Varetta Dillard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Varetta Dillard
Background information
Birth name	Varetta Mamie Dillard
Born	(1933-02-03)February 3, 1933 Harlem, New York City, United States
Died	October 4, 1993(1993-10-04) (aged 60) Brooklyn, New York, United States
Genres	R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1951 – early 1960s
Labels	Savoy Groove RCA Triumph Club

Varetta Mamie Dillard (born February 3, 1933 – died October 4, 1993) was a talented American singer. She became famous in the 1950s for her rhythm and blues (R&B) music. Her most well-known song was "Mercy, Mr. Percy."

Varetta Dillard's Early Life and Music Career

Varetta was born in Harlem, New York. She spent a lot of her childhood in the hospital. This was because she had a bone condition from birth. By her teenage years, she was doing better. However, she still needed crutches or help to walk.

She met Carl Feaster from a music group called The Chords. He told her she should try singing in talent shows. In 1951, she won two shows in a row at the famous Apollo Theater. This led to her signing with Savoy Records. She made her first recordings in September 1951.

First Hits and Big Concerts

Her first songs did not become popular right away. But a famous radio DJ named Alan Freed invited her to perform. This concert, the Moondog Coronation Ball, was in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 21, 1952. It is now known as one of the first big rock and roll concerts. The show had to stop early because of safety worries. So, Varetta did not get to perform that night.

However, her next song, "Easy, Easy Baby," became a hit. It reached number 8 on the Billboard R&B chart in July 1952. This song was especially popular in the southern United States.

Touring and "Mercy, Mr. Percy"

After her first hit, Varetta toured with other artists. These included Oran "Hot Lips" Page and The Five Keys. Her record company then had her sing duets with H-Bomb Ferguson. She also toured with Larry Darnell and Wynonie Harris.

Her biggest hit came in mid-1953. It was the song "Mercy, Mr. Percy," which reached number 6 on the R&B chart. This song was recorded with many talented musicians. It became her signature song. After this success, Varetta took some time off. She had a daughter with her husband, Ronald Mack.

Her next big hit was in early 1955. It was called "Johnny Has Gone." This song was a tribute to another singer, Johnny Ace, who had passed away. Many artists recorded songs for Johnny Ace, and Varetta's was one of the most popular. It also reached number 6 on the R&B chart. She kept touring and was even in the first rock and roll show in New Jersey in May 1955.

Later Recordings and Life

Varetta left Savoy Records in 1956. She then signed with Groove, a record label owned by RCA. She released several songs there, including "I Miss You Jimmy." This song was a tribute to the actor James Dean. In 1957, she moved to the main RCA label. She recorded songs with The Cookies and worked with famous producers Leiber and Stoller. But these songs did not become hits. She left RCA in early 1958.

After that, she recorded for Triumph and then for Cub, a label connected to MGM. Her last recordings were made in 1961.

In the early 1960s, Varetta joined her husband's gospel group, the Tri-Odds. This group was involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Later, Varetta became a music therapist. She helped children who were very sick using music.

Varetta Dillard passed away from cancer in 1993. She was 60 years old.

Discography

Singles

Albums

• Johnny Has Gone (EP) (1956)

See also

In Spanish: Varetta Dillard para niños