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Barbara George

 

Barbara George

Image: Public Domain | Undated

R&B singer and song writer Barbara Ann Smith (Barbara George) was born at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 16th August, 1942. She began singing in a Church choir. She carried a note book around with her, jotting down ideas for songs. She was discovered by singer Jessee Hill who recommended her to record producer Harold Battiste. Her first record for him, the self-penned “I know” (AFO 302, 1961) was an immediate success, spent four weeks at number one on the R&B chart, reached no. 3 on the Billboard pop chart, and earned a gold disc. (It was AFO’s biggest hit.)The tune was based on the gospel hymn “Just a Closer Walk With Thee”. Her only album, “I know”, issued in 1961, has twelve tracks, eleven her own songs.

Unfortunately George had problems with addiction but on recovery returned to the stage in the 1980s. By the late 1980s George had given up music, but can be heard singing on the 1990 album “Victory Mixture” by Willy DeVille. She also sang “I know” at the funeral of singer Ernie K. Doe in 2001, and in the Choir of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Chauvin.

Barbara George died in Chauvin, Louisiana on 10th August 2006.

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