Jeanie Tracy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeanie Tracy
Tracy performing at Southern Decadence in New Orleans, 2007.
Background information
Also known as	Jeanie Tracy-Smith, Silhouette, Technodiva
Born	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres	house · R&B · disco · soul · Hi-NRG · gospel
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, record producer, actress
Instruments	Vocals, piano
Years active	1970–present
Labels	Mamahouse Records, Carrillo Music, AM Records, TommyBoy, Megatone
Associated acts	Sylvester, Altar, Rosabel, The Weather Girls

Jeanie Tracy is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She also produces music. She became well-known in the late 1970s. At that time, she sang backup for Sylvester, a famous disco singer.

Her first album, Me and You, came out in 1982. It included popular songs like "I'm Your Jeanie" and "Sing Your Own Song". In 1983, her R&B and Funk song "Can I Come Over And Play With You Tonight" was also a hit.

From late 1984 to early 1985, Jeanie Tracy appeared on the TV show Star Search. She won the Female Vocalist category for six weeks in a row. In 1995, she released her second album, It's My Time.

In 2012, Tracy played the gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in a play called Mahalia: A Gospel Singer. She released a shorter album, an extended play (EP), called Making New Friends in 2015. This EP featured some of her earlier songs.

Throughout her career, Jeanie Tracy has had four number-one dance songs. These include "The Power" (2001), "Cha Cha Heels" (2004), "Party People" (2006), and "Livin' for Your Love (Your Love)" (2016).

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Jeanie Autre Tracy was born in Houston, Texas. She grew up in Fresno, California. From a young age, Jeanie loved to sing. She started singing in her church choir at the Pentecostal Church of God in Christ.

In high school, she studied opera and learned to play classical piano. In 1970, she played the main role in a stage play called Slave Driver. It was written by Oscar Brown Jr.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out: 1975–1981

In 1975, Jeanie Tracy released her very first song, "Making New Friends". It came out on Brown Door Records. In 1976, she sang on Richard "Dimples" Fields' album Ready For Anything.

In 1979, Tracy moved to San Francisco, California. There, she met Harvey Fuqua, who managed the disco singer Sylvester. Soon after, Tracy became good friends with Sylvester. She started singing backup for him. She joined his other backup singers, Two Tons o' Fun (Martha Wash and Izora Armstead).

In March 1979, she sang backup on Sylvester's live album Living Proof. This album was recorded at the War Memorial Opera House. That same year, Tracy also sang for the movie soundtrack of Apocalypse Now.

In 1980, Tracy sang backup for Two Tons o' Fun on their first two albums. These were Two Tons of Fun and Backatcha. In 1981, Sylvester released his last album, Too Hot to Step. This album featured two duet songs with Jeanie Tracy. The songs were "Here Is My Love" and "Give It Up". Both songs reached number 20 on Billboard's Disco chart. Also in 1981, she was a featured singer on "You're Gonna Lose Me". This song was for jazz musician Freddie Hubbard's album Splash.

First Album Success: 1982–1988

In 1982, Jeanie Tracy released her first album, Me and You. It was released by Fantasy Records. The first song from the album was "Your Old Standby". This was a cover of a 1963 hit by Mary Wells. The second song, "I'm Your Jeanie", later inspired Sylvester's song "Do You Wanna Funk". The third song was the album's title track, "Me and You".

In the same year, she released two more songs: "Can I Come Over And Play With You Tonight" and "Hot (For Your Love)". In 1984, she signed with Megatone Records. She released "Sing Your Own Song" and "Time Bomb". Both songs reached number 33 on Billboard's Dance chart. As mentioned, she won the Female Vocalist category on Star Search for six weeks in 1984-1985.

In 1985, she released her version of "Don't Leave Me This Way". This song reached number 22 on the Dance chart. That year, Tracy also became friends with Narada Michael Walden. She sang backup vocals on his album The Nature of Things.

In 1987, Tracy took a short break from her music career. She wanted to care for her friend Sylvester during a difficult time. In 1988, she appeared with Sylvester in the Castro's Gay Freedom Parade. After Sylvester passed away, Tracy sang his favorite song, "Never Grow Old," at his funeral. It was held at Love Center Church in East Oakland. In the same year, Tracy released a song called "Let's Dance".

New Sounds: House Music and It's My Time (1989–1998)

In 1990, Jeanie Tracy started making house music and techno music. Between 1990 and 1991, she released two songs under the name Technodiva. These were "I Found Love" and "Picture This". She then released two more songs, "Funkin' With Yo Emotion" and "Party Up (Feel The Funky Beat)". After these, she stopped using the Technodiva name.

In 1994, Tracy signed with Pulse-8 Records in the UK. In August 1994, she released "If This Is Love". This was the first song from her upcoming album. She then released "Do You Believe In The Wonder" in November 1994. In March 1995, she released "It's My Time".

In June 1995, Tracy released her second album, It's My Time. The album's fourth song was "It's A Man's Man's Man's World". This was a cover of a James Brown hit. It featured a collaboration with singer Bobby Womack. The song reached number 73 on the UK Singles chart. "Crying In My Sleep" was the last song released from the album in 1995.

In 1997, she released a song called "Happiness". In 1998, she was no longer with Pulse-8. She worked again with the producers of "It's My Time", the Band of Gypsies. They released a song called "Answer My Prayer". In the same year, Tracy became a regular cast member. She voiced the character Bantu in the children's TV series Adventures with Kanga Roddy.

Collaborations and Chart Toppers: 1999–2016

In 1999, Tracy released "Can't Take My Eyes Off You". It was remixed by Rosabel and released on AM Records. This song reached number 20 on Billboards Dance chart. In March 2000, Tracy released another song produced by Rosabel, called "Keep The Party Jumpin". It reached number five on Billboards Dance chart.

In 2001, Tracy worked with the house music duo Rosabel again. They released "The Power". This song became Tracy's first number-one song on Billboards Dance chart. In June 2004, they released "Cha Cha Heels". This song also reached number one on Billboards Dance chart.

In March 2006, Tracy released "Party People". This was a collaboration with the house music duo Altar. It was released on MamaHouse Records. This song became Tracy's third number-one song on Billboards Dance chart. In 2007, Tracy and singer Vicki Shepard released "I Got a Feeling 2007". This was a new version of an earlier song. It reached number 15 on Billboards Dance chart. That same year, she appeared in a BBC TV show called "The Queens of Disco".

In February 2008, she released another song with Altar called "Everybody Up". This song reached number seven on Billboard's Dance chart. In November 2008, Tracy performed at the Winds of Change event. This was during the Pride Festival in Palm Springs, California. In May 2009, she performed at the Let the Sunshine in benefit concert.

In 2010, she appeared on TV One's Unsung show about Sylvester. In February 2010, Tracy took over from Jennifer Holliday to play gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in the play Mahalia: A Gospel Singer. Tracy also appeared in the Unsung TV show about her friend Angela Bofill in 2012. In the same year, she was in the BBC TV show "The Joy of Disco".

On April 20, 2015, Tracy released an extended play (EP) called Making New Friends. This EP included four of her past songs: "Can I Come Over And Play With You Tonight", "Hot (For Your Love)", "Making New Friends", and "Trippin' on the Sounds".

Recent Music: 2017–Present

In May 2018, Jeanie Tracy released a song called "Is This My Last Stop for Love".

Achievements and Recognition

In 2012, Jeanie Tracy was honored. She was added to the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame. In the same year, she also received the Just Circuit Award Hall of Fame Artist Award.

Famous singers Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle have both recorded with Tracy. They have called Tracy "One of the Top Ten Voices in the World". By 2016, Tracy had a total of four number-one dance singles.

About Jeanie Tracy's Life

Jeanie Tracy is married to William Smith. She is a devoted Christian and a member of Acts Full Gospel Church of God in Christ in Oakland, California. She can also speak French fluently.

Discography

Albums

• Me and You (1982)
• It's My Time (1995)

Singles

As a main performer

As a featured performer

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart