Rosetta Hightower
Rosetta Hightower | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Rosetta Hightower Green |
| Born | Rosetta Jeanette Hightower 23 June 1944 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | 2 August 2014 (aged 70) Clapham, London, England |
| Genres | R&B, pop |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | CBS, Toast, Rivera, Polydor |
| Formerly of | The Orlons |
Rosetta Jeanette Hightower (23 June 1944[1] – 2 August 2014) was an American singer and the lead singer of the 1960s girl group The Orlons.[2] She was born in Philadelphia.
Background
[edit | edit source]As lead singer of The Orlons, the Orlons recorded several Top 10 U.S. hits between 1962 and 1964, including "The Wah-Watusi", "Don't Hang Up",[1] "South Street", and "Not Me". In early 1962, The Orlons provided backing vocals on Dee Dee Sharp's "Mashed Potato Time" (No. 2 pop, No. 1 R&B). That spring, they recorded "The Wah-Watusi" which, in July 1962, made it in the Billboard charts to the No. 2 spot.[2] Around the same time, they recorded back-up vocals on Dee Dee Sharp's second hit, "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)" which went to No. 9. The follow-up to "The Wah-Watusi", "Don't Hang Up" reached No. 4 pop and No. 3 R&B in the fall and winter of 1962. The Orlons' first major performance was at New York's Apollo Theatre with The Crystals, Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, Chuck Jackson, Tommy Hunt, and Gene Chandler. In 1963, they had hits with "South Street" (No. 3 Pop, No. 4 R&B)[3] and "Crossfire" (No. 19 Pop, No. 25 R&B).
Hightower left the group in the late 1960s to pursue a solo career in the UK.[1] She joined the ranks of the then-popular female session singers who backed many hit songs.[4] This group included Madeline Bell, Lesley Duncan, Kiki Dee, and Sue and Sunny. She recorded with Joe Cocker on his With a Little Help From My Friends album.[5]
Career
[edit | edit source]In 1968, Hightower released the single, "I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel for You" bw "Big Bird" on Toast TT 509.[6]
Moving permanently to England in 1970, Hightower married musician-producer Ian Green. She represented the US in Belgium for the first international singing contest held.[7][8] She released numerous singles and at least two albums. In 1971, she was a backing vocalist for John Lennon's "Power to the People".[9]
Death
[edit | edit source]Rosetta Hightower Green died in Clapham, London, on 2 August 2014, aged 70.[10] Her son, Ian Green, Jr., works as Paul Oakenfold's main co-producer and remixer.[citation needed]
References
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- ^ Popsike - ROSETTA HIGHTOWER,I CANT GIVE BACK THE LOVE I FEEL FOR YOU,TOAST 1968.
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- ^ "In Memory of Rosetta Hightower Green", Facebook. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Discogs - Rosetta Hightower
- 45Cat - Rosetta Hightower
- AllMusic - Rosetta Hightower
- Rate Your Music - Rosetta Hightower
- Facebook - Facebook In Memory of Rosetta Hightower Green
- 1944 births
- 2014 deaths
- 20th-century African-American women singers
- 20th-century American women singers
- 20th-century American singers
- American expatriates in England
- Singers from Philadelphia
- 21st-century African-American musicians
- 21st-century African-American women
- Toast Records (UK label) artists
- CBS Records artists