Priscilla Bowman (born Priscilla I. Mills, May 30, 1928 – July 24, 1988) was an American jazz and rhythm and blues singer, who had a No. 1 hit single on the Billboard magazine R&B chart in 1955 with the song "Hands Off". She was the lead singer for the Jay McShann band.
Priscilla Bowman
Birth name
Priscilla Mills
Born
(1928-05-30)May 30, 1928 Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
Died
July 24, 1988(1988-07-24) (aged 60) Kansas City, Kansas
The daughter of Ethel and Solomon Mills, she was born in Kansas City, Kansas,[1] and has been called the city's "original rock 'n' roll mama."[2] Her influences included singers Ruth Brown and Annie Laurie.[1] She joined the Jay McShann band in the early 1950s. In 1955 the band signed with Vee-Jay Records, and Bowman recorded two sessions with them. One of the songs, "Hands Off", became a hit and stayed at No. 1 on the R&B chart for three weeks in December 1955.[3]
She recorded three sessions for Vee-Jay and its subsidiary label, Falcon, as a solo singer between 1957 and 1959 but could not repeat her success.[2] However, in 1958 she was the first to record the song "A Rockin' Good Way", with uncredited vocal backing by The Spaniels.[4] The song was written with Brook Benton and became a hit when Benton recorded it himself as a duo with Dinah Washington in 1960.[5]
Bowman recorded again for Abner Records in 1959 and continued to record and make personal appearances, some with McShann, through the mid-1970s. She retired to family life.[1] A compilation album of her recordings, An Original Rock & Roll Mama, was released in 1986.
Bowman died in July 1988 from lung cancer at the age of 60.[6]
References
^ abcEagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 354. ISBN978-0313344237.
^ ab"Vee-Jay". Campber.people.clemson.edu. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
^Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 298.
^JC Marion (2006). . Home.earthlink.net. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
^Rob Finnis and Tony Rounce, Booklet with CD "You Heard It Here First", Ace Records CDCHD1204, 2008
^Rock, Doc. "The Dead Rock Stars Club - The 1980s". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
External links
Priscilla Bowman discography
June 21, 2023
priscilla, bowman, born, priscilla, mills, 1928, july, 1988, american, jazz, rhythm, blues, singer, single, billboard, magazine, chart, 1955, with, song, hands, lead, singer, mcshann, band, birth, namepriscilla, millsborn, 1928, 1928kansas, city, kansas, diedj. Priscilla Bowman born Priscilla I Mills May 30 1928 July 24 1988 was an American jazz and rhythm and blues singer who had a No 1 hit single on the Billboard magazine R amp B chart in 1955 with the song Hands Off She was the lead singer for the Jay McShann band Priscilla BowmanBirth namePriscilla MillsBorn 1928 05 30 May 30 1928Kansas City Kansas U S DiedJuly 24 1988 1988 07 24 aged 60 Kansas City KansasGenresR amp BOccupation s SingerYears activec 1950 c 1975Biography EditThe daughter of Ethel and Solomon Mills she was born in Kansas City Kansas 1 and has been called the city s original rock n roll mama 2 Her influences included singers Ruth Brown and Annie Laurie 1 She joined the Jay McShann band in the early 1950s In 1955 the band signed with Vee Jay Records and Bowman recorded two sessions with them One of the songs Hands Off became a hit and stayed at No 1 on the R amp B chart for three weeks in December 1955 3 She recorded three sessions for Vee Jay and its subsidiary label Falcon as a solo singer between 1957 and 1959 but could not repeat her success 2 However in 1958 she was the first to record the song A Rockin Good Way with uncredited vocal backing by The Spaniels 4 The song was written with Brook Benton and became a hit when Benton recorded it himself as a duo with Dinah Washington in 1960 5 Bowman recorded again for Abner Records in 1959 and continued to record and make personal appearances some with McShann through the mid 1970s She retired to family life 1 A compilation album of her recordings An Original Rock amp Roll Mama was released in 1986 Bowman died in July 1988 from lung cancer at the age of 60 6 References Edit a b c Eagle Bob LeBlanc Eric S 2013 Blues A Regional Experience Santa Barbara Praeger Publishers p 354 ISBN 978 0313344237 a b Vee Jay Campber people clemson edu Retrieved 30 August 2017 Whitburn Joel 2004 Top R amp B Hip Hop Singles 1942 2004 Record Research p 298 JC Marion 2006 Hands Off Priscilla Bowman Home earthlink net Archived from the original on 29 October 2013 Retrieved 30 August 2017 Rob Finnis and Tony Rounce Booklet with CD You Heard It Here First Ace Records CDCHD1204 2008 Rock Doc The Dead Rock Stars Club The 1980s Thedeadrockstarsclub com Retrieved 30 August 2017 External links EditPriscilla Bowman discography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Priscilla Bowman amp oldid 1137715054, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
