Erma Franklin
The Cleo-Patrettes (Detroit)
Personnel :
Erma Franklin (Lead)
Discography :
1953 - Say Would You Babe / No Other Love (JVB 23)
Biography :
R&B/Soul
Musician. Born Erma Venice Franklin in Shelby, Mississippi, she was the
sister of singers Carolyn and Aretha Franklin, and the daughter of Rev.
C.L. Franklin. As a child she moved to Memphis, Detroit, and Buffalo,
where at 5 she began singing in her father's church choir with sisters
Aretha and Carolyn, and during high school performed with a vocal group
called the Cleo-Patrettes, which won a state talent contest and recorded
for the small Detroit label JVB. The Cleo-Patrettes broke up after high
school, and Franklin toured with her father's gospel group for two
years; she subsequently had chances to record for Chess and to join
Motown's early roster, but wound up following her father's wishes that
she attend college before trying a singing career.
Erma Franklin
In 1961 she auditioned for the Epic Record Label and moved to New
York to record her debut album, "Her Name Is Erma" which came out in
1962 and featured jazz, pop, and R&B tunes. One of her songs on that
album, 'Abracadabra' was written by Van McCoy who would later have a
success with the hit, 'The Hustle.' She soon became tired of the hassles
with Epic and waited out of her contract, and spent 1961 to 1966
touring with Lloyd Price's show. Next she joined the Atlantic Record
Label and her career suddenly took off more then it had before, later
signing with producer/songwriter Bert Berns of Shout Records in 1967
Songs :
No Other Love Say Would You Babe