Jean DuShon facts for kids

Jean DuShon (born Anna Jean Harris, later Atwell, August 16, 1935 – July 19, 2019) was an American singer and stage actor. She was known for her jazz and R&B music in the 1960s. One of her most famous recordings was the first version of the song "For Once in My Life".

About Jean DuShon

Jean DuShon was a talented singer who started her career very young. She sang jazz and R&B, which are types of music with strong rhythms and soulful vocals. She worked with many famous musicians and performed in popular shows.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Jean DuShon was born in Detroit, Michigan. As a child, she loved to sing in church. She also won local talent contests. When she was just 15 years old, she became a professional singer. She started performing in nightclubs.

Jean was inspired by the famous singer Dinah Washington. At one point, Dinah Washington even told Jean that she sounded too much like her! Jean studied music at the Detroit Conservatory. A music agent named John Levy noticed her talent. He helped her get singing jobs all over the United States.

Jean later married Freddie Atwell, who became her manager. They moved to New York City to continue her music career.

Recording Her Music

In New York, Jean DuShon joined Cootie Williams' band as a singer. She was then discovered by Ahmet Ertegun from Atlantic Records. He connected her with a young music producer named Phil Spector. In 1961, they recorded a song called "Talk to Me, Talk to Me".

Jean then recorded singles with several different record labels. These included Lennox, OKeh, and Columbia. In 1964, she joined Chess Records. With Chess, she recorded three albums:

• Make Way for Jean DuShon (1964) with the Lou Donaldson quintet.
• You Better Believe Me (1965) with the Ramsey Lewis Trio.
• Feeling Good (1966) again with Lou Donaldson.

The Song "For Once in My Life"

While at Cadet Records (a part of Chess Records), Jean was contacted by songwriter Ron Miller. He had co-written a new song called "For Once in My Life". Jean recorded the song in 1966. Her version was beautiful and became a local hit.

However, when Berry Gordy (the head of Motown Records) heard it, he asked Chess Records not to promote it. He wanted his own artists to record the song. Because of this, Jean's version did not become a big national hit. Later, Stevie Wonder recorded the song, and his version became a worldwide success.

Jean DuShon was very disappointed about what happened with "For Once in My Life." She later said she stopped singing it because she felt like the song was no longer hers.

Performing and Acting Career

Even though her song didn't become a huge hit, Jean DuShon continued to perform. She sang jazz in many top clubs in New York City during the late 1960s and 1970s. She also toured with famous musicians like Lloyd Price and Fats Domino. She performed with Ray Charles and sang with Count Basie. In 1967, she appeared at the New Jersey Jazz Festival.

Jean also started acting in theater shows. She performed in off-Broadway and Broadway productions. Some of her shows included What the Wine Sellers Buy and Bubbling Brown Sugar with Cab Calloway. She also performed in Blues in the Night, which was nominated for a Tony Award.

In 1991, Jean toured in Europe. She performed for important people like Princess Grace of Monaco and King Hussein of Jordan. In 1992, she sang at a special event for President-elect Bill Clinton.

Jean DuShon, known as Anna Atwell after her marriage, passed away in 2019 in Stone Mountain, Georgia. She was 83 years old.

Jean DuShon's Music

Here are some of the albums and singles Jean DuShon released during her career.

Albums

• Make Way for Jean DuShon (Argo, 1964)
• You Better Believe Me (with the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Argo, 1965)
• Feeling Good (Cadet, 1966)

Singles

• "Is It Wrong To Be Right" (ABC-Paramount, 1960)
• "Talk to Me, Talk to Me" (Atco, 1961)
• "Play Thing" (OKeh, 1962)
• "Look The Other Way" (Lennox, 1963)
• "More (Theme from 'Mondo Cane')" (with the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Argo, 1965)
• "Feeling Good" (Argo, 1965)
• "Out in the Cold Again" (Cadet, 1966)
• "For Once in My Life" (Cadet, 1966)
• "As I Watch You Walk Away" (Cadet, 1966)