Introduction
Inez Foxx (born September 9, 1942) is an American R&B singer and songwriter. She composed for Aretha Franklin, The Platters, Taj Mahal, Dusty Springfield, and The Commodores.
Life and career
Inez Foxx was born as Inez Rebecca Foxx on September 9, 1942. She was raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, and began singing in a gospel group at an early age. In 1959, she signed a record deal and in October of the following year, released the song A Feeling (That I Can't Explain) under the name Inez Johnston.
In 1963, she changed her name to Inez Foxx and achieved her first and biggest chart success with the album Mockingbird. The album was a joint collaboration between her and her elder brother Charlie Foxx (October 23, 1939 – September 18, 1998). Inez sang lead vocal, while Charlie sang back-up and played guitar. The single "Mockingbird" reached the top 10 of the American R&B and pop charts. The other minor hits from the album were the tracks "Hi Diddle Diddle", "Ask Me", and "Hurt by Love". Their joint Greatest Hits album was in the top 30 of the Billboard R&B charts in 1988. Five songs by these two musicians became R&B chart hits, including the most successful duet (1-2-3-4-5-6-7) Count the Days of 1967.
Inez Foxx married composer, producer, and singer Luther Dixon in the mid-1960s. Together they wrote, and he produced, The Platters' mid-1960s return to hit-making with the single "I Love You 1000 Times". Luther Dixon produced Inez and Charlie's 1967 album Come By Here (under Dynamo label), but the couple later divorced.
Inez also had some success recording on her own, beginning in 1969, but her popularity faded in the 1970s. Charlie was already working as a songwriter and record producer when they finally disbanded their act. Inez continued to record as a solo singer for Volt Records in the 1970s. Charlie died from leukemia in 1998, at the age of 58.
Discography
Albums
- 1963: Mockingbird
- 1964: Mockingbird
- 1966: Inez and Charlie Foxx
- 1967: Come by Here
- 1968: Inez & Charlie Foxx’s Swinging Mockin’ Band
- 1973: Inez Foxx at Memphis
- 1981: Seasons
Compilations
| Year | Titel Label | R&B Charts | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Inez & Charlie Foxx’ Greatest Hits, Past & Present Dynamo 8002 | 29 | Rerelease: November 1988 with Charlie Foxx |
More compilations
- 1968: Inez & Charlie Foxx Greatest Hits
- 1986: Mockingbird: The Best of Charlie & Inez Foxx
- 1994: Mockingbird: A Golden Classics Edition
- 1995: Count the Days
- 2001: The Dynamo Duo
- 2001: Mockingbird: The Complete Sue Recordings
- 2009: Inez and Charlie Foxx Meet Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford
Singles
| Jahr | Titel Album | Chart | Anmerkungen | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | US | R&B | |||
| 1963 | Mockingbird Mockingbird (1963) | — | 7 (18 Wo.) | 2 (19 Wo.) | First released: June 1963 Authors: Charlie Foxx, Inez Foxx |
| Hi Diddle Diddle Mockingbird (1964) | — | 98 (1 Wo.) | 34 (5 Wo.) | First released: October 1963 Authors: Charlie Foxx | |
| 1964 | Ask Me Mockingbird (1964) | — | 91 (3 Wo.) | 28 (4 Wo.) | First released: December 1963 Authors: Inez Foxx |
| Hurt by Love Mockingbird (1964) | 40 (3 Wo.) | 54 (9 Wo.) | 12 (11 Wo.) | First released: April 1964 Authors: Charlie Foxx | |
| 1966 | No Stranger to Love Come by Here | — | — | 49 (2 Wo.) | First released: October 1966 with Charlie Foxx Authors: Barbara Gaskins, Charlie Foxx, Luther Dixon |
| 1967 | I Stand Accused Come by Here | — | — | 41 (6 Wo.) | First released: May 1967 with Charlie Foxx Authors: Billy Butler, Jerry Butler Original: Jerry Butler, 1964 |
| You Are the Man Inez & Charlie Foxx Greatest Hits | — | — | 32 (4 Wo.) | First released: August 1967 with Charlie Foxx Authors: Charlie Foxx | |
| (1-2-3-4-5-6-7) Count the Days Inez & Charlie Foxx Greatest Hits | — | 76 (5 Wo.) | 17 (14 Wo.) | First released: December 1967 with Charlie Foxx Autoren: Charlie Foxx, Yvonne Williams, Brooks O’Dell | |
| 1969 | Mockingbird Inez and Charlie Foxx | 33 (5 Wo.) | — | — | First released: 74. February 1969 with Charlie Foxx Authors: Charlie Foxx, Inez Foxx |
| 1971 | You Shouldn’t Have Set My Soul on Fire | — | — | 50 (2 Wo.) | First released: November 1970 Authors: J. R. Bailey, Ken Williams, Rudy Clark |
| 1973 | I Had a Talk with My Man Inez Foxx at Memphis | — | — | 74 (7 Wo.) | First released: November 1973 Authors: Billy Davis, Leonard Caston Original: Mitty Collier, 1964 |
| 1974 | Circuit’s Overloaded | — | — | 83 (5 Wo.) | First released: March 1974 Authors: Eddie Marion, Henderson Thigpen, James Banks |
More singles
- 1960: A Feeling (That I Can’t Explain)
- 1961: A Change of Heart
- 1963: He’s the One You Love
- 1964: Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
- 1964: La De La I Love You
- 1965: My Momma Told Me
- 1965: Hummingbird
- 1967: Tightrope / My Special Prayer
- 1968: I Ain’t Going for That
- 1968: Come On In
- 1969: Baby Give It to Me
- 1969: La De Da I Love You
- 1969: North Carolina (South Carolina)
- 1971: Tightrope / Baby Take It All
- 1972: You Hurt Me for the Last Time
- 1973: The Time
- 1973: Crossing over the Bridge