Claudia Lennear

Claudia Lennear (born Claudia Joy Offley; 1946) is an American soul singer and educator. Lennear began her performing with the Superbs before becoming an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. She was also a background vocalist for various acts, including Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, and Freddie King. She released her only solo album in 1973. Lennear was featured in the 2013 Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom.[3] She was inducted in the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2019.[4]

Claudia Lennear
Birth nameClaudia Joy Offley
Also known asJoy Lennear[1]
Born1946 (age 7475)[2]
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, teacher
Years active1968–present
LabelsReal Gone Music
Associated acts
Websitehttp://claudialennear.com/

Early life

Lennear was born Claudia Joy Offley at Providence Lying-In Hospital in Rhode Island. Her last name was changed after her mother married Leo V. Lennear, a Navy man stationed in Newport.[3] She grew up in different neighborhoods in Providence. Although raised a Catholic, her grandmother taught her to sing gospel songs as a child.[5]

In elementary school, Lennear studied music theory and took French at St. Charles Borromeo parochial school. Her career goal was to become a translator at the United Nations.[3] She also took private piano lessons. In high school, she was in the chorale program. As a teenager she listened to Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Carla Thomas, and Ike & Tina Turner.[5] During her senior year at Hope High School, her stepfather retired from the Navy and she moved to Pomona, California with her family in 1964.[3][6]

Career

After graduating from high school, Lennear enrolled in college and began fronting the Los Angeles-based soul group the Superbs.[5] They performed local gigs around Los Angeles. Lennear made her recording debut with the group on the single "One Bad Habit," released on Doré Records in 1968.[2]

The Ikettes

Through her friend, singer Sherlie Matthews, Lennear landed an audition with bandleader Ike Turner in 1968.[2][5] She passed the audition and left the Superbs to become an Ikette. "He [Ike Turner] was a terrific business person, very disciplined, and he was a visionary," she said.[7] Lennear was with Ike & Tina Turner for a few years until she had a spat with Tina Turner.[8] However, Lennear recalls her time with the Turners fondly, telling The Providence Journal: "Without Ike and Tina, I'd probably be 20 miles from stardom, not 20 feet....they taught me how to perform, how to work with other singers and musicians. Ike taught me how to support Tina on stage. And Tina taught me how how to present myself....During the three years I was an Ikette, I never witnessed any physical abuse."[3]

Post-Ikette career

After leaving the Ikettes in 1970, Lennear worked with many acts including Humble Pie and Joe Cocker. She was part of a trio of backup singers for Delaney and Bonnie, that also included Rita Coolidge.

Lennear was one of Leon Russell's Shelter People. She sang back-up vocals on Joe Cocker's 1970 Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour and live album, on Leon Russell and the Shelter People, released in 1971 and on George Harrison's The Concert for Bangla Desh.[3] Her lead vocal live recording of "Let It Be" from the Mad Dogs and Englishmen movie was the B side of Leon Russell's "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" single on A&M Records in 1971.

In 1973, Lennear released her first and only solo album for Warner Bros. Records entitled Phew!.[3][9] She had a bit part in the 1974 film Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, playing the secretary who asks Clint Eastwood's character for his Social Security number. Lennear appeared in the August 1974 issue of Playboy magazine in a pictorial entitled "Brown Sugar."[3]

Lennear appeared in the Academy Award-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom (2013), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.[5] After the success of the film, David Bowie contacted Lennear and offered to write songs for her next project.[10]

Since 2014, Lennear has performed and recorded in Los Angeles with The New Ash Grove Players with S S Jones & Claudia Lennear. They have performed at the McCabes Guitar Shop, The Coffee Gallery, the Pasadena Pavilion for the Performing Arts, and The Improv[11] At the Lockn' Festival on September 11, 2015, Lennear performed with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Rita Coolidge, Leon Russell and other alumni from the 1970 Joe Cocker Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour in a memorial concert for Cocker.[12][13]

Academic career

Lennear received degrees in French literature and art history from Pitzer College. She began teaching first in high school and then at Mt. San Antonio College, where she teaches French, Spanish, English and remedial math.[3][14]

Accolades

In 2019, Lennear was inducted in the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame.[4]

Personal life

In 1969, Lennear dated Mick Jagger when Ike & Tina Turner were the opening act for the Rolling Stones on their American tour. Lennear's relationships with Mick Jagger and David Bowie are often cited as inspiration for The Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar" (1971) and Bowie's "Lady Grinning Soul" (1973).[15][16][17] NME editors Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray noted in 1981 that she was "yet to reply in song to either Mick or David."[15] However, in a 1973 article in Rolling Stone, she was quoted as saying that she wrote the song "Not At All" "to inform Mick Jagger of his dispensability".[18]

Discography

Singles

YearTitleLabel
1971"Let It be"A&M Records
1973 "Two Trains" / "Not At All" Warner Bros. Records

As a solo artist

YearAlbumLabel
1973Phew!Warner Bros. Records

As an Ikette

Release dateAlbumLabel
June 1969 In Person Minit Records
July 1969 So FinePompeii Records
August 1969 Cussin', Cryin' & Carryin' On Pompeii Records
October 1969 The Hunter Blue Thumb Records
May 1970 Come Together Liberty Records
November 1970 Workin' Together Liberty Records

With other artists

YearAlbumArtistCredits
2016Lost Studio Sessions 1964–1982Gene ClarkFeatured Artist
2014Face the MusicNils LofgrenVocals
2014The Best of the SuperbsThe SuperbsPhoto Courtesy
2011Easy Does It/New York City (You're a Woman)/
A Possible Projection of the Future: Childhood's End
Al KooperVocals (Background)
2010Rarities Edition: Mad Dogs & EnglishmenJoe CockerChoir/Chorus, Primary Artist
2007Less Than the Song/Life MachineHoyt AxtonMain Personnel, Vocals (Background)
2006Mad Dogs & Englishmen: Fillmore March 28, 1970Joe CockerVocals, Primary Artist
2006The Complete Fillmore East ConcertsJoe CockerVocals, Primary Artist
2006The Definitive CollectionHumble PieAdditional Personnel, Vocals (Background)
2006The Definitive CollectionDave MasonVocals (Background)
2006What It is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves: 1967–1977Primary Artist
2005Mad Dogs & Englishmen [2005 DVD]Joe CockerPerformer
2005The Essential Taj MahalTaj MahalMain Personnel, Vocals (Background)
2001Rare + Well Done: The Greatest & Most Obscure RecordingsAl KooperVocals
2001Right On! Box SetPrimary Artist
2001Right On, Vol. 3: Break Beats & Grooves from the Atlantic & Warner VaultsPrimary Artist
2001Sing a Happy Song: The Warner Bros. RecordingsTaj MahalVocals (Background)
2001Ultimate CollectionFreddie KingVocals (Background)
2000The Best of Freddie King: The Shelter Records YearsFreddie KingVocals (Background)
1999Ultimate CollectionDave MasonVocals (Background)
1999Ultimate CollectionNils LofgrenVocals (Background)
1997RetrospectiveLeon RussellVocals
1997Soft Fun, Tough TearsNils LofgrenVocals (Background)
1991Key to the Highway [Del Rack]Freddie KingVocals, Vocals (Background)
1985Takin' Care of BusinessFreddie KingChoir/Chorus
1977BrothersTaj MahalVocals, Vocals (Background)
1976Cry ToughNils LofgrenVocals, Vocals (Background)
1976Glass HeartAllan RichSound Effects
1976The Best of Leon Russell [DCC/Shelter]Leon RussellVocals
1975StillsStephen StillsVocals
1974CompartmentsJosé FelicianoVocals (Background)
1974Mo' RootsTaj MahalVocals, Vocals (Background)
1974No OtherGene ClarkMain Personnel, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Voices
1973Chris JaggerChris JaggerVocals
1972A Possible Projection of the FutureAl KooperVocals
1972Artist ProofChris DarrowVocals (Background)
1972Bring Me BackTony KellyVocals
1971Getting Ready...Freddie KingVocals, Vocals (Background)
1971Into the Purple ValleyRy CooderVocals
1971Klatu Berrada NitkuDependablesVocals, Bass, Group Member
1971Leon Russell and the Shelter PeopleLeon RussellVocals
1971Living by the DaysDon NixVocals, Vocals (Background)
1971New York City (You're a Woman)Al KooperVocals, Vocals (Background)
1971Rock OnHumble PieVocals
1970Alone TogetherDave MasonVocals
1970Mad Dogs & EnglishmenJoe CockerMain Personnel, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Choir/Chorus, Featured Artist, Primary Artist
1970Stephen StillsStephen StillsVocals
All the Funk & GroovePrimary Artist
My Perfect List 60 Titres Soul 1Primary Artist
Truckers, Kickers, Cowboy Angels: The Blissed-Out Birth of Country Rock, Vol. 6: 1973Vocals (Background)
U.F.O.Ron DaviesVocals (Background)

[19]

Filmography/TV appearances

YearTitleRole
1968 The Hollywood Palace Ikette
1969 Andy's Love Concert Ikette
1969 The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Ikette
1969 Playboy After Dark Ikette
1970 The Ed Sullivan Show Ikette
1974Thunderbolt and LightfootSecretary
201320 Feet from StardomHerself

References

  1. "Spotlights Turn On Her". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. June 2, 1969 via Newspapers.com.
  2. Bernholm, Jonas (July 26, 2019), "Los Angeles: July 30 – August 8, 1968", Soul Music Odyssey USA 1968, York University Libraries
  3. Smith, Andy (June 22, 2014). "From Hope High to '20 Feet From Stardom' was an amazing journey". The Providence Journal.
  4. Bissonnette, Jonathan (May 2, 2019). "Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame welcomes class of 2019". The Independent.
  5. Wikane, Christian John, "Keeping Great Company: An Interview with Claudia Lennear", PopMatters, June 20, 2013.
  6. Abrams, Ken (April 17, 2019). "WhatsUp Interview: Claudia Lennear, 2019 RI Music Hall of Fame Inductee". What's Up RhodeIsland.
  7. "Soul singer to discuss star-crossed life during interview". Claremont Courier. July 24, 2014.
  8. Mcleod, Pauline (March 30, 2014). "My favourite photograph by Mick Jagger's ex girlfriend, singer Claudia Lennear". Express.
  9. "Claudia Lennear – Phew!" at Allmusic.
  10. Michaels, Sean (March 6, 2014). "Bowie backing singer claims star has promised to write original songs for her". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  11. "The New Ash Grove Players with Claudia Lennear and SS Jones". ashgrovemusic.net. January 6, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  12. "Inside Tedeschi Trucks Band's All-Star Joe Cocker Tribute". Rollingstone.com. July 14, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  13. "YouTube". Youtube.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  14. Tigerino, Adolfo, "Former professional singer rocks LAC", Mountiewire.com, June 4, 2013.
  15. Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981). Bowie: An Illustrated Record: p. 56
  16. "The Ziggy Stardust Companion – Encyclopedia L". 5years.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  17. "The lyrics were partially inspired by a black backing singer we knew in L.A. called Claudia Linnear" – Bill Wyman quoted from Rolling With The Stones (2002) at Time Is On Our Side.
  18. Fong-Torres, Ben, "Keeping Great Company: An Interview with Claudia Lennear", Rolling Stone, April 12, 1973.
  19. "Claudia Lennear – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
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