Shirley Brown facts for kids

Shirley Brown is an American R&B singer. She was born on January 6, 1947, in West Memphis, Arkansas. She is most famous for her song "Woman to Woman." This song sold over a million copies! It was even nominated for a Grammy Award in 1975.

Shirley Brown's Early Life and Music Career

Shirley Brown was born in West Memphis, Arkansas. She grew up in Madison, Illinois. She started singing in church when she was only nine years old. Her early experience singing gospel music helped her develop a strong and emotional voice. People often compared her voice to the famous singer Aretha Franklin.

When Shirley was 14, the blues musician Albert King discovered her. She was singing at the Harlem Club in Brooklyn, Illinois. Shirley then traveled and performed with King for nine years. Even though King made sure she had a tutor, Shirley sometimes skipped classes to work with the band.

By 1972, Shirley was living in East St. Louis, Illinois. She made her first record for a label called Abet. The songs were "I Ain't Gonna Tell" and "Love Built on a Strong Foundation." Bandleader Oliver Sain produced this record. Sain had also worked with Albert King on his first hit song years earlier.

Becoming a Star with "Woman to Woman"

In 1974, Albert King suggested Shirley Brown to Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee. King was already a big star at Stax. Shirley's song "Woman to Woman" became a huge hit that year. It was number one on the Billboard R&B chart for two weeks. It also reached number 22 on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song sold over one million copies by December 1974. This earned it a gold disc. "Woman to Woman" was the last major hit song for Stax Records. The company faced financial problems and legal issues soon after. Another singer, Barbara Mandrell, later covered the song in 1978. Her version became a top-five country music hit.

Shirley's first album, also called Woman to Woman, was released by Stax. It was quite successful. However, Stax Records closed down in 1975. A follow-up song, "It Ain't No Fun," was only a small success.

Later Career and Albums

In 1977, Shirley Brown signed with Arista Records. She released an album called Shirley Brown. This album was produced by Jim Stewart, who used to own Stax Records. It also featured songs written by Bettye Crutcher. One song from this album, "Blessed Is the Woman," reached number 14 on the R&B chart.

Shirley continued to record music for different labels. These included Fantasy and the re-formed Stax label. Since 1989, she has been with Malaco Records, a Mississippi-based blues label. Shirley Brown is still a popular performer today. She mainly performs live in the southern states of the US. While she hasn't had the same recording success as her early years, she continues to share her amazing voice with fans.

Grammy Award Recognition

Shirley Brown was recognized for her talent early in her career.

• Grammy Award
  • 1975 - Nominated for Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Female