Gloria Scott is an American soul singer Her first recording I Taught Him by "Gloria Scott and the Tonettes", written and produced by Sylvester Stewart , was released in 1964. She was then under contract with Barry White, who produced a 1974 album What Am I Gonna Do, and a single Just as Long as We're Together which reached the top 20 on numerous record charts. She recorded a second album with arranger H. B. Barnum but it was not released. She was a member of The Ikettes, and a background singer for Mary Wilson. Scott is a regular performer at The Baltic Soul Weekender in Germany.
Musical career
Her first 45 single was written and produced by Sylvester Stewart, better known as Sly Stone : "Gospel Singer Gloria Scott and the Tonettes cut I Taught Him with Sly in 1964. Reminiscent of girl groups like Martha and the Vandellas, The Shirelles and The Ronettes, Warner Brothers picked up this single for distribution." In an interview with Christian John Wikane of Popmatters, Scott says : "He just kind of took me under his wing. I sang at the Cow Palace. Sly and his sister and his cousin LaTanya backed me up and they were called the Tonettes: Gloria Scott and the Tonettes." She then became a member of The Ikettes. Tina Turner says in her autobiography: "After Robbie, Jessie and Venetta walked out, Ike had quickly scooped up two inexperienced L.A. girls, Maxine Smith and Pat 'P.P.' Arnold, and a young club singer from Palo Alto named Gloria Scott.". She later met and signed a 7-year contract with Barry White. White produced and arranged her only album, What Am I Gonna Do, which was released in 1974. Two tracks were released as singles. The album is notable for being the second released by Casablanca Records—label number NB0002. At that time Warner Brothers distributed the album, in multiple countries. Roshad Ollison, writing in the Virginia Pilot, says "What Am I Gonna Do is among Barry's most pop-minded productions. Gloria's lone release, it is also a gem. … What Am I Gonna Do, a classy effort on par with Barry's best albums, soon faded away; Gloria did, too." Her single "Just as Long as We're Together " was also produced by Barry White. This song peaked at #14 on the Hot Dance charts, #16 on BillboardHot Soul Singles and on the U.S. R&B. It was played on the famous TV show Soul Train. Despite her 7-year contract with Barry White, and with Casablanca, her career failed to take off. PopMatters comments : "However, a combination of factors, including the growing pains of a new record company and White's focus on his own burgeoning career, ultimately limited the reach of What Am I Gonna Do. Though a follow-up single, 'Just As Long as We're Together', hit the R&B Top 20 and held the top spot on the Disco Singles chart in early-1975, the second album she recorded with arranger H. B. Barnum was not released. For all his solo success, Barry White was not delivering on his contract with Gloria Scott. He became one of the most seminal figures of the 1970s while Scott faded into obscurity." She is credited as a backup singer on the 1979 self-titled album by Mary Wilson. Scott has performed every year since 2008 at The Baltic Soul Weekender in Germany. Her performance of Help MeGet Off This Merry-Go-Round, with the Baltic Soul Orchestra, was released as a single.
Personal life
Gloria Scott was born in Port Arthur but was raised in the city of Houston, before moving with her family to northern California when in her early teens. After her musical career in San Francisco and Los Angeles she spent 8 years in Guam. She presently lives in Lake County, California.
