Dorothy Moore

Soul and R&B singer Dorothy Moore was born on October 13, 1946, in Jackson, Mississippi. She's the daughter of JB and Mary Mance and was raised by her great-grandmother. Dorothy's mother discovered that she had a vibrato in her voice at age three. She began singing with her church choir at age five and eventually became a soloist. She attended Smith Robinson Elementary School, Mary C. Jones Elementary and Lanier High School. In addition, Dorothy frequently sang at talent shows at the Alamo Theater, where she always won first place. She signed with Epic Records in 1966. She formed the group the Poppies along with fellow singers Petsye McCune and Rosemary Taylor while attending Jackson State University. The Poppies not only recorded the hit songs "Lullaby of Love" and "He's Ready" for Columbia Records, but also worked with Wilson Pickett, Bobby Goldsboro and The Four Tops. Dorothy established a solo career by signing with Malaco Records in 1976. That same year she scored her biggest and most well-known hit with the lovely and touching ballad "Misty Blue," which peaked at #2 on the R&B charts and #3 on the Billboard pop charts. The follow-up singles "Funny How Time Slips Away" and "I Believe in You" were also substantial R&B radio hits. Dorothy took a break from the music business in 1978, but returned to public performing in 1982 and recorded the gospel album "Giving It Straight to You" in 1986. In 1989 she embarked on a seven-day tour of Japan. She began recording again with Malaco Records in 1990. A majority of her songs are written by country and western writers. Moore has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, and has won an Image Award, the NATRA Female R&B Vocalist of the Year, a Billboard Magazine Award, and the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts. She released the album "I'm Doing Alright" in 2005. Dorothy Moore is the mother of two children; she has a son and a daughter.