Alice Rozier

Alice Rozier recorded her discs in the mid 60s in Macon, GA where she may have lived. All three are not well known and two of them are very rare indeed. The rather teen flavoured ballad “My Candy Man” with its girl group overtones is probably the weakest of the slowies. The deep Your Best Friend not only tackles a more adult theme but Alice herself adopts a more confident and authoritative tone over a plodding beat and a fine backing chorus. I love the male rap in the bridge and their “conversation” as the song closes.

But her masterpiece is I’m Gonna Hold On To You – a desperate minor keyed track of great power. The recording is a little rough (to put it mildly) but Alice’s vocal is totally committed, and her screams are matched by Little Joe’s hoarse cries superbly well. The funky flip “I Love You” with its punchy horn support is worth a listen.

I don’t know who Little Joe was – can anybody help?

UPDATE ~ My friend Dave Porter responds to say that "His name was Joe Clower, he died about 4 years ago after working as a Gospel DJ in Macon. He played with Thomas Bailey's backing band The Flintstones. He later worked with Sam & Dave as guitarist. He never recorded as a solo artist." Dave also adds that the the Stone label was owned by Thomas Bailey. I'm grateful to Dave for this very interesting info.

NEW UPDATE ~ I'm delighted to write that I have been contacted by Pleshette Workman who is Alice Rozier's daughter. Pleshette has kindly provided me with a biography of Alice shown below and also the lovely picture of her. I am very grateful to Pleshette for taking the time and trouble to get in touch.

 

ALICE ROZIER

Alice Rozier was born in Parrott, Georgia, on February 24, 1942.  A lover of gospel, soul, and the blues, Alice sang in both churches and nightclubs.  Alice lived in Macon, Georgia for a short while in the 60s where she recorded with various local artists.  Alice was once approached by a record label to sign a deal (by then she was Alice Edwards Johnson); however, at the time her husband also had to sign the deal.  He refused.  Shortly after, Alice left Georgia.  In 1973, Alice moved to Brockton, Massachusetts, where she raised her three children.

Alice worked as a cosmetologist but continued to express her love for music by showcasing and starring in talent shows and fashion shows in the late 70s.  Her favorite artists were Ike and Tina, Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross, and Chaka Khan.

Alice was also a longtime member of Messiah Baptist Church and later Mount Moriah Baptist Church, both in Brockton.  Alice was well known for her chilling gospel and soul rendition of “God Is Not Dead” by The Donald Vails Choraleers.

Alice continued to gig with various bands in Boston, Massachusetts, frequently with bands from Berklee College.  Singing with Clara Mahomes and the Gospel Leviticus, the group jammed with jazz and R&B keyboardist Alex Bugnon and later recording a track with Bugnon entitled “Human Epilogue.”

Alice passed away on Easter Sunday April 3, 1994 at her home in Everett, Massachusetts. Her three children Pleshette Workman, Sharna Johnson and Derick Edwards are very proud of her mother's achievements and have very fond memories of her.

 

Notes ~

1. Both sides of the Stone 45 can be found on the excellent Grapevine 2000 CD “Macon Soul Soup”.

2. Thanks to Hans-Joachim Krohberger of the excellent Doowopheaven website for the lovely group pic of Alice Rozier & The Rozierettes. You can find his wensite here.

 

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