Artist:Zora Young
Song:Til the Fat Lady Sings
Album:Sunnyland
Though jazz and blues are both male dominated, I always like to bring some attention to female artists like blues singer Zora Young. Chicago blues fans should check her out. She was born Jan. 21, 1948 in West Point, MS but she grew up singing in church in Chicago. She is a cousin of Howlin' Wolf. She started hanging around blues clubs performing with guys like Junior Wells, Bobby Rush and Buddy Guy. She first recorded in the 80s with guys like Hubert Sumlin, Willie Dixon and Sunnyland Slim. And then she recorded her solo debut album in 1992. She's bounced around a couple of different labels. She wrote Til the Fat Lady Sings and it first appeared on her 2005 album Tore Up from the Floor Up on Delmark Records. But she also recorded it on the 2009 album Sunnyland on Airway Records. I prefer this album because Howlin' Wolf's long time guitarist Hubert Sumlin is the producer. He not only plays guitar on the album but sings a couple of songs with Zora. The rest of the band is Barrelhouse Chuck on piano and organ, Bob Stroger on bass and Kenny Smith on drums. They are all veteran blues musicians. Zora last recorded in 2016. Based on her Facebook page, she toured Europe last fall. But she doesn't have a website anymore. So maybe she is retiring. Here's Zora Young performing Til the Fat Lady Sings at the Delmark Records 55th Anniversary Blues Bash at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago Mar. 7, 2008.
She is very good! I will have to check out her videos on YouTube. Thanks so much posting her music Frank. I appreciate it a lot. David.
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