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{{short description|American singer}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Edna McGriff
| image =
| name = Edna McGriff
| caption =
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| background = solo_singer
| image_size =
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| alias =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1935|12|16}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1935|12|16}}
| birth_place = [[Tampa, Florida]], [[United States]]
| birth_place = [[Tampa, Florida]], United States
| death_date = March 1980 (aged 44)
| death_date = {{death date and age|1980|03|25|1935|12|16}}
| death_place = [[Queens]], [[New York (state)|New York]], United States
| death_place = [[Queens]], New York, United States
| instrument = [[Human voice|Vocals]], [[piano]]
| instrument = Vocals, piano
| genre = [[Rhythm and blues]]<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=edna-mcgriff-mn0000798463#discography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Edna McGriff |author=|publisher=[[Allmusic]] |accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref>
| genre = Rhythm and blues<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=edna-mcgriff-mn0000798463#discography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Edna McGriff |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref>
| occupation = [[Singing|Singer]], [[pianist]]
| occupation = Singer, pianist
| years_active = 1950s
| years_active = 1950s
| label = Various including [[Jubilee Records|Jubilee]], [[Josie Records|Josie]], [[Bell Records|Bell]] and [[Brunswick Records|Brunswick]]<br/>(Latter day compilation on [[Bear Family Records]])
| label = Various including [[Jubilee Records|Jubilee]], [[Josie Records|Josie]], [[Bell Records|Bell]] and [[Brunswick Records|Brunswick]]<br/>(Latter day compilation on [[Bear Family Records]])
| associated_acts = [[Bennie Green]], Buddy Lucas, [[Sonny Til]]
| associated_acts = [[Bennie Green]], Buddy Lucas, [[Sonny Til]]
| website =
| website =
}}
}}


'''Edna McGriff''' (December 16, 1935 – March 1980) was an [[United States|American]] [[rhythm and blues]] singer and pianist. She recorded mainly in the 1950s, and secured one [[hit single]] on the [[United States|US]] ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] [[record chart|chart]] with "Heavenly Father" in 1952.<ref name="Home"/> The record sold over 500,000 copies.<ref>{{cite journal
'''Edna McGriff''' (December 16, 1935 – March 25, 1980) was an American rhythm and blues singer and pianist. She recorded mainly in the 1950s, and secured one [[hit single]] on the US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] [[record chart|chart]] with "Heavenly Father" in 1952.<ref name="Home"/> The record sold over 500,000 copies.<ref>{{cite journal
| date= March 26, 1953
| date= March 26, 1953
| title= [[Jet (magazine)|Jet]] magazine
| title= "Heavenly Father"
| journal= [[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]
| edition=Ben Burns
| edition=Ben Burns
| publisher=John H. Johnson
| publisher=John H. Johnson
| location=
| page=61
⚫
}}</ref>
| page= 61
⚫
| isbn= }}</ref>


==Life and career==
==Life and career==
Edna McGriff was born in [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Hillsborough County, Florida]], United States. She was educated at [[Washington Irving High School (New York City)|Washington Irving High School]] in New York.<ref name="Home">{{cite web|url=http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/edna.html|title=Edna McGriff|publisher=Home.earthlink.net|accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref> She released her first [[Single (music)|single]], "Note Droppin' Papa" / "Come Back", on [[Jubilee Records]] in September 1951 with [[Bennie Green]]'s band. Her second [[Sound recording and reproduction|recording]] took place late that same year, when she sang with Buddy Lucas and His Band of Tomorrow on "Heavenly Father" / "I Love You". She was aged 16 at the time. The single was released in early 1952, and sales started to soar. The track entered the US R&B chart in April 1952, peaking at No. 4 in a 13-week stay.<ref name="whitburnr&b">{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=1996 |publisher=Record Research |page=297}}</ref> Various [[cover version]]s of "Heavenly Father" appeared, recorded by [[Fran Warren]], [[The Four Lads]], and also [[Evelyn Knight]].<ref name="Home"/>
Edna McGriff was born in [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Hillsborough County, Florida]], United States. She was educated at [[Washington Irving High School (New York City)|Washington Irving High School]] in New York.<ref name="Home">{{cite web|url=http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/edna.html|title=Edna McGriff|publisher=Home.earthlink.net|access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> She released her first single, "Note Droppin' Papa" / "Come Back", on [[Jubilee Records]] in September 1951 with [[Bennie Green]]'s band. Her second [[Sound recording and reproduction|recording]] took place late that same year, when she sang with Buddy Lucas and His Band of Tomorrow on "Heavenly Father" / "I Love You". She was aged 16 at the time. The single was released in early 1952, and sales started to soar. The track entered the US R&B chart in April 1952, peaking at No. 4 in a 13-week stay.<ref name="whitburnr&b">{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–1995|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=1996 |publisher=Record Research |page=297}}</ref> Various [[cover version]]s of "Heavenly Father" appeared, recorded by [[Fran Warren]], [[The Four Lads]], and also [[Evelyn Knight (singer)|Evelyn Knight]].<ref name="Home"/>


McGriff appeared on stage at the Earle Theater in [[Philadelphia]]. Various shows followed, where she was placed on the bill with [[Alan Freed]]. Separately in June 1952, McGriff recorded six [[Duet (music)|duets]] with [[Sonny Til]] of [[The Orioles]], including "[[I Only Have Eyes for You]]", "[[Once in a While (1937 song)|Once in a While]]", "Picadilly" and "Good".<ref name="Home"/><ref>{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=solo-featuring-edna-mcgriff-mw0000777467|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Solo Featuring Edna McGriff'' |author=|publisher=[[Allmusic]] |accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref>
McGriff appeared on stage at the Earle Theater in [[Philadelphia]]. Various shows followed, where she was placed on the bill with [[Alan Freed]]. Separately in June 1952, McGriff recorded six [[Duet (music)|duets]] with [[Sonny Til]] of [[The Orioles]], including "[[I Only Have Eyes for You]]", "[[Once in a While (1937 song)|Once in a While]]", "Picadilly" and "Good".<ref name="Home"/><ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=solo-featuring-edna-mcgriff-mw0000777467|pure_url=yes}}|title=Solo Featuring Edna McGriff|website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref>


Her next solo release was "Pray For A Better World" / "In A Chapel by the Side of The Road", followed by "Edna's Blues" / "Why Oh Why" (1953). Several other releases flopped and she moved to [[Josie Records]], who issued "[[I'll Be Around (1942 song)|I'll Be Around]]" / "Ooh, Little Daddy" (1954),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/IBAround.htm|title="I'll Be Around"/"Ooh, Little Daddy" |publisher=Vocalgroupharmony.com|accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref> and then onto Favorite Records, but without any further chart activity. [[Bell Records]] took up her contract, and issued "The Fool" / "[[Born to Be with You (song)|Born to Be with You]]" (1956),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goodgirlart.com/bell.html|title=GGA Bell Records|publisher=Goodgirlart.com|accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref> and these were followed by many other cover versions, including [[Laurie London]]'s "[[He's Got the Whole World in His Hands]]" and [[Huey "Piano" Smith]]'s "Don't You Just Know It", however she had stopped recording with Bell by the time she was 22 years old. In 1958, she recorded a one-off single for Felsted, followed by another one-off for Savoy, this time duetting with longtime friend Buddy Lucas on "No Change" / "Ah-Ah-Ah". Thereafter her career gradually wound down, with a small sprinkle of recordings spread over two different record companies - Willow Records in 1961 (a remake of "Heavenly Father"), and Capitol during 1964-1965.
Her next solo release was "Pray For A Better World" / "In A Chapel by the Side of The Road", followed by "Edna's Blues" / "Why Oh Why" (1953). Several other releases flopped and she moved to [[Josie Records]], who issued "[[I'll Be Around (1942 song)|I'll Be Around]]" / "Ooh, Little Daddy" (1954),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/IBAround.htm|title="I'll Be Around"/"Ooh, Little Daddy" |publisher=Vocalgroupharmony.com|access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> and then onto Favorite Records, but without any further chart activity. [[Bell Records]] took up her contract, and issued "[[The Fool (Sanford Clark song)|The Fool]]" / "[[Born to Be with You (song)|Born to Be with You]]" (1956),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goodgirlart.com/bell.html|title=GGA Bell Records|publisher=Goodgirlart.com|access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> and these were followed by many other cover versions, including [[Laurie London]]'s "[[He's Got the Whole World in His Hands]]" and [[Huey "Piano" Smith]]'s "Don't You Just Know It", however she had stopped recording with Bell by the time she was 22 years old. In 1958, she recorded a one-off single for Felsted, followed by another one-off for Savoy, this time duetting with longtime friend Buddy Lucas on "No Change" / "Ah-Ah-Ah". Thereafter her career gradually wound down, with a small sprinkle of recordings spread over two record companies – Willow Records in 1961 (a remake of "Heavenly Father"), and Capitol during 1964–1965.


The Connecticut Marriage Index 1959-2001, reveals that at age 23 she married Leroy Minors in [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]], [[Fairfield County, Connecticut]], on March 7, 1959. The Social Security Death Index records that Edna Minors (née McGriff) died in [[Queens]], [[New York (state)|New York]] in March 1980, aged 44 years.
The Connecticut Marriage Index 1959–2001, reveals that at age 23 she married Leroy Minors in [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]], [[Fairfield County, Connecticut]], on March 7, 1959. The Social Security Death Index records that Edna Minors (née McGriff) died in [[Queens]], New York, on March 25, 1980, aged 44 years. An obituary was printed in the ''[[New York Amsterdam News]]'', and it is thought that her death was due to [[lymphoma]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uncamarvy.com/EdnaMcGriff/ednamcgriff.html|title=Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks – EDNA McGRIFF|website=Uncamarvy.com|access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref>


In August 2012, a [[compilation album]] of her recordings was issued by [[Bear Family Records]].<ref name="Comp"/>
In August 2012, a [[compilation album]] of her recordings was issued by [[Bear Family Records]].<ref name="Comp"/>


==Discography==
==Discography==

===Compilation album===
===Compilation album===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
Line 49: Line 48:
| 2012 || ''Start Movin' in My Direction'' ||align="center"|[[Bear Family Records]]
| 2012 || ''Start Movin' in My Direction'' ||align="center"|[[Bear Family Records]]
|-
|-
|}<ref name="Comp">{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=start-movin-in-my-direction-mw0002409864|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Start Movin' in My Direction'' |author=|publisher=[[Allmusic]] |accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref>
|}<ref name="Comp">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=start-movin-in-my-direction-mw0002409864|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Start Movin' in My Direction'' |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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*[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Edna+McGriff Discogs.com discography]
*[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Edna+McGriff Discogs.com discography]
*{{YouTube|2Eac68s9Mog|"Heavenly Father" by Edna McGriff}}
*{{YouTube|2Eac68s9Mog|"Heavenly Father" by Edna McGriff}}

{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcgriff, Edna}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcgriff, Edna}}
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[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singers]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singers]]
⚫
[[Category:American female singers]]
[[Category:African-American pianists]]
[[Category:African-American pianists]]
[[Category:Singers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Singers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Musicians from Manhattan]]
[[Category:People from Harlem]]
[[Category:People from Harlem]]
[[Category:Musicians from Tampa, Florida]]
[[Category:Musicians from Tampa, Florida]]
[[Category:Date of death missing]]
[[Category:Date of death missing]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women pianists]]
[[Category:20th-century American pianists]]
[[Category:20th-century American pianists]]
[[Category:20th-century women musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women singers]]
⚫
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]

Latest revision as of 14:29, 15 September 2024

Edna McGriff
Born(1935-12-16)December 16, 1935
Tampa, Florida, United States
DiedMarch 25, 1980(1980-03-25) (aged 44)
Queens, New York, United States
GenresRhythm and blues[1]
Occupation(s)Singer, pianist
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano
Years active1950s
LabelsVarious including Jubilee, Josie, Bell and Brunswick
(Latter day compilation on Bear Family Records)

Edna McGriff (December 16, 1935 – March 25, 1980) was an American rhythm and blues singer and pianist. She recorded mainly in the 1950s, and secured one hit single on the US Billboard R&B chart with "Heavenly Father" in 1952.[2] The record sold over 500,000 copies.[3]

Life and career

[edit]

Edna McGriff was born in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. She was educated at Washington Irving High School in New York.[2] She released her first single, "Note Droppin' Papa" / "Come Back", on Jubilee Records in September 1951 with Bennie Green's band. Her second recording took place late that same year, when she sang with Buddy Lucas and His Band of Tomorrow on "Heavenly Father" / "I Love You". She was aged 16 at the time. The single was released in early 1952, and sales started to soar. The track entered the US R&B chart in April 1952, peaking at No. 4 in a 13-week stay.[4] Various cover versions of "Heavenly Father" appeared, recorded by Fran Warren, The Four Lads, and also Evelyn Knight.[2]

McGriff appeared on stage at the Earle Theater in Philadelphia. Various shows followed, where she was placed on the bill with Alan Freed. Separately in June 1952, McGriff recorded six duets with Sonny Til of The Orioles, including "I Only Have Eyes for You", "Once in a While", "Picadilly" and "Good".[2][5]

Her next solo release was "Pray For A Better World" / "In A Chapel by the Side of The Road", followed by "Edna's Blues" / "Why Oh Why" (1953). Several other releases flopped and she moved to Josie Records, who issued "I'll Be Around" / "Ooh, Little Daddy" (1954),[6] and then onto Favorite Records, but without any further chart activity. Bell Records took up her contract, and issued "The Fool" / "Born to Be with You" (1956),[7] and these were followed by many other cover versions, including Laurie London's "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and Huey "Piano" Smith's "Don't You Just Know It", however she had stopped recording with Bell by the time she was 22 years old. In 1958, she recorded a one-off single for Felsted, followed by another one-off for Savoy, this time duetting with longtime friend Buddy Lucas on "No Change" / "Ah-Ah-Ah". Thereafter her career gradually wound down, with a small sprinkle of recordings spread over two record companies – Willow Records in 1961 (a remake of "Heavenly Father"), and Capitol during 1964–1965.

The Connecticut Marriage Index 1959–2001, reveals that at age 23 she married Leroy Minors in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, on March 7, 1959. The Social Security Death Index records that Edna Minors (née McGriff) died in Queens, New York, on March 25, 1980, aged 44 years. An obituary was printed in the New York Amsterdam News, and it is thought that her death was due to lymphoma.[8]

In August 2012, a compilation album of her recordings was issued by Bear Family Records.[9]

Discography

[edit]

Compilation album

[edit]
Year Title Record label
2012 Start Movin' in My Direction Bear Family Records

[9]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Edna McGriff". AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d "Edna McGriff". Home.earthlink.net. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  3. ^ ""Heavenly Father"". Jet (Ben Burns ed.). John H. Johnson: 61. March 26, 1953.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–1995. Record Research. p. 297.
  5. ^ "Solo Featuring Edna McGriff". AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  6. ^ ""I'll Be Around"/"Ooh, Little Daddy"". Vocalgroupharmony.com. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  7. ^ "GGA Bell Records". Goodgirlart.com. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  8. ^ "Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks – EDNA McGRIFF". Uncamarvy.com. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Start Movin' in My Direction". AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
[edit]
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