Song:Don't Leave Me This Way
Album:The Best Of Thelma Houston
Thelma Houston is mainly known for the 1977 number one hit Don't Leave Me This Way. But her music has been popular in clubs for many years. I also get asked if she is related to Whitney Houston and the answer is no. She was born Thelma Jackson May 7, 1943 in Leland, MS and grew up in Long Beach, CA. Thelma got married, became a nurse and had two kids. But she remained active in music as a member of the gospel group The Art Reynolds Singers. 5th Dimension manager Marc Gordon liked Thelma's voice and got her a deal with Dunhill Records. Her 1969 debut album Wildflower was produced by legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb. It didn't sell. Thelma signed with Motown in 1971. Her early albums didn't sell but she hung around doing background vocals and appearing in the Motown produced film The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars and Motor Kings. Things finally clicked for Thelma when she got together with producer Hal Davis. He wrote I'll Be There for The Jackson 5 and produced a lot of Motown hits of the 70s. Don't Leave Me This Way was written by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff and was originally recorded by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. Davis heard it at a party. The song first broke in clubs and then crossed over to the pop charts and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977. Though Thelma never reached those heights again, her subsequent singles did well in clubs even after she left Motown for RCA in 1980. She also recorded for MCA and Reprise. This comp covers her Motown recordings. Thelma sang the theme of the 1989 film Lean On Me with The Winans and her performance on guitarist Scott Henderson's 1997 CD Tore Down House is worth checking out. I think she is very underrated. Thelma Houston's latest CD A Woman's Touch was released by Shout! Factory in 2007 and she continues to tour. Here's Thelma Houston performing Don't Leave Me This Way on the German TV show Beat Club 1977.
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