Barbara Randolph facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara Randolph
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Barbara Randolph, circa 1962.
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Barbara Ann Sanders |
| Born | May 5, 1942 Detroit, Michigan |
| Died | July 15, 2002 (aged 60) South Africa |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress |
| Years active | 1951–1989 |
| Labels | Motown Records Soul Records Nightmare Records Spectrum Records |
| Associated acts | Lillian Randolph The 5 Red Caps The Platters Marvin Gaye |
Barbara Randolph (born May 5, 1942 – died July 15, 2002) was an American singer and actress. She was known for her soul music and for working with Motown Records in the 1960s. She was also known as Barbara Ann Sanders.
About Barbara Randolph
Barbara Randolph was born in Detroit, Michigan. She was adopted by famous actress Lillian Randolph. Lillian was in many movies, including It's a Wonderful Life. Barbara started her acting career very young, at just 8 years old. She used the name Barbara Ann Sanders then. Her first movie role was Tanya in Bright Road (1953).
In 1957, Barbara and her mother joined a singing group called The Red Caps. The group was led by Steve Gibson. Barbara continued to perform with The Red Caps sometimes in the 1960s.
Singing Career
Barbara Randolph first recorded songs as a solo artist in 1960. She worked with RCA Records. In 1964, she joined a famous vocal group called The Platters. She took the place of singer Zola Taylor. Barbara stayed with The Platters for about a year. She recorded one album with them called The New Soul of the Platters.
In 1967, Barbara signed with Motown Records. This was a very popular record company. She released two singles on Motown's Soul label. These songs were "I Got a Feeling" and "Can I Get a Witness". Neither song became a big hit.
Even though her records weren't huge hits, Motown thought highly of her. She toured with famous singer Marvin Gaye. She filled in for Tammi Terrell when Tammi became ill. Barbara also toured with other big Motown groups. These included The Four Tops and Gladys Knight and the Pips. She was part of the "Motown Sound" show in 1968. Some people even thought she might join The Supremes in 1967.
In 1969 and 1970, Barbara released two more songs. These were "Woman to That Man" and "Miracle on 19th Street". They were mostly for radio promotion. During 1970, Barbara focused on entertaining US soldiers in Vietnam. She returned to paid performances the next year.
Later Life and Legacy
Barbara Randolph married Eddie Singleton. They started a production company together. She stopped singing professionally for a while. However, she re-recorded "I Got A Feeling" in 1989. This was for the Nightmare label in the UK.
Her songs became very popular in Britain. They were especially loved on the Northern soul dance scene. This is a music and dance movement. Many of her recordings have been re-released on special music collections. In 2003, a collection of her unreleased songs came out.
Acting Roles
Barbara Randolph also had a career as an actress.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 1953 | Bright Road | Tanya Hamilton | |
| 1967 | Guess Who's Coming to Dinner | Dorothy | |
| 1969 | Cactus Flower | Cigarette Girl | Uncredited, (final film role) |
Death
Barbara Randolph passed away from cancer in South Africa in 2002. She was 60 years old.
