Christine Kittrell
b. 11 August 1929, Nashville, Tennessee, USA, d. 19 December 2001. Kittrell made a number of attractive and moderately successful records for local labels during the 50s. A choir member as a child, her voice lacked the distinctive nuance that might have brought her more durable success. Her first record, ‘Old Man You’re Slipping’ (Tennessee 117), was backed by tenor saxophonist Louis Brooks and his band, with whom she had made her professional debut six years earlier in 1945. Fats Domino sidemen Buddy Hagans and Wendell Duconge played on her first and biggest hit, ‘Sittin’ Here Drinking’ (Tennessee 128), which brought her a six-week engagement at the Pelican Club in New Orleans. Kittrell had toured with the Joe Turner band in 1951 but she preferred to work around Nashville, at clubs such as the New Era and the Elks. Engaged as singer with Paul ‘Hucklebuck’ Williams’ band in December 1952, Billboard noted that the ‘five-foot-six chirp’ was the ‘blues find of the decade’. She made her west coast debut in 1954 with Earl Bostic and later Johnny Otis. Several releases on the Republic label at this time led to only regional success. One session, which included ‘Lord Have Mercy’ (Republic 7096), is reputed to feature Little Richard on piano. In August 1954, Billboard announced her departure from the R&B field to sing with the Simmons Akers spiritual singers. In the early 60s she recorded for Vee Jay but her original version of ‘I’m A Woman’ was covered by Peggy Lee. She re-recorded an old Republic song, ‘Call His Name’ (Federal 12540), in 1965, and spent the next few years touring army bases in south-east Asia entertaining US troops. Subsequently, she semi-retired to her Ohio home, playing the occasional local blues festivals and small clubs in the 90s. She died of emphysema.
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Discography
7 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Golden Selection (Remastered)
R&B - Released by Master Tape Records on Mar 12, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Call Her Name - The Complete Recordings 1951 - 1965
Humour/Spoken Word - Released by Bear Family Records GmbH on Aug 1, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best of Tennessee & Republic Records Vol. V - The Soulful Side of Christine Kittrell
Soul - Released by SnailWorx on Jun 26, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sittin' Here Drinkin'
Blues - Released by Jasmine Records on Jun 5, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lady Rocks the Blues
Blues - Released by Classic Music International on Aug 24, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Complete Recordings (1953-1960)
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Classic Music International on Nov 9, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don't Do It
Jazz - Released by Black & Partner Licenses LLC on Feb 4, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo