Joyce Cobb facts for kids

Joyce Renee Cobb (born June 2, 1945) is an American singer. She is known for her amazing voice in jazz and R&B music. She also sings traditional blues and jazz, much like famous artists such as Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday. Joyce Cobb has had a long and varied career. She has released many songs in different styles, including country, pop, and R&B. Later, she became well-known as a jazz singer.

Joyce Cobb's Musical Journey

Early Life and First Steps in Music (1945-1971)

Joyce Cobb was born on June 2, 1945, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Her singing journey began in her grandmother's church. In 1955, her family moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Her parents had a huge collection of records, which helped shape her love for music from a young age.

She received her first vocal training at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. She sang in the girls' glee club and choir. Joyce also took private piano lessons for 14 years. From 1963 to 1967, she studied at Central State University. She earned a degree in social welfare.

Her professional music career started in Dayton, Ohio. She sang with different blues and jazz bands there. While studying for her master's degree, she performed in clubs at night. She soon decided to become a full-time singer and songwriter. Between 1969 and 1971, Joyce toured with Bill Temme. They performed as the Joyce and William Duo for Ramada Inn hotels.

Nashville Days (1971–1975)

After touring for two and a half years, Joyce returned to Nashville in 1971. She explored many different music styles. She performed at Opryland USA, on radio, and on television. She was one of the first performers at Opryland USA in 1972. She was even voted "Best Performer" in 1974.

Joyce became a regular guest on popular radio and TV shows in Nashville. She released her first song, "He Just Loved You Out Of Me," in 1975. This country music single was recognized by Billboard as a "Best potential hit." It helped launch her career, though it was her last country music recording.

Moving to Memphis and Pop Success (1976–1991)

In 1976, Joyce signed with Stax Records because of her earlier success. However, the record label soon closed down. Joyce decided to stay in Memphis. She loved the diverse music scene there, especially the blues and R&B. She started performing weekly at Jefferson Square, a popular music spot. This helped her audience grow and her unique style develop.

In 1977, she joined Cream Records. This label was known for soul, R&B, and disco music. In 1979, she had a Top 40 hit with her song Dig The Gold. This song showed her versatility. It was a reggae-style song with a funk/disco beat. Dig The Gold reached #42 on Billboard and #10 on Cashbox. This made her an internationally recognized pop artist.

Her reputation grew as a versatile pop singer and writer. She then recorded with the disco group T.H.P. Orchestra. She was the lead singer on their album Good To Me, which reached #16 on Billboard's dance charts. The next year, her song How Glad I Am charted for six weeks. It reached #90 in the R&B category. In 1980, Billboard recognized her as #4 in their "New Female Single Pop Artist" awards. During this time, she opened for famous artists like Al Jarreau and The Temptations.

In the 1980s, she recorded several songs with Willie Mitchell's Waylo Records. One of her songs reached #3 on the British R&B charts. She also toured internationally in the Netherlands with fellow Waylo artist Otis Clay.

Joyce Cobb's Club, Beale Street, and Beyond (1992-Present)

From 1992 to 1996, a jazz club on Beale Street was named Joyce Cobb's in her honor. She is the only woman to have a club named after her on this famous street. She also has a brass note on the Beale Street Walk of Fame. Her club featured many great jazz musicians. Unfortunately, the club closed after four years. In 1996, her brass note was placed on the Walk of Fame. She also toured the United States and Europe with the Beale Street Jazz Band.

Starting in 1997, Cobb co-hosted the radio show Beale Street Caravan. This show was broadcast across North America and worldwide. Since 1983, she has also had her own radio show on WEVL Memphis. She plays blues, jazz, and American jazz vocalists.

In 1995, Joyce was featured on the TV show Sounds of Memphis. This show brought her back into the national spotlight. In the late 1990s, she helped write the script for Beale Street Saturday Night. This show has been successful as a live performance. This also led her into an acting career. In 2006, she recorded for the soundtrack of Black Diamonds: The Story of Negro League Baseball. In recent years, Joyce Cobb has been the lead actress and singer in many award-winning live shows. These include Ain’t Misbehavin and The Devil's Music: The Life and Times of Bessie Smith.

In 2009, Joyce recorded a CD for Archer Records. This was her first solo jazz recording. In 2010, she toured Europe to promote this CD. Today, she continues to perform regularly in Memphis, Tennessee, and internationally. Some of her earlier successful songs have also been re-released digitally.

Musical Style and Teaching Music

Joyce Cobb's musical style is inspired by great blues and jazz singers. These include Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan. She is a skilled scat singer and can improvise wonderfully. Her voice has a wide range of sounds and emotions.

Her musical background is very diverse. She has sung country, disco, R&B, soul, and jazz. This mix has created her own unique sound. She doesn't sound exactly like anyone else. As one reviewer said, "Joyce Cobb's big, lively voice can sing everything from pop to country to classical to her truest love, jazz."

Joyce is also a strong supporter of music education. She loves teaching about the history of singing in American pop and jazz music. For almost 20 years, she has been a vocal professor at the University of Memphis School of Music. She also works with young jazz singers and musicians at the Stax Music Academy. She helps aspiring young artists learn and grow.

Awards and Honors

• New Female Single Pop Artist, End of the Year Awards list, Billboard magazine, 1980
• Best Female Singer, Memphis Chapter of NARAS, 1986, 1988, 1997
• Best Female Entertainer, Beale Street Merchants Association, 1995
• Honorary doctorate in music, Grand Valley State University, 1995
• Music Pioneer, United Music Heritage, 2000
• Initiative award, Women of Achievement, 2000
• Emissary of Music, Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission, 2009
• HEBE Award, Memphis Symphony League, 2009
• Best Vocalist, Memphis Flyer readers' poll, 2011 and 2012

Images for kids

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  Joyce Cobb, 2007 (from infobox)