Doris Troy – Quick facts
Doris Elaine Higginson was born January 6th 1937 in The Bronx, NYC.
Working as a 16 year old usherette at the Apollo theatre, she was discovered by James Brown.
She earned $100 for writing the song How About That recorded by Dee Clark.
Writing under the name Doris Payne, her only USA hit Just One Look was recorded in only 10 minutes as a demo. The producers at Atlantic liked it and decided to release the record with no re-recording or alteration. Just One Look was a hit in the US and UK spending 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
An excellent backing singer working with the likes of Solomon Burke, The Drifters, Dionne Warwick and others. She moved to London in 1969 signing with Apple Records where she recorded her own album and collaborated with The Beatles, Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones.
No stranger to live shows, she appeared at Ronnie Scotts and perhaps as notably The Torch in 1972. Anyone lucky enough to be at The California Ballroom in Dunstable on 12th February with the enormous sum of 70 pence got a great show.
In 1974 Doris moved back to the USA where she continued to play mainly casinos and night clubs. She died of emphysema on February 16, 2004, at the age of 67 in Las Vegas.
Did you know?
The stage musical Mama I Want To Sing is based on the life of Doris Troy.
Following a long run (more than 1500 performances) in New York, the show travelled to Japan (twice), Switzerland, Germany and Italy before a long run in The West End of London with Chaka Khan playing the role of her aunt.
The movie is available on DVD or streaming on the internet.
The following records are available:
HEAL 
It proves that when you ‘can sing’ you don’t need all the technological extras to make your voice sound better.
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