a b c "Zulema". soulwalking.co.uk. Soulwalking. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ Cash Box, October 23, 1976 - Page 22 SINGLES REVIEWS, picks of the week
- ISBN 0-89820-115-2.
External links
| Authority control databases: Artists |
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