Varetta Dillard
b. 3 February 1933, Harlem, New York City, USA. Dillard spent most of her childhood years in hospital as a result of a bone deficiency. Where she discovered singing as a therapy. Encouraged and inspired by Carl Feaster, lead singer with the Chords, Varetta began entering talent shows, which led to two consecutive wins at the Apollo's infamous Amateur Hour. Signed to Savoy Records in 1951, she made her own records and duetted with H-Bomb Ferguson, and found success with Mercy Mr Percy, Easy, Easy Baby, Promise Mr Thomas and, after Johnny Ace's untimely demise, Johnny Has Gone. In 1956 she switched to RCAVictor/Groove where, much to her distaste, she was made to capitalize on James Dean's death with I Miss You Jimmy. Later recordings for Triumph and MGM's Cub subsidiary failed to match her Savoy successes, and she ended her solo recording career in 1961, although she carried on into the late '60s by joining her husband's group, the Tri-Odds, which were active in the Civil Rights Movement, performing jazz, a cappella and Black poetry.