| Benny Spellman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1931-12-11)December 11, 1931 Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | June 3, 2011(2011-06-03) (aged 79) Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1960s |
| Labels | Minit Records Ace Records |
Benny Spellman (December 11, 1931 – June 3, 2011) was an American R&B singer, he was best known for the 1962 single "Lipstick Traces (on a Cigarette)" and its B-side "Fortune Teller", both written by Allen Toussaint (credited as Naomi Neville).
"Lipstick Traces" reached #28 on the U.S. Billboard R&B singles chart and #80 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Fortune Teller" was later performed many other artists including The Who and The Rolling Stones. Spellman variously worked with Toussaint, Earl King ("Trick Bag"), Huey "Piano" Smith, Ernie K-Doe, Wilson Pickett, The Neville Brothers and The O'Jays.
Spellman was born in Pensacola, Florida. He sang backing vocals on Ernie K-Doe's number one hit record, "Mother in Law". He recorded a single, "Word Game", on Atlantic Records in 1965, but later semi-retired from music to work in the beer industry.
In 1988, Collectables Records issued a retrospective album of 16 of Spellman's recordings from the 1960s. In 2009, he was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Spellman died fighting by heart failure in June 2011, at the age of 79.
Personal life
Spellman was Catholic.
Benny Spellman was the father of famed New Orleans Singer/Entertainer Judy Spellman who passed in July of 2016.
References
- "R&B legend Benny Spellman dies". WWLTV Eyewitness News. 2011-06-05. Archived from the original on 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
- Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
- Billboard, Allmusic
- ^ Benny Spellman at Allmusic
- ^ Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed September 2011
- Spera, Keith Spera (2011-06-06). "Benny Spellman, singer of 'Lipstick Traces' and 'Fortune Teller,' dies". Times Picayune. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
- "View Benny Spellman's Obituary on nola.com and share memories". obits.nola.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
External links
  | This article about a United States rhythm and blues singer is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |
- 1931 births
- 2011 deaths
- 20th-century American singers
- Ace Records (United States) artists
- 20th-century African-American male singers
- American rhythm and blues singers
- Deaths from respiratory failure
- Musicians from Pensacola, Florida
- Singers from Florida
- 20th-century American male singers
- African-American Catholics
- 21st-century African-American musicians
- Burials at Barrancas National Cemetery
- American rhythm and blues singer stubs