Mildred Pulliam Whitehorn (born December 11, 1949)[1] is an American gospel and former R&B singer, who performed and recorded in the 1970s under the stage name Veda Brown. Her most successful record was "Short Stopping" in 1973.
Mildred Pulliam was born and raised in Hayti, Missouri, the granddaughter of sharecroppers and the daughter of a local welder and church pastor. Her father's family were musical, and sang both blues and gospel music. Mildred grew up singing gospel music, and first sang solo in her church at the age of 6.[1]
She sang for a time with a rock band, The Decisions,[2] and was encouraged by local radio station owner Larry Robinson to start a solo career in rhythm and blues music. He won her a contract with Stax Records in 1971, and she took the stage name of Veda Brown – Brown being her mother's maiden name, and Veda being picked at random in a sweepstake organised by the Stax office secretaries.[3] Her first record, "Living A Life Without Love", was released by Stax in May 1972, and was followed by "I Know It's Not Right (To Be in Love with a Married Man)", recorded like many of her singles at Muscle Shoals, Alabama.[3] In 1973, her third single, "Short Stopping", written by Mack Rice, Bobby Manuel and Bettye Crutcher, and produced by Henry Rush and John Wesley, became her most successful release, reaching No. 34 on the BillboardR&B chart.[2][4] Her follow-up single, "Don't Start Lovin' Me (If You're Gonna Stop)", described as "one of the heaviest pieces of soul put out by Stax in the 70s",[3] also made the R&B chart, reaching # 87 in early 1974.[4] She performed and toured extensively during the period, on one occasion sharing top billing with Johnnie Taylor.[1]
However, Stax Records fell into serious financial difficulties around this time, and her contract lapsed. Some of her recordings for Stax were issued by former company staff member John Wesley Smith on the small Raken label in 1975, but these were poorly distributed and were unsuccessful. In 1977, Larry Robinson paid for her final Memphis session, producing the single "Play Brother, Play Sister" / "I Had A Fight With Love" on the Rav label, but again this failed to make the charts.[3]
She returned to Missouri, married James Whitehorn, had a family, and worked as a cosmetologist.[1] A member of the Church of God in Christ,[5] she also became well known as a gospel singer and choir leader, at one time leading a choir of over 100 which won a contest on BET (Black Entertainment Television). Particularly influenced by the music and work of Mahalia Jackson, she has continued to perform and teach gospel music in Missouri's Bootheel area. In the 1990s she was chosen to participate as a master artist in Missouri's Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.[1] In 2006 she directed a Black History Month program in celebration of black history at Kennett High School.[6]
A number of her 1970s recordings, including some previously unissued, were released on a CD shared with Judy Clay, Judy Clay & Veda Brown – The Stax Solo Recordings, on Kent Records in 2008.[7]
Discographyedit
Singlesedit
"Living A Life Without Love" / "Take It Off Her (And Put It On Me)" (Stax 0123, 1972)
"I Know It's Not Right (To Be in Love with a Married Man)" / "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You" (Stax 0143, 1972)
"Short Stopping" / "I Can See Every Woman's Man But Mine" (Stax 0163, 1973) (Billboard R&B chart #34)
^ abcdeCrandall, Jean; Everts, Dana (Spring 1995). How I Got Over: African-American Gospel Music in the Missouri Bootheel(PDF). University of Missouri-Columbia. pp. 8–10. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
^ abc"Veda Brown". SoulfulKindaMusic.net. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
^ abcd"Veda Brown". SirShambling.com. 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
^ abcWhitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B Singles: 1942–1995. Record Research. p. 55.
^Brassieur, C. Ray; Bailey, Deborah. Art and Heritage of the Missouri Bootheel: A Resource Guide(PDF). University of Missouri. p. 22. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
^Coronado, Deanna (February 16, 2006). "Students see dream come true in celebration". Daily Dunklin Democrat. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
^"Judy Clay and Veda Brown: The Stax Solo Recordings". Ace Records. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
April 12, 2024
veda, brown, mildred, pulliam, whitehorn, born, december, 1949, american, gospel, former, singer, performed, recorded, 1970s, under, stage, name, most, successful, record, short, stopping, 1973, birth, namemildred, pulliamalso, known, asmildred, whitehornborn,. Mildred Pulliam Whitehorn born December 11 1949 1 is an American gospel and former R amp B singer who performed and recorded in the 1970s under the stage name Veda Brown Her most successful record was Short Stopping in 1973 Veda BrownBirth nameMildred PulliamAlso known asMildred WhitehornBorn 1949 12 11 December 11 1949 age 74 Hayti Missouri USGenresR amp B soul gospelOccupation s Singer choir leader cosmetologist teacherYears activec 1970 onwardsLabelsStax Raken Rav Contents 1 Life and career 2 Discography 2 1 Singles 3 ReferencesLife and career editMildred Pulliam was born and raised in Hayti Missouri the granddaughter of sharecroppers and the daughter of a local welder and church pastor Her father s family were musical and sang both blues and gospel music Mildred grew up singing gospel music and first sang solo in her church at the age of 6 1 She sang for a time with a rock band The Decisions 2 and was encouraged by local radio station owner Larry Robinson to start a solo career in rhythm and blues music He won her a contract with Stax Records in 1971 and she took the stage name of Veda Brown Brown being her mother s maiden name and Veda being picked at random in a sweepstake organised by the Stax office secretaries 3 Her first record Living A Life Without Love was released by Stax in May 1972 and was followed by I Know It s Not Right To Be in Love with a Married Man recorded like many of her singles at Muscle Shoals Alabama 3 In 1973 her third single Short Stopping written by Mack Rice Bobby Manuel and Bettye Crutcher and produced by Henry Rush and John Wesley became her most successful release reaching No 34 on the Billboard R amp B chart 2 4 Her follow up single Don t Start Lovin Me If You re Gonna Stop described as one of the heaviest pieces of soul put out by Stax in the 70s 3 also made the R amp B chart reaching 87 in early 1974 4 She performed and toured extensively during the period on one occasion sharing top billing with Johnnie Taylor 1 However Stax Records fell into serious financial difficulties around this time and her contract lapsed Some of her recordings for Stax were issued by former company staff member John Wesley Smith on the small Raken label in 1975 but these were poorly distributed and were unsuccessful In 1977 Larry Robinson paid for her final Memphis session producing the single Play Brother Play Sister I Had A Fight With Love on the Rav label but again this failed to make the charts 3 She returned to Missouri married James Whitehorn had a family and worked as a cosmetologist 1 A member of the Church of God in Christ 5 she also became well known as a gospel singer and choir leader at one time leading a choir of over 100 which won a contest on BET Black Entertainment Television Particularly influenced by the music and work of Mahalia Jackson she has continued to perform and teach gospel music in Missouri s Bootheel area In the 1990s she was chosen to participate as a master artist in Missouri s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program 1 In 2006 she directed a Black History Month program in celebration of black history at Kennett High School 6 A number of her 1970s recordings including some previously unissued were released on a CD shared with Judy Clay Judy Clay amp Veda Brown The Stax Solo Recordings on Kent Records in 2008 7 Discography editSingles edit Living A Life Without Love Take It Off Her And Put It On Me Stax 0123 1972 I Know It s Not Right To Be in Love with a Married Man Don t Let The Green Grass Fool You Stax 0143 1972 Short Stopping I Can See Every Woman s Man But Mine Stax 0163 1973 Billboard R amp B chart 34 Don t Start Loving Me If You re Gonna Stop Fever Stax 194 1974 R amp B chart 87 Brand New Tomorrow Shoutin Out Love Raken 001 1975 I m Loving Him Right Trip Raken 002 1975 Play Brother Play Sister I Had A Fight With Love Rav 16 1977 2 4 References edit a b c d e Crandall Jean Everts Dana Spring 1995 How I Got Over African American Gospel Music in the Missouri Bootheel PDF University of Missouri Columbia pp 8 10 Retrieved August 23 2010 a b c Veda Brown SoulfulKindaMusic net Retrieved August 23 2010 a b c d Veda Brown SirShambling com 2009 Retrieved August 23 2010 a b c Whitburn Joel 1996 Top R amp B Singles 1942 1995 Record Research p 55 Brassieur C Ray Bailey Deborah Art and Heritage of the Missouri Bootheel A Resource Guide PDF University of Missouri p 22 Retrieved August 23 2010 Coronado Deanna February 16 2006 Students see dream come true in celebration Daily Dunklin Democrat Retrieved August 23 2010 Judy Clay and Veda Brown The Stax Solo Recordings Ace Records Retrieved July 23 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Veda Brown amp oldid 1210349406, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
