Trudy Lynn (born August 9, 1947)[2][3] is an American electric blues and soul blues singer and songwriter, whose recorded work has been released on twelve studio albums, one live album, and four compilation albums.[4][1]
Trudy Lynn | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Lee Audrey Nelms |
| Born | August 9, 1947 Houston, Texas, United States |
| Genres | Electric blues, soul blues, soul, R&B[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | Mid 1960s–present |
| Labels | Nola Blue Records, Ichiban, Ruf, Jus Blues, Isabel, Sawdust Alley, Connor Ray Music |
The Allmusic journalist, Alex Henderson, noted that "Lynn isn't one to hold back emotionally; like Koko Taylor and Etta James, she screams, shouts, testifies and gets her points across in a highly convincing way".[5]
Biography
editShe was born Lee Audrey Nelms[3] in the Fifth Ward, Houston, Texas, United States.[6]
Her professional singing career began in the mid-1960s, when she sang with the guitarist Albert Collins and then later, Clarence Green. Use of her stage name of Trudy Lynn was in place when she performed with the Rhythmaires in the late 1960s.[3] Her early work was in the rhythm and blues genre, and she once opened for Ike & Tina Turner.[1] In the 1970s, Lynn expanded her performing base from clubs in Houston, to regional work and then overseas.[3]
Lynn's recording career did not start until 1989, when Ichiban Records released the first of five albums she recorded for them. Her debut, Trudy Sings the Blues, included her cover version of "Ball 'n' Chain".[7] It reached No. 76 in the US Billboard R&B albums chart.[8] The following year, Come to Mama also peaked at No. 76 in the same chart.[8] A mixture of southern soul and blues, her early albums were produced by Buzz Amato.[1] Her 1999 release, U Don't Know What Time It Is, issued by Ruf Records, was short of double entendres in the lyrics, which had been a trademark up to that time.[9] The album included keyboards input from Lucky Peterson, with Bernard Allison on guitar.[10] Her live album, Blues Power: Trudy's Blues (2004), had guitar work by Carl Weathersby.[11]
One of her most recent outputs was I'm Still Here, released in May 2006.[12] It was recorded with the Calvin Owens Blues Orchestra.[13] I'm Still Here was nominated for a Blues Music Award in 2007 in the 'Best Soul Blues Album' category.[14] Lynn herself was nominated as 'Best Soul Blues Artist'.[15] In 2014, Lynn was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the 'Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female)' category.[16] Her album, Royal Oaks Blues Cafe, reached number one in the Billboard Top Blues Albums Chart in September 2014.[17]
Festival work
editAt the Chicago Blues Festival, one newspaper journalist described her as "enthralling", whilst in her home town at the Juneteenth Blues Festival, she was described as the 'Blues Artist of the Year.'[15] Lynn appeared at the Notodden Blues Festival in both 1999 and 2009, and with Little Milton at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 2001. In 2014, she performed at the Lucerne Blues Festival.
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Trudy Sings the Blues | Ichiban Records |
| 1990 | Come to Mama | Ichiban Records |
| 1991 | The Woman in Me | Ichiban Records |
| 1993 | I'll Run Your Hurt Away | Ichiban Records |
| 1994 | 24 Hour Woman | Ichiban Records |
| 1999 | U Don't Know What Time It Is | Ruf Records |
| 2002 | Memories of You | Jus Blues Records |
| 2006 | I'm Still Here | Sawdust Alley Records |
| 2013 | Royal Oaks Blues Café feat. Steve Krase | Connor Ray Music |
| 2015 | Everything Comes with a Price | Connor Ray Music |
| 2016 | I'll Sing the Blues for You | Connor Ray Music |
| 2018 | Blues Keep Knockin' | Connor Ray Music |
| 2022 | Golden Girl | Nola Blue Records |
Live albums
edit| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Blues Power: Trudy's Blues | Isabel Records |
Compilation albums
edit| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The First Lady of Soul | Ichiban Records |
| 1996 | Here Comes Trudy!: The Best of Trudy Lynn | Japan only – import |
| 1998 | Retrospectives | Ichiban Records |
| 2002 | American Roots: Blues | Ichiban Records |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e Carpenter, Bil (n.d.). "Trudy Lynn – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ "Texas Birth Index, Roll No. 1947_0009". Search.ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Wood, Charles Roger (2003). Down in Houston: Bayou City blues (1st ed.). Austin, Texas, United States: University of Texas Press. pp. 177/9. ISBN 0-292-79159-3.
- ^ "Discography". Trudy Lynn. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
- ^ a b Henderson, Alex (n.d.). "Come to Mama – Trudy Lynn : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ "Max C Talent – Trudy Lynn". Maxctalentgroup.com. n.d. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ Frantz, Niles J. (n.d.). "Sings the Blues – Trudy Lynn : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ a b "Trudy Lynn – Awards". AllMusic. n.d. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ Hamilton, Andrew (October 19, 1999). "U Don't Know What Time It Is – Trudy Lynn : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ "George Graham Reviews Trudy Lynn's "U Don't Know What Time It Is"". Georgegraham.com. February 15, 2004. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ "Blues Power: Trudy's Blues – Trudy Lynn : Credits". AllMusic. August 10, 2004. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ "I'm Still Here – Trudy Lynn : Credits". AllMusic. May 23, 2006. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ Olivia Flores Alvarez (July 27, 2006). "Trudy Lynn with the Calvin Owens Blues Orchestra – – Music". Houston Press. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ Bradley, Andy (2010). House of Hits (1st ed.). Austin, Texas, United States: University of Texas Press. p. 248. ISBN 978-0-292-71919-4.
- ^ a b "Blog Archive : Trudy Lynn: Bringing back the blues". Defender Network. February 9, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ "2014 Blues Music Awards Nominees and Winners". Blues.about.com. n.d. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
- ^ "Royal Oaks Blues Café – Steve Krase,Trudy Lynn – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
- ^ "Trudy Lynn Discography and Music at CD Universe". Cduniverse.com. n.d. Retrieved May 23, 2013.