Vikki Nelson was the only girl in a family of 14 children. Her 13 brothers, all professional fighters in the Philadelphia area, were her most ardent fans. She learned the art of selt-defense from her brothers and when a bigtime band leader squeezed her too tightly, he was soon wearing a black eye (Jet Magazine, 2 May 1957)
Little information about this fine voiced RnB performer and singer is known despite the fact that all her records were sent to Cash Box for review (but curiously I can't find a review of one of her records in the Billboard magazine?).
No website has a correct listing or discography of her eight singles issued between 1952 and the mid-sixties, except Soutful Kinda Music
*
Vickie Nelson
Brunswick 84011 - I've Got To Keep Movin' / My Poor
Life Blues – 1952
Brunswick 84021 - Toys / I Belong To You – 1952
Viki Nelson
Premium 402/403 - Bright And Early / By My Side – 1955 (nov?) CB 28 Jan 56
Vikki Nelson & The Sounds
Vik 0273 - Like A Baby / I Was A Fool For Leaving - 1957
"Like A Baby", was covered by Priscilla
Bowman (Veejay) and by Elvis Presley for his "Elvis is Back" LP in
1960
Vikki Nelson
Vik 0292 - You Can't Get Away From Me / Just One More Smile – 1957
Mala 434 - Baby, I'm Yours / Playboy – 1961
Dauntless 042 - Every Day / I Will Love No One But You - 1963
Vicki Nelson
Discovery
41541 - Stoney Face* / Stoney Face
(Instrumental by The Starfires)
*Stoney Face also recorded in 1966 by Barbara and The
Castles on Ruby-Doo, and by Mary Love on Modern. Publisher credit on Discovery (a California label) is curiously Bett-Coe, a Chicago company. But Jobete Music of Ruby-Doo and Modern. Possibly the original Chicago recording?
note 1 : titles in bold can be found in this file
note 2 : Tom Lord lists in his Jazz discography a record by Eddie Winters and his Rhythm Rockers featuring Vikki Nelson on vocals on one side (Grand Records 1953), but the vocalist is a male singer. (?)
note 3 : Vicki Nelson, a Jamaican reggae singer from the eigthies, is unrelated
*
Thanks to The INSTITUTE OF JAZZ STUDIES who published in 1958 in New York WHO'S WHO in ROCK 'N ROLL - FACTS, FOTOS AND FAN GOSSIP ABOUT THE PERFORMERS IN THE WORLD OF ROCK 'N ROLL edited by Vic Fredericks, we learn a little more about Vikki :
VIKKI NELSON Philadelphia born Vikki Nelson, possesses one of the most exciting and dynamic voices in the recording field. She's no stranger to nite club audiences as she's appeared at many of the top clubs in the United States and Canada. Although she's only 24 years old, she is considered a seasoned performer because of her vast theatre and nite club experience. Vikki is the only girl in a family of 14 children. Her 13 brothers, all professional fighters in the Philadelphia area, are her most ardent fans. Before beginning her career in show biz, Vikki was assistant to a dietician. It's quite a transition but Vikki has taken it in stride. If her first efforts on VIK are any indication of things to come, she'll rate high on the roster of top record- ing stars. During baseball season, when she's not in a recording studio or on a personal appearance tour, you're sure to find her at the Yankee Stadium in the very first row rooting for her favorite team, the "Yanks." Her first waxings for the VIK label brought kudos galore, and she's been in great demand for return appearances in many nite clubs and theatres round the country

No comments:
Post a Comment