Beyonce', Justin, Britney, Usher, Chris, Kelly...just a few of those that have topped, and are topping the respective music industry charts. Their continued sales success indicate their popularity with their key demographic: the young. However, most of them are successful as a result of some gifted marketing and their physical appearance, which is perfect for the video-dependent music business.
Measured solely on their vocal prowess alone, I don't think they, for the most part, can't hold a candle to some older, more experienced, and, I've got to saw, MORE TALENTED individuals, some that, unfortunately have passed, never getting the recognition that they deserved.
To the list of underrated "dearly departed," I want to praise Phyllis Hyman, a singer equipped with one of the sultriest of voices that, sadly committed suicide in 1995. Hyman had some chart success with the disco-esque "You Know How to Love Me" but was more suited for ballads and other torchy-like songs. She won much praise for her role on Broadway in Sophisticated Ladies.
Though her albums were never at the top of the charts, she did develop a devoted fan base, of which I am a member.
Now, of those that are still alive and kicking, there are several that continue to record and release albums, with little fanfare to the public in general, but cause elation with their band of fans.
Patti Austin, who has been singing since the age of four, is another vocalist of note that should be a household name. The goddaughter of music maestro Quincy Jones, Austin sang on several of the composer's familiar recordings ("Razzmatazz," "Ai No Corrida," "Stuff Like That") and has had several albums of her own yield hit tunes ("Baby, Come to Me," a duet with James Ingram from Every Home Should Have One and "The Heat of Heat" from Gettin' Away with Murder).
She has done duets with the likes of Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, and George Benson.
One of her earliest careers was as a singer of commercial jingles, with which she carved out quite a niche for herself.
The singer won critical praise for For Ella, a collection of songs in honor of the late Fitzgerald. She followed that album with the Grammy-winning Avant Gershwin, a tribute to George. On the cover of the latter, she showed off her new body as a result of gastric bypass surgery. The singer has struggled with topsy-turvy weight gain/loss for much of her life.
Regardless of her size, however, Austin is still one of the best and most respected in the business.
My fondness for them both is, no doubt, represented by the number of respective albums in my collection by both: Hyman - six and Austin - eight.
Measured solely on their vocal prowess alone, I don't think they, for the most part, can't hold a candle to some older, more experienced, and, I've got to saw, MORE TALENTED individuals, some that, unfortunately have passed, never getting the recognition that they deserved.
To the list of underrated "dearly departed," I want to praise Phyllis Hyman, a singer equipped with one of the sultriest of voices that, sadly committed suicide in 1995. Hyman had some chart success with the disco-esque "You Know How to Love Me" but was more suited for ballads and other torchy-like songs. She won much praise for her role on Broadway in Sophisticated Ladies.
Though her albums were never at the top of the charts, she did develop a devoted fan base, of which I am a member.
Now, of those that are still alive and kicking, there are several that continue to record and release albums, with little fanfare to the public in general, but cause elation with their band of fans.
Patti Austin, who has been singing since the age of four, is another vocalist of note that should be a household name. The goddaughter of music maestro Quincy Jones, Austin sang on several of the composer's familiar recordings ("Razzmatazz," "Ai No Corrida," "Stuff Like That") and has had several albums of her own yield hit tunes ("Baby, Come to Me," a duet with James Ingram from Every Home Should Have One and "The Heat of Heat" from Gettin' Away with Murder).
She has done duets with the likes of Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, and George Benson.
One of her earliest careers was as a singer of commercial jingles, with which she carved out quite a niche for herself.
The singer won critical praise for For Ella, a collection of songs in honor of the late Fitzgerald. She followed that album with the Grammy-winning Avant Gershwin, a tribute to George. On the cover of the latter, she showed off her new body as a result of gastric bypass surgery. The singer has struggled with topsy-turvy weight gain/loss for much of her life.
Regardless of her size, however, Austin is still one of the best and most respected in the business.
My fondness for them both is, no doubt, represented by the number of respective albums in my collection by both: Hyman - six and Austin - eight.
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