Thursday, June 14, 2012

Happy Birthday: Linda Clifford



Happy 67th to veteran singer/songwriter Linda Clifford, former Miss New York State who started her singing career by fronting a trio in Jazz music before switching to Rhythm and Blues. She also has credit as an actress from playing minor roles in two major motion pictures. Unsatisfied with the roles, Clifford decided to concentrate more on her music. As of this year, her music career has spanned 40 years and took her on recording journeys through Disco and House music.

1973 brought about being signed to Paramount Records and releasing her first single "(It's Gonna Be) A Long Long Winter" which was a minor hit. Her moving to Curtom Records, headed by Curtis Mayfield, broadened her success by recording hit tunes such as; a dance cover of "(It's Gonna Be) A Long Long Winter", "Runaway Love", "Bridge over Troubled Water", "Red Light" (from The Right Combination duet album with Curtis Mayfield), "Shoot Your Best Shot" and "Don't Come Crying to Me".

After being switched to Capitol Records in 1980, she released I'll Keep on Loving You in 1982, that contained the original version of "All The Man That I Need", a collaboration with Luther Vandross. The same tune would be covered first by Sister Sledge, then Whitney Houston and finally by Vandross.

Rappers 2Pac/Tupac Shakur ("All Eyes On Me") and Nas ("Street Dreams") have sampled her "Never Gonna Stop" tune for their Hip-Hop records.





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