Decades before Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” dominated the charts, another Black woman from Texas transcended genres with her hit country songs. Her name was Esther Phillips, and she was best known for ...
Otis, who died in 2012, started out leading a big band. Later, as a talent scout, he discovered such performers as Big Mama Thornton, Esther Phillips and Etta James. Originally broadcast in 1989. This ...
In recent years, critics have revived the reputations of quasi-soul singers like Nina Simone and Roberta Flack. I listen to both of them, but I prefer the relative vulgarity of R&B singer Esther ...