Jean DuShon
| Jean DuShon | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Anna Jean Harris |
| Also known as | Anna Jean Atwell |
| Born | August 16, 1935 |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | Jazz, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Labels | ABC-Paramount, Atco, OKeh, Lennox, Argo, Cadet |
| Associated acts |
Cootie Williams Lou Donaldson Ramsey Lewis |
Jean DuShon (born Anna Jean Harris, 16 August 1935) is an American jazz and R&B singer, and stage actor. She is best known for her recordings in the 1960s, including the first recording of the song "For Once in My Life".
Born in Detroit, she sang in church as a child, and later entered and won local talent contests. She turned professional at 15, and began performing in nightclubs. She was influenced by Dinah Washington, and on one occasion was confronted by an angry Washington who accused her of copying her. She studied at the Detroit Conservatory, and attracted the attention of music business agent John Levy, the manager of singer Nancy Wilson. He won DuShon singing engagements across the US, and after he and Wilson had a row vowed that he would make DuShon a bigger star than she was. However, she then married Freddie Atwell, who became her manager, and they relocated to New York City.
DuShon then joined Cootie Williams' band as featured vocalist, before being spotted by Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records, who paired her with young producer Phil Spector. They recorded a version of Little Willie John's "Talk to Me, Talk to Me" on Atco in 1961, but it was unsuccessful. DuShon then recorded singles with various labels including Lennox, OKeh and Columbia, before joining Chess Records in 1964. There she recorded three albums. The first, Make Way for Jean DuShon, was recorded with the Lou Donaldson quintet and was released on the Argo subsidiary label in 1964. It was followed by You Better Believe Me, with the Ramsey Lewis Trio, in 1965, and finally Feeling Good, again with Donaldson and arranged by Oliver Nelson, on the Cadet label in 1966.
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