1 00:00:16,648 --> 00:00:20,078 DJ Sir Daniel: Greetings and welcome to another episode of Queue Points podcast. 2 00:00:20,118 --> 00:00:21,618 I'm DJ Sir Daniel. 3 00:00:21,790 --> 00:00:24,850 Jay Ray: And my name is Jay Ray, sometimes known by my government 4 00:00:24,890 --> 00:00:30,670 as Johnnie Ray Kornegay III and Sir Daniel, I am really excited about the 5 00:00:30,670 --> 00:00:32,520 conversation that we're about to have. 6 00:00:32,978 --> 00:00:33,618 DJ Sir Daniel: Absolutely. 7 00:00:33,648 --> 00:00:36,268 Could we, because Queue Points podcast is the podcast dropping 8 00:00:36,268 --> 00:00:38,130 the needle on black music history. 9 00:00:38,430 --> 00:00:38,790 Jay Ray: Yeah, 10 00:00:38,858 --> 00:00:42,148 DJ Sir Daniel: feel like right about now we could use a little sweet inspiration. 11 00:00:42,148 --> 00:00:42,888 How about you? 12 00:00:43,710 --> 00:00:44,560 Jay Ray: you know what? 13 00:00:44,580 --> 00:00:46,430 That is absolutely true. 14 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:55,550 And I honestly miss style of singing in our music landscape. 15 00:00:55,560 --> 00:01:02,590 Like we just don't do it like The Sweet Inspirations did it anymore. 16 00:01:03,058 --> 00:01:04,098 DJ Sir Daniel: Absolutely. 17 00:01:04,348 --> 00:01:11,478 Sadly, um, Cissy Houston passed away on October 7th of 2024 at the age of 91. 18 00:01:12,108 --> 00:01:17,558 And the world, of course, is familiar with Cissy Houston as Dionne Warwick's 19 00:01:17,648 --> 00:01:23,208 aunt and the mother of a singer you may or may not have heard of. 20 00:01:23,310 --> 00:01:25,170 Jay Ray: have, you may have heard of her. 21 00:01:25,908 --> 00:01:28,368 DJ Sir Daniel: So just a little singer, a little vocalist by the name of 22 00:01:28,388 --> 00:01:31,148 Whitney Houston, um, was her daughter. 23 00:01:31,238 --> 00:01:33,460 She, she gave birth to the voice. 24 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:34,130 Jay Ray: Yeah. 25 00:01:34,348 --> 00:01:36,458 DJ Sir Daniel: but the thing people need to realize is that 26 00:01:36,458 --> 00:01:39,428 Cissy Houston was her own voice. 27 00:01:39,828 --> 00:01:43,158 She mama had her own bag before Whitney came along. 28 00:01:43,208 --> 00:01:46,808 And on this episode, we're going to talk about Cissy Houston and 29 00:01:46,808 --> 00:01:50,778 The Sweet Inspirations and the legacy that they left behind. 30 00:01:51,168 --> 00:01:53,110 So Jerry, 31 00:01:53,410 --> 00:01:53,840 Jay Ray: Yeah. 32 00:01:53,858 --> 00:01:59,408 DJ Sir Daniel: um, A lot of people don't realize that Cissy Houston was not only 33 00:01:59,408 --> 00:02:04,108 a background vocalist, but she was, like we saying, she was a part of the, a major 34 00:02:04,108 --> 00:02:08,938 group called The Sweet Inspirations, and we'll talk about their impact as a 35 00:02:08,948 --> 00:02:12,115 group, but she was also a vocal arranger. 36 00:02:12,415 --> 00:02:12,965 Jay Ray: Yeah, 37 00:02:13,265 --> 00:02:15,198 DJ Sir Daniel: What they would call her today is she's a vocal, she 38 00:02:15,208 --> 00:02:16,688 would be called a vocal producer. 39 00:02:16,688 --> 00:02:17,198 What do you think? 40 00:02:17,535 --> 00:02:18,035 Jay Ray: yeah. 41 00:02:18,035 --> 00:02:20,195 So that would absolutely be true. 42 00:02:20,225 --> 00:02:28,365 And um, we've seen now a lot of clips of, uh, Miss Houston, um, with got in front 43 00:02:28,365 --> 00:02:31,015 of gospel choirs, just kind of directing. 44 00:02:31,515 --> 00:02:33,835 And when you listen. 45 00:02:34,260 --> 00:02:41,660 To miss Houston saying you hear Whitney Houston and the way that she 46 00:02:41,660 --> 00:02:45,580 was able to use her vocal, kind of the vocal inflections and some of the 47 00:02:45,580 --> 00:02:48,920 playing that Whitney ultimately did. 48 00:02:48,970 --> 00:02:54,220 Um, vocally, you actually hear her mother doing those things because the 49 00:02:54,220 --> 00:02:58,920 thing that is really important about Whitney Houston's career and Whitney 50 00:02:58,930 --> 00:03:01,840 talks about this that her mother. 51 00:03:01,995 --> 00:03:03,353 coached her, right? 52 00:03:03,653 --> 00:03:03,753 DJ Sir Daniel: Yeah. 53 00:03:03,753 --> 00:03:15,472 Yeah. 54 00:03:16,075 --> 00:03:20,735 Jay Ray: a vocal producer today, but when you go back in time and 55 00:03:20,745 --> 00:03:25,745 you listen to these amazing voices, you hear that great combination of 56 00:03:26,025 --> 00:03:30,555 soul, gospel, and jazz just mixed in 57 00:03:31,293 --> 00:03:31,733 DJ Sir Daniel: Yeah. 58 00:03:31,823 --> 00:03:38,778 Silence. 59 00:03:38,778 --> 00:03:45,733 Silence. 60 00:03:45,733 --> 00:03:52,687 Silence. 61 00:03:52,687 --> 00:03:59,505 Silence. 62 00:03:59,805 --> 00:04:00,195 Jay Ray: right. 63 00:04:00,445 --> 00:04:04,515 This is actually the last official album that, uh, Cissy appeared on. 64 00:04:04,525 --> 00:04:09,295 She left the group after this in 1969, but, um, it's called sweets for my sweet. 65 00:04:09,325 --> 00:04:12,745 And I want to read a quote from, um, the liner notes. 66 00:04:12,755 --> 00:04:13,055 So. 67 00:04:13,660 --> 00:04:14,970 Back in the day, kids, 68 00:04:15,563 --> 00:04:15,973 DJ Sir Daniel: Yeah. 69 00:04:16,750 --> 00:04:19,200 Jay Ray: you would not only get liner notes so you can know 70 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,950 who produced records, you would also get like a story, right? 71 00:04:23,230 --> 00:04:27,360 So the story here, and the quote I want to read is from the second paragraph. 72 00:04:28,550 --> 00:04:33,220 The Sweet Inspirations, all from gospel backgrounds, found that they could utilize 73 00:04:33,230 --> 00:04:38,140 those roots when they began working around recording studios as background singers. 74 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:45,810 They soon became so proficient that they were still are one of the most called 75 00:04:45,910 --> 00:04:48,500 on background singers in the country. 76 00:04:48,890 --> 00:04:52,240 Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Herbie Mann, Nina Simone, Solomon 77 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,650 Burke, Chuck Jackson, and many, many others have used the voices that 78 00:04:56,660 --> 00:04:58,545 The Sweet Inspirations have heard. 79 00:04:58,545 --> 00:05:02,305 polished and honed to perfection. 80 00:05:03,075 --> 00:05:04,935 So that was on this record. 81 00:05:04,985 --> 00:05:09,175 And another quick note about this record, Sir Daniel, which is related 82 00:05:09,195 --> 00:05:14,045 to another diva that we recently did a show about is Miss Chaka Khan. 83 00:05:14,593 --> 00:05:14,933 DJ Sir Daniel: Hmm. 84 00:05:15,020 --> 00:05:18,380 Jay Ray: All of the string arrangements, because back then, you know, the 85 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:20,560 kids had strings in the studio, 86 00:05:20,673 --> 00:05:21,580 DJ Sir Daniel: a whole orchestra. 87 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:22,330 Jay Ray: orchestra. 88 00:05:22,710 --> 00:05:27,760 All of the string arrangements were done by one Arif Mardin who produced 89 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,790 the Chaka Khan albums as well. 90 00:05:31,413 --> 00:05:31,883 DJ Sir Daniel: Right. 91 00:05:32,093 --> 00:05:34,043 And of course, we will talk about it. 92 00:05:34,093 --> 00:05:39,383 Also, um, Cissy Houston ended up singing backgrounds on one of the 93 00:05:39,393 --> 00:05:40,913 biggest hits off of that album. 94 00:05:40,953 --> 00:05:41,732 I'm every woman, 95 00:05:42,032 --> 00:05:43,006 Jay Ray: Yup. 96 00:05:43,133 --> 00:05:45,553 DJ Sir Daniel: to sweets for my sweet on. 97 00:05:45,583 --> 00:05:47,413 And you see on those liner notes. 98 00:05:47,875 --> 00:05:48,598 Jay Ray: Yes. 99 00:05:48,898 --> 00:05:53,038 DJ Sir Daniel: had on the album, as far as writers and producers was like none other, 100 00:05:53,048 --> 00:05:55,278 some of the featured writers on the album. 101 00:05:55,288 --> 00:06:01,488 Speaking of I'm every woman, a young Ashford and Simpson were writers 102 00:06:02,378 --> 00:06:07,578 early in their career were writers on that album, the iconic Carol King, 103 00:06:07,998 --> 00:06:11,618 who is a Kennedy center award winner. 104 00:06:11,908 --> 00:06:14,548 Like she's literally, literally written. 105 00:06:15,018 --> 00:06:19,068 Some of the most iconic songs in the American songbook. 106 00:06:19,718 --> 00:06:26,558 And of course, and another amazing songwriter Bert Bacharach and his 107 00:06:26,558 --> 00:06:31,218 partner, uh, Hal David at the time co wrote on this album as well. 108 00:06:31,608 --> 00:06:33,248 Like Bert and Cissy. 109 00:06:33,568 --> 00:06:37,558 Emily Drinkard, EmilCissyssy, Cissy, Emily. 110 00:06:37,838 --> 00:06:41,868 I don't know how black people came up with that nickname of calling her Cissy, 111 00:06:41,888 --> 00:06:43,428 but we're going to give you a nickname. 112 00:06:43,878 --> 00:06:47,178 But yes, Emily Drinkard is also known as Cissy Houston, 113 00:06:47,178 --> 00:06:48,618 professionally Cissy Houston. 114 00:06:49,078 --> 00:06:54,288 But, um, yeah, so Burt Baccarat must have loved him some Cissy because 115 00:06:54,298 --> 00:07:00,778 he loved him some Dion and continued to work with these ladies again. 116 00:07:01,253 --> 00:07:05,125 So Dionne was Cissy's aunt, 117 00:07:05,425 --> 00:07:05,775 Jay Ray: Yeah. 118 00:07:06,783 --> 00:07:09,063 DJ Sir Daniel: and isn't, wasn't Dionne one of the original 119 00:07:09,063 --> 00:07:12,183 members of The Sweet Inspirations, 120 00:07:12,377 --> 00:07:18,267 Jay Ray: Back when they were the Drinkard singers, Dionne and her sister 121 00:07:18,267 --> 00:07:22,737 Dee Dee, um, were a part of the group. 122 00:07:23,227 --> 00:07:31,167 And What's so dope about this is just kind of the legacy of the Drinkard family. 123 00:07:31,167 --> 00:07:35,997 So they are famously related to Leontine Price, which people did not know 124 00:07:36,235 --> 00:07:36,815 DJ Sir Daniel: Mm hmm. 125 00:07:37,697 --> 00:07:41,297 Jay Ray: Shout out to Danielle Smith, who has a whole chapter kind of dedicated 126 00:07:41,297 --> 00:07:44,707 to the Drinkard bloodline in her book. 127 00:07:45,047 --> 00:07:47,257 Um, so definitely check that out. 128 00:07:47,537 --> 00:07:54,327 But, um, These women, these black women from Jersey were out here 129 00:07:54,407 --> 00:08:02,837 in churches learning how to sing orchestral, uh, music and learning how 130 00:08:02,837 --> 00:08:08,887 to sing in, in, in that way and being able to apply it to gospel and soul. 131 00:08:08,897 --> 00:08:12,617 So, yeah, you know, this group actually started, you know. 132 00:08:12,877 --> 00:08:17,957 With Dionne and Dee Dee, um, and of course Dionne goes on to become the blueprint. 133 00:08:18,257 --> 00:08:23,877 We talk about blueprints and Dionne Warwick was that girl in the night, 134 00:08:23,937 --> 00:08:29,297 in the early 1960s, if you were talking about black women singers, 135 00:08:29,407 --> 00:08:32,037 all of them were aspiring to be like. 136 00:08:32,587 --> 00:08:33,437 Dionne Warwick. 137 00:08:34,490 --> 00:08:38,440 DJ Sir Daniel: Rock and roll Hall of Fame inductee of 2024. 138 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:43,690 Um, the album suites for my suite also contains a Marvin 139 00:08:43,690 --> 00:08:45,770 Gaye cover called chains, right? 140 00:08:46,437 --> 00:08:47,827 Jay Ray: Um, I love that song. 141 00:08:47,847 --> 00:08:50,397 It's a, you know, they kind of, it's a rock, little Diddy, 142 00:08:50,890 --> 00:08:51,390 DJ Sir Daniel: Mm hmm. 143 00:08:51,937 --> 00:08:54,897 Jay Ray: And this is weird because when people listen to Chained, it 144 00:08:54,897 --> 00:09:00,677 forces you to kind of go back into Marvin's career kind of pre, uh, 1968. 145 00:09:00,737 --> 00:09:03,617 And you realize that Marvin Gaye was doing like all of this other stuff. 146 00:09:03,617 --> 00:09:05,887 Like he was doing like a little rock and a little 147 00:09:06,065 --> 00:09:06,375 DJ Sir Daniel: Yeah, 148 00:09:06,397 --> 00:09:09,097 Jay Ray: and like all these other things that were not what he ended 149 00:09:09,097 --> 00:09:10,647 up becoming super famous for. 150 00:09:11,635 --> 00:09:14,355 DJ Sir Daniel: yeah, you know one thing about The Sweet Inspirations also is 151 00:09:14,355 --> 00:09:20,145 that they were a pivotal part of the Stax Recordings as well because they work 152 00:09:20,145 --> 00:09:29,095 with Otis Redding If it was rumored that Cissy might have been dating him But hey, 153 00:09:29,135 --> 00:09:35,295 I mean those things those things happen Allegedly, but um, but yeah, so Stax 154 00:09:35,295 --> 00:09:40,115 they were involved in the Stax um Legacy. 155 00:09:40,585 --> 00:09:46,155 Um, and like we said, she went, they went on to sing background for, of course, 156 00:09:46,155 --> 00:09:54,005 Aretha Franklin, Solomon Burke, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Dusty Springfield, 157 00:09:54,375 --> 00:09:56,815 Van Morrison, and get ready for this. 158 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,417 Elvis Presley. 159 00:09:59,717 --> 00:10:01,297 Jay Ray: Yeah. 160 00:10:01,317 --> 00:10:01,927 man. 161 00:10:01,957 --> 00:10:08,497 Um, so after, since he left the group, um, in 1969, from like 162 00:10:08,917 --> 00:10:15,877 1970 till Elvis's death, The Sweet Inspirations were his backing vocalists. 163 00:10:15,957 --> 00:10:18,637 Um, so they sang with Elvis for many, many years. 164 00:10:19,317 --> 00:10:25,387 And to that point is speaks to, and so Daniel, we know this right. 165 00:10:27,417 --> 00:10:30,947 Artists need them a little bit of need them a little bit 166 00:10:30,947 --> 00:10:32,767 of soul in that thing, right? 167 00:10:32,767 --> 00:10:34,100 When they hit the stage, 168 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:35,120 DJ Sir Daniel: sure do. 169 00:10:35,180 --> 00:10:37,720 What do they do with these are the live performances. 170 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:39,870 They going to trot out that gospel choir. 171 00:10:41,340 --> 00:10:45,670 I don't care if it's total Elvis Presley, they're going to bring 172 00:10:45,670 --> 00:10:49,640 out a gospel choir to bring it on home and get people on their feet. 173 00:10:51,117 --> 00:10:53,637 Jay Ray: and so The Sweet Inspirations. 174 00:10:54,067 --> 00:10:57,817 So when we think about like legendary background singers, because, you know, 175 00:10:57,997 --> 00:11:03,482 in on this show, we've talked about over the years, the importance of The music is 176 00:11:03,482 --> 00:11:06,762 not just a person up front, like there's all of these people that made it happen. 177 00:11:06,782 --> 00:11:10,202 You have the musicians and it also for many folks included these background 178 00:11:10,202 --> 00:11:16,092 singers of which the Sweet Inspirations were famous literally as we read in 179 00:11:16,102 --> 00:11:18,392 that paragraph and that was 1969. 180 00:11:18,602 --> 00:11:23,162 So these women were really kind of just running things for like years. 181 00:11:23,532 --> 00:11:29,412 Um, and it's kind of sad that music has moved. 182 00:11:30,142 --> 00:11:35,032 In such a way that we just don't get stuff like that anymore. 183 00:11:35,032 --> 00:11:36,672 You don't get to build a career. 184 00:11:36,862 --> 00:11:40,522 These women had a career that they were able to raise their families and 185 00:11:40,685 --> 00:11:41,365 DJ Sir Daniel: Yes, 186 00:11:41,665 --> 00:11:46,065 Jay Ray: Yeah. 187 00:11:46,065 --> 00:11:50,487 Yeah. 188 00:11:50,845 --> 00:11:54,175 DJ Sir Daniel: at church and somebody recently brought that up. 189 00:11:54,215 --> 00:11:56,955 I think it was Jermaine Dupri said on one of his lives, he was 190 00:11:56,955 --> 00:11:59,585 talking about, you know, Nobody's coming from the church anymore. 191 00:11:59,585 --> 00:12:04,355 Nobody's, and we've said that numerous times on this, on this show, Queue Points 192 00:12:04,355 --> 00:12:09,535 podcast, we've said it y'all are not, y'all don't come up in church choirs, 193 00:12:09,545 --> 00:12:15,615 flat footed singing, and we can tell y'all did not have to rehearse hour after hour. 194 00:12:15,635 --> 00:12:18,144 And we can tell at church churches had. 195 00:12:18,265 --> 00:12:22,285 People that grew up in the church and sang in the church just have a different kind 196 00:12:22,285 --> 00:12:25,015 of discipline and it literally paid off. 197 00:12:25,305 --> 00:12:28,835 I was thinking about them jet setting around the world 198 00:12:28,845 --> 00:12:30,395 with all these major acts. 199 00:12:30,695 --> 00:12:36,015 I also think about what, because this is, you know, not too far from Jim Crow. 200 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:40,560 And the civil rights movement and just thinking about, you know, their treatment 201 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,820 in going in these establishments, especially when they were traveling with 202 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:50,040 the, the white, um, artists at the time, and just thinking about, you know, how 203 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,920 would they were treated, um, as possible. 204 00:12:52,940 --> 00:12:56,780 They had to go into through the back, you know, the, the, the stories are 205 00:12:56,780 --> 00:12:59,190 true and we remember those things. 206 00:12:59,550 --> 00:13:02,730 So they really, really paved the way and laid it out for. 207 00:13:03,285 --> 00:13:08,025 A lot of people to come along and to do their thing in the music industry. 208 00:13:08,255 --> 00:13:12,975 Cissy literally created a path for her daughter, an industry path. 209 00:13:13,365 --> 00:13:16,995 I think that's the best form of nepotism ever. 210 00:13:17,045 --> 00:13:19,335 I'm not, I like me a little nepotism. 211 00:13:21,210 --> 00:13:23,140 Bring me up, Unc. 212 00:13:24,370 --> 00:13:25,770 Put me on, Dad. 213 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:33,420 You know, I'm not opposed to it, but Yeah, the, so Cissy Houston also goes on to have 214 00:13:33,420 --> 00:13:37,852 her own Flourishing career as a soloist. 215 00:13:38,152 --> 00:13:38,262 Jay Ray: Mm 216 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:39,700 DJ Sir Daniel: She was a disco singer. 217 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:40,010 She had a 218 00:13:40,132 --> 00:13:40,472 Jay Ray: Yeah. 219 00:13:40,710 --> 00:13:40,830 DJ Sir Daniel: hit 220 00:13:41,352 --> 00:13:41,732 Jay Ray: Yeah. 221 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:46,575 DJ Sir Daniel: Of course, she still hit the, um, the background vocal Um, circuit 222 00:13:47,095 --> 00:13:53,725 and, um, she was also singing what, before we do that, Jerry, there's a song 223 00:13:53,725 --> 00:13:58,182 that we've talked about on this show that, um, as part of a historical song 224 00:13:58,482 --> 00:13:58,882 Jay Ray: Yeah. 225 00:13:58,882 --> 00:14:04,202 Yeah. 226 00:14:04,502 --> 00:14:07,795 DJ Sir Daniel: then we also find out that The Sweet Inspirations are 227 00:14:07,845 --> 00:14:11,195 actually singing on background on this particular song, which is a 228 00:14:11,195 --> 00:14:14,615 huge landmark and game changing song. 229 00:14:14,710 --> 00:14:24,580 Silence. 230 00:14:24,580 --> 00:14:34,450 Silence. 231 00:14:34,450 --> 00:14:44,319 Silence. 232 00:14:44,619 --> 00:14:46,582 Jay Ray: being me being hyperbolic in any way. 233 00:14:47,012 --> 00:14:52,472 Um, and was written by a black woman and sung by two black men and, um, 234 00:14:52,502 --> 00:14:54,462 about being, um, out gay and proud. 235 00:14:54,462 --> 00:14:57,822 So the second version of the song though, is where The Sweet Inspirations 236 00:14:57,822 --> 00:14:59,212 come in, which is kind of fascinating. 237 00:14:59,212 --> 00:15:02,872 So I'm actually going to play a clip of that. 238 00:15:03,032 --> 00:15:09,702 of Carl Bean, who sang that version, um, telling us what happened about, um, 239 00:15:09,702 --> 00:15:11,642 how The Sweet Inspirations got involved. 240 00:15:11,652 --> 00:15:14,262 Carl Bean: When they, they approached me. 241 00:15:15,432 --> 00:15:17,712 I knew when the song came. 242 00:15:19,362 --> 00:15:23,512 That's because I sat on that step and heard "What's Going 243 00:15:23,512 --> 00:15:25,502 On" and The Staples [Singers]. 244 00:15:25,572 --> 00:15:30,612 And that's what God had touched me with this message music, but in hearing that 245 00:15:30,612 --> 00:15:33,762 that day, I never would've thought in a million years, I was going to get 246 00:15:33,792 --> 00:15:35,442 the chance to sing about being gay. 247 00:15:37,062 --> 00:15:42,642 That was so far from my memory bank, thinking that it 248 00:15:42,642 --> 00:15:43,992 just wasn't nowhere around. 249 00:15:44,172 --> 00:15:51,852 And, uh, when it came, and Motown presented the song. 250 00:15:52,692 --> 00:15:56,412 I knew the minute I saw the lyric, it was mine to do. 251 00:15:56,742 --> 00:15:59,102 Cause this is what I left to do, 252 00:15:59,752 --> 00:16:04,062 but I just I didn't know it was going to be about my particular journey. 253 00:16:04,902 --> 00:16:05,382 Johnnie Ray Kornegay III: Hmm. 254 00:16:05,949 --> 00:16:11,342 Carl Bean: I Saw the lyrics sheet, I said, ain't no need in me questioning God. 255 00:16:11,372 --> 00:16:12,332 Johnnie Ray Kornegay III: Hmm. 256 00:16:12,632 --> 00:16:20,122 Carl Bean: I asked the folks at Motown, I said, can I bring my own background in? 257 00:16:20,122 --> 00:16:21,572 And they said, well, who is it? 258 00:16:21,602 --> 00:16:24,752 I said The Sweet Inspirations, so then they said, you mean 259 00:16:24,782 --> 00:16:26,422 THE Sweet Inspirations. 260 00:16:26,422 --> 00:16:27,362 Johnnie Ray Kornegay III: [Laughing] You mean them? 261 00:16:28,002 --> 00:16:29,142 Carl Bean: I said, Yes. 262 00:16:29,142 --> 00:16:30,932 yeah, THE Sweet Inspirations. 263 00:16:31,122 --> 00:16:32,212 They said oh, hell yeah. 264 00:16:32,212 --> 00:16:34,672 [Johnnie laughing] Uh, huh. 265 00:16:35,092 --> 00:16:36,362 Johnnie Ray Kornegay III: Like they were going to say, no, 266 00:16:36,362 --> 00:16:37,562 your like, well, you know. 267 00:16:38,552 --> 00:16:41,342 Carl Bean: Well, I've called Estelle [Brown], I said, y'all, I 268 00:16:41,342 --> 00:16:42,792 got a gig for you, they said what? 269 00:16:42,812 --> 00:16:45,992 I told em, they said, yeah, Carl, you know we will. 270 00:16:46,592 --> 00:16:50,742 And I said, cause if my girl, we all came up from New York together, 271 00:16:50,772 --> 00:16:54,882 so all we got to do you give us the beat and we'll take it from there. 272 00:16:55,342 --> 00:17:02,212 [Johnnie laughing] We've been doing this a good while together, and so Estelle 273 00:17:02,212 --> 00:17:07,682 and I worked that way in the studio that night and, the thing that the people 274 00:17:07,682 --> 00:17:10,112 in loved was really my ad libbing. 275 00:17:10,165 --> 00:17:16,288 All the other stuff that people sing and get off on is me taking them to church. 276 00:17:16,528 --> 00:17:23,868 Jay Ray: so as you can see, so Carl bean, who got this deal at Motown to be, to 277 00:17:23,868 --> 00:17:29,478 sing this song, that was really like the crux of the deal, um, called up, uh, Ms. 278 00:17:29,478 --> 00:17:31,748 Estelle of The Sweet Inspirations. 279 00:17:32,168 --> 00:17:35,358 Um, since he was long, um, out of the group by then. 280 00:17:35,828 --> 00:17:43,328 And, um, to sing backgrounds on this gay anthem and their version of the song is 281 00:17:43,518 --> 00:17:45,518 the one that the kids tend to go up for. 282 00:17:45,518 --> 00:17:46,708 Cause it's very gospel. 283 00:17:46,728 --> 00:17:49,908 It's one it's disco and two is gospel. 284 00:17:50,368 --> 00:17:52,638 And so The Sweet Inspirations is just bringing it. 285 00:17:52,648 --> 00:17:55,908 So women were a part of. 286 00:17:56,338 --> 00:18:01,348 Not just music history overall, not just black music history, but also 287 00:18:01,348 --> 00:18:06,858 the history of LGBTQ music includes the voices of The Sweet Inspirations. 288 00:18:07,761 --> 00:18:08,351 DJ Sir Daniel: That's right. 289 00:18:08,381 --> 00:18:12,551 And you know, not only did The Sweet Inspirations make their mark in gospel 290 00:18:12,551 --> 00:18:17,321 and disco, but they made their mark in hip hop as well, because there are a 291 00:18:17,401 --> 00:18:19,861 couple from a couple of those albums. 292 00:18:19,991 --> 00:18:24,171 There are a lot of sweet inspiration samples that you listen to to this 293 00:18:24,181 --> 00:18:26,451 day and you can't get enough of. 294 00:18:26,811 --> 00:18:29,081 I think the most prominent one that. 295 00:18:29,366 --> 00:18:33,256 The everyday listener and people who enjoy Queue Points will recognize 296 00:18:33,656 --> 00:18:39,636 is the classic I'm blue, which is actually a cover of, of the eye cats. 297 00:18:40,226 --> 00:18:46,146 Um, I'm blue and you will notice that it was sampled by one ice cube, 298 00:18:46,786 --> 00:18:49,386 but you will also know, and here. 299 00:18:49,931 --> 00:18:55,281 Immediately as the record plays, I'm blue is the foundation for salt and 300 00:18:55,281 --> 00:18:58,551 pepper's major massive hit stoop. 301 00:18:59,501 --> 00:19:03,471 And so, yes, The Sweet Inspirations gave us a little hip hop Diddy as well. 302 00:19:03,831 --> 00:19:05,381 So shout out to them. 303 00:19:05,381 --> 00:19:09,851 They did quite a bit in the time that they worked in the industry. 304 00:19:10,051 --> 00:19:14,901 But as we started off talking about Cissy Houston, um, going on to have. 305 00:19:15,121 --> 00:19:19,181 You know, being the focus of this conversation, but then going on to have 306 00:19:19,181 --> 00:19:24,471 a substantial solo career of her own, as Jay Ray mentioned, she's, you know, 307 00:19:24,481 --> 00:19:29,961 was featured on I'm every woman, um, a shocker con, but did you know that 308 00:19:29,961 --> 00:19:34,901 she was also singing backup with Bette Midler on Bette Midler's Grammy award 309 00:19:34,901 --> 00:19:37,418 winning massive hit from a distance. 310 00:19:37,718 --> 00:19:38,038 Jay Ray: Uh huh, 311 00:19:38,811 --> 00:19:42,711 DJ Sir Daniel: And, um, yeah, and not Bayhive listened to this. 312 00:19:43,291 --> 00:19:45,001 Cissy Houston is singing backup. 313 00:19:45,176 --> 00:19:49,926 With Beyonce on The Closer I Get to You, and I believe that was 314 00:19:49,926 --> 00:19:53,206 on the Dangerously In Love album. 315 00:19:53,236 --> 00:19:55,246 That was Beyonce's first album, I believe. 316 00:19:55,736 --> 00:20:00,766 So yeah, Cissy Houston, y'all gonna stop referring to her as Whitney's mom. 317 00:20:00,776 --> 00:20:02,546 She was her own woman. 318 00:20:03,231 --> 00:20:06,601 She, you know, she was her own woman and she did her, you know, she 319 00:20:06,611 --> 00:20:11,671 did her thing in this industry and left an indelible mark on the music 320 00:20:11,721 --> 00:20:14,491 industry, specifically Black music. 321 00:20:14,581 --> 00:20:21,981 And for that, we salute Miss Cissy Emily Drinkard Houston on this 322 00:20:22,001 --> 00:20:24,041 episode of Queue Points Podcast. 323 00:20:24,721 --> 00:20:27,301 Another one, Jay Ray, what you got to say about it? 324 00:20:27,818 --> 00:20:31,428 Jay Ray: yo, thank you all so much for tuning in with us 325 00:20:31,428 --> 00:20:33,478 as we walk down memory lane. 326 00:20:33,648 --> 00:20:37,658 Before we close out, please make sure that y'all go and stream. 327 00:20:38,483 --> 00:20:43,483 Um, The Sweet Inspirations, you will not be disappointed. 328 00:20:43,513 --> 00:20:47,683 These records are full of beautiful harmonies. 329 00:20:47,733 --> 00:20:50,253 Um, lots of great covers that are unique. 330 00:20:50,543 --> 00:20:52,283 So you want to check out these records. 331 00:20:52,283 --> 00:20:53,363 So please go and do that. 332 00:20:53,363 --> 00:20:56,233 And for you beat makers and producers out there, you'll probably find 333 00:20:56,233 --> 00:20:57,283 some stuff you want to sample. 334 00:20:57,293 --> 00:20:58,313 So there's that. 335 00:20:59,083 --> 00:21:01,083 Thank you so much for tuning into Queue Points. 336 00:21:01,103 --> 00:21:02,183 Please make sure. 337 00:21:02,528 --> 00:21:04,868 That you subscribe wherever you are. 338 00:21:04,868 --> 00:21:07,468 If you could see our faces, if you can hear our forces, if you can 339 00:21:07,468 --> 00:21:10,918 hear our voices, great, hit the subscribe button, share the show with 340 00:21:10,918 --> 00:21:12,418 your friends, family, colleagues. 341 00:21:12,656 --> 00:21:12,918 If You 342 00:21:12,956 --> 00:21:14,622 DJ Sir Daniel: I have a question. 343 00:21:14,622 --> 00:21:16,288 I have a question. 344 00:21:16,288 --> 00:21:20,870 Um, How is this a transparent document to having trauma about 345 00:21:20,870 --> 00:21:23,786 And I don't any data to that 346 00:21:23,878 --> 00:21:24,688 Jay Ray: store at store. 347 00:21:24,888 --> 00:21:25,458 cuepoints. 348 00:21:25,488 --> 00:21:28,598 com and get yourself some fresh gear last, but not least visit 349 00:21:28,598 --> 00:21:29,581 our website at Queue Points. 350 00:21:29,581 --> 00:21:29,677 com. 351 00:21:29,677 --> 00:21:30,263 Queue Points. 352 00:21:30,473 --> 00:21:33,433 com where you can sign up for our newsletter and read our blog. 353 00:21:33,633 --> 00:21:34,583 We appreciate y'all. 354 00:21:34,583 --> 00:21:35,133 We love y'all. 355 00:21:36,056 --> 00:21:39,096 DJ Sir Daniel: And like I always say in this life, you have an opportunity. 356 00:21:39,136 --> 00:21:42,736 You can either pick up the needle or you can let the record play. 357 00:21:43,006 --> 00:21:44,356 I'm DJ Sir Daniel, 358 00:21:44,533 --> 00:21:45,613 Jay Ray: My name is Jay Ray y'all. 359 00:21:46,076 --> 00:21:48,556 DJ Sir Daniel: and this has been Queue Points podcast, dropping 360 00:21:48,556 --> 00:21:50,996 the needle on black music history. 361 00:21:51,296 --> 00:21:53,026 We will see you on the next go round. 362 00:21:53,076 --> 00:21:53,756 Peace y'all. 363 00:21:54,103 --> 00:21:54,873 Jay Ray: Peace.