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MAMA, I WANT TO SING – 1995 LONDON PRODUCTION
During my 1995 trip to London with my friend and roommate, Tony S. (RIP), one of the main things on my to-do list (besides the Crown Jewels and Windsor Castle) was to see "Mama I Want to Sing”. Not because of big name Chaka Khan, but because of 1960's singer Doris Troy. Written by Doris Troy’s sister, the play was about Doris’s transition from a Harlem church choir to a secular R&B star.
DORIS TROY IN-PERSON AUTOGRAPH
Ever since discovering my mom’s box of 45’s when I was a little boy, I’ve always been hooked on 1960’s music. Especially females and the girl group sound. Doris Troy fits the bill perfectly because “Just One Look” is all-time classic. At the time that I met her, I only knew that one song, but I just had to meet her.
“Mama, I Want to Sing” was an interesting show about going from church-to-Top 10, but I was more intrigued by watching Doris Troy, Stacy Francis, and Chaka Khan in their excellent, AWESOME and a bit iffy (respectively) performance. Stage door, here I come!
Doris was sweet as pie and signed the program from the show. I don’t know why I didn’t take (or can’t find) a picture with her. I’m sure I only complimented her performance and gushed about “Just One Look”, because that’s all I knew at that time.
I can’t find any footage of Doris Troy singing “Just One Look” in the 60’s. Cursed be the 1960’s TV archives and how they often erased their master tapes.
But here’s Doris on U.K. TV in 1995, promoting the London show that I saw. The interview is cool; at the 7-minute mark she does a great version of “Let It Shine”
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DORIS TROY DISCOGRAPHY
How is there NONE – zero, zilch, nada – footage of Doris singing “Just One Look” in ANY decade? It was her ONLY hit song. This boggles my mind. What’s even more boggling is that the one video montage I found of her version mixed with Linda Ronstadt’s and The Vandellas cover is an interesting remix – but watch the story line. MOR-BID!!!
As a vinyl collector (and sometimes completist), I’ve added Doris’s CD’s and LPs to my collection. Such a gifted singer, but she only released full length LP’s – and now I have them all, having just recently paid a pretty penny (over $100) for her original 1963 LP.
“Sings Just One Look & Other Memorable Selections” (1963) – Northern Soul female group/sound – highly collectible!
“Doris Troy” (1970) – Doris was personally signed by George Harrison to Apple, and he co-produced this album with her.
“Rainbow Testament” (1972) – Pentecostal Gospel and Live Praise Recorded Live
“Stretching Out” (1974) – Danceable modern soul grooves.
“I’ll Do Anything – The Doris Troy Anthology” is a great career-spanning CD, but more importantly it is the closest thing you’ll get to a biography about Doris. Mick Patrick, the King of Detail when it comes to women in music (especially Northern soul) has done a phenomenal job with the 20+ page booklet. It’s a must get.
The title song of CD compilation, which reached #52 in the U.K. (nothing in America) is an interesting Motown-ish song that could’ve been done by The Velvelettes.
MAMA, I WANT TO SING – CAST AUTOGRAPHS
There were multiple stage versions of the play and a 2012 direct to video release – and I’ve got autographs from quite a few of the ladies from “Mama, I Want to Sing”.
DORIS WINTER - (i.e., the young Doris Troy) was played by:
STACY FRANCIS IN-PERSON AUTOGRAPH
I knew Stacy from the 90’s girl group, Ex-Girlfriend, and their song “Why Don’t You Come Home”. I saw her with Doris in the 1995 London production and Stacy also signed the program for me. She was so bubbly and talkative and even sang a few bars to me from “Why Don’t You Come Home”. Again, I don’t know why I don’t have/can’t find a picture with her.
Now, keep in mind that the songs Stacy did with Ex-Girlfriend were “cute”, but when I saw her in “Mama, I Want to Sing”, it was a whole other level of vocal talent. Soaring. She’s so talented. Watch this clip of her in 2011 on X-Factor attempting a comeback and see how she BLOWS UP “Natural Woman” about 2:30 in – even Simon Cowell is impressed.
LISA FISCHER IN-PERSON AUTOGRAPH
Lisa Fischer also played the young Doris in “Mama, I Want to Sing” on stage. I knew Lisa from the documentary “20 Feet from Stardom” about the female background singers whose vocals MADE the songs memorable. In Lisa’s case, the doc focused on her contribution as a longtime background touring singer with countless artists, her extraordinary range and her Grammy win as a solo singer. Often touring with the Rolling Stones, she was a stand-out singing Merry Clayton’s part in “Gimme Shelter”.
“How Can I Ease the Pain” – Lisa Fischer is the 1992 Grammy Winner for Best R&B Female Vocal #1 R&B, #11 Pop – Watch true artistry:
When Freight & Salvage announced that Lisa would be performing on November 29, 2021, I jumped at the chance to see her and bought a prime seat. ALL the ladies in this entry are vocally exceptional, but Lisa’s live performance really blew me away. She shatters your emotions, reaches the rafters, and soothes – simultaneously – or on a rollercoaster. One of the best concerts I’ve ever seen.
After the show, I was heading to the front of the theater to patiently wait for Lisa to come out. But BAM! She came out of the door to the side of the stage, right into the audience section when just about everybody had filed out. I was the 2nd or 3rd person to talk with her and everybody was looking at the photo and vinyl that I had for her to autograph. After my sincere gush-fest and her humble gratitude, I had her sign the photo with Mick Jagger, and I showed her that I had her biggest solo hit still in plastic and unsealed it in front of her just for her signature. She was impressed that I had kept it pristine and was so gracious and lovely.
MERRY CLAYTON AUTOGRAPH
Merry Clayton didn’t participate in a production of “Mama, I Want to Sing”, but I’m including her here because SHE was the one that sang on the original release of “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones. It is HER haunting shrieks of “Rape! Murder! It’s just a shot away – it’s just a shot away” that stick in our collective subconscious. Prior to “20 Feet from Stardom”, I knew Merry only as part of the “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack (“Yes”, #45 on Billboard) and having a couple of her LPs in my vinyl collection. Merry 100% deserves a special shout-out as an outstanding vocalist embedded in pop culture history but never getting that center stage recognition. Such vocal skill. A rare and hard-to-find autograph, I was lucky to find her autograph in a collection from an in-person UK collector for about $25. Watch her tell the story – and hear the acapella raw vocals – of her recording the classic lines in “Gimme Shelter”
P.S. Doris Troy had passed by the time “20 Feet from Stardom” (2013) was filmed, but she fits the bill. Listen to her iconic vocals that open Pink Floyd’s “The Great Gig in the Sky” – how many people even KNEW it was the “Just One Look” singer??!?!
MAMA WINTER - (i.e., Doris Troy’s mother) was played BY Doris Troy herself on the London stage and Lynn Whitfield played the role in the direct to video release.
LYNN WHITFIELD AUTOGRAPH
TBH, I know Lynn Whitfield primarily for her Emmy Award winning performance in “The Josephine Baker Story” (1991) – but I can see how she would kill it as Mama Winter. Lynn got skillz. Her autograph was yet another treasure found in the $.88 each collection that I bought years ago.
SISTER CARRIE - is the character in Doris’s church that was a supportive advocate smoothing the path for Doris to go from church to the Top 10.
CHAKA KHAN IN-PERSON AUTOGRAPH
Chaka was for many people, of course, the big draw for the London performance of “Mama”. Unfortunately, her performance was just not great. She was still struggling with substance abuse at that time (as she even acknowledged in her book “Through the Fire”) – and it was quite apparent on the evening we saw her. There was a lot of handkerchief waving when she forgot or flubbed lines, and her vocals were occasionally marred, but still powerful. Here’s a clip from the 1995 run where you can see her in action:
I think Chaka was the last to come out of the stage door, but we had to wait because I really wanted her autograph. She obliged but was a bit withdrawn or pre-occupied. Regardless of her struggles, she was and is so amazingly talented that meeting her was really a special event for me. You can see from this photo that she didn’t want to look at the camera, but I’ve got my face shoved as close as I can to her (well, her HAIR) while she was signing; happy as can be to be meeting the legend.
I’ve also got a signed index card of Chaka Khan, which I’ve paired with a flyer from her 1996 appearance at Club Universe in San Francisco. That was right near the end of my clubbing days. I’m not even sure if I was there or just collected the flyer. When you’re 29, partying and clubbing on the regular, things tend to “be blurry”. LOL The autographed card was in a collection of $3.50 each. I’m not sure of its authenticity, but it does match a posted online signature or two. When in doubt; never throw it out!
PATTI LaBELLE IN-PERSON AUTOGRAPH
Another legend. Patti played Sister Carrie in the 2012 direct-to-video production of “Mama”. And my story of meeting her in person is very colorful.
WARNING: (Racial commentary recounted below)
In 1995, I asked my then-partner if he would like me to treat him to see Diana Ross. "Whatchu wanna see that white bitch fuh?" was his response. He was a southern black man, ex-military and very abrupt and succinct with his opinions. "Get us tickets for Patti. SHE knows how to sing.", he said. And so, I did.
We had great seats at The Richmond Auditorium and he was so excited. I had told him beforehand, “If you want to meet Patti afterwards, I think we can do it, but you have to listen to me and move when I say we need to go.” I may have gotten a lukewarm or whatever response because I don’t think he believed me. But I warned him again when we were walking into theater, that we will need to leave before she’s offstage. I told him that Patti leaves the theater while the band is still playing, people are hoping for another encore and she’s already in the car by the time the lights go down.
Then it was time. Patti starts singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and I nudge him. “NOW! We gotta go. NOW!” Oh, the angry look he gave me. And then multiplied by the dirty looks we got from everybody as we had to move in front of them to get out of our seats. I was moving quickly down the corridor and urging him to walk faster, but he was having none of it. “You don’t even know what you’re doing. Patti ain’t gonna be at no loading dock.” Pissed. But then we get there and sure enough, there’s a limo waiting at the end of the loading dock ramp. NOW he knows I’m right as we walk towards the car. The door from the building opens, we can still hear music, and Patti is escorted down the ramp towards the car as we wait for her – she can’t miss us.
Patti greeted us, took the sharpie I handed her and signed for us as I said, “We were just watching you sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with the Bluebelles on VHS earlier today” – she replied with “Oh, baby, that’s before I got my nose cut into thirds”. My partner, who is a MEGA fan, can’t speak. Just grinning ear to ear and tongue tied. I really don’t remember if he said anything at all before she got into the car. I DO know that he held the tri-fold program for her to sign upside-down because he was so starstruck. I gave him mine instead and took the upside-down signed one (shown here) along with the other 3 photos that she signed for me. (Gee, I was greedy!) The other “Love” 8x10 and popcorn bag are examples of Patti’s TTM authentic and secretarial signatures; respectively.
After we met Patti, my partner was completely different. NOW he’s got pep in his step, he’s got his beautiful smile making his whole face glow and we walk towards the parking lot, past the exiting crowds, as he’s holding up his autograph and telling everybody we walked by “We just met Patti!”. He had a tell, when he was very happy, of slightly chewing the side of his tongue. I knew I was going to have a fantastic victory lap later that night. Yes, George, I do cherish some memories of our 4 years together.
Here's a clip of the “Rainbow” performance I was telling Patti about:
