MITTY COLLIER

Instruments: Vocals
Date of Birth: June 21, 1941
Place of Birth: Birmingham, Alabama

As a member of the traveling gospel group, the Hayes Ensemble, Collier toured throughout Alabama and Georgia. Switching to secular music, she was discovered singing in a talent show by Chess Records scout Ralph Bass. Her early releases lacked direction until "I'm Your Part Time Love", an answer to Little Johnny Taylor's "Part Time Love", reached the US R&B Top 20 in 1963. "I Had A Talk With My Man" (1964), remains her definitive single. Adapted from a Rev. James Cleveland song, "I Had A Talk With God Last Night", Mitty's deep contralto soars against producer Billy Davis' sumptuous backing. Another Cleveland composition, "No Cross, No Crown", then inspired the follow-up, "No Faith, No Love" (1965). Although the quality of her subsequent recordings remained high, "Sharing You" (1966) was her final hit. Her spell with Chess ended in 1968 with "Everybody Makes A Mistake Sometimes", a southern soul-styled offering recorded at Muscle Shoals. Following five singles for William Bell's Peachtree label and a solitary release for Entrance, Mitty Collier returned to gospel music. The Warning, her first of several albums in this field, featured "I Had A Talk With God Last Night".

Albums:

• Shades of A Genius (1965)
• The Warning (1972)
• Hold The Light (1977)
• I Am Love (1987).

The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music.