Zulema
Encyclopedia
Zulema Cusseaux was an American disco
and rhythm & blues singer and songwriter. Aside from her solo career, she was a member of an early line up of Faith, Hope and Charity
and worked as a backing vocalist and songwriter with Aretha Franklin
.
When they met producer Van McCoy
and were signed by Maxwell records, the group's name was changed to Faith, Hope and Charity
. Their song "So Much Love" hit #15 on the R&B chart and #60 on the pop chart in 1970. Zulema left Faith, Hope and Charity shortly after a label switch to Sussex Records. Bailey and Hilliard would occasionally sing backing vocals on Zulema's albums, though. Her self-titled solo album included the song "American Fruit, African Roots" and a cover of "If This World Were Mine."
Zulema started touring as opening act for major stars like Bill Withers
. She appeared on a bill with Roberta Flack
, Marvin Gaye
, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Earth, Wind and Fire and Sly Stone
at the Push Expo in Chicago, a concert which became a motion picture called "Save the Children". The movie's soundtrack was released on Motown Records
and included Zulema's single mother anthem, This Child of Mine.
After a second Sussex album, Ms Z (produced by Bobby Taylor
), the singer signed to RCA records, where she released three albums: Zulema, R.S.V.P. and Suddenly There Was You. She was also one of the featured artists on the soundtrack to the Michael Schultz
movie Honeybaby, Honeybaby, providing the track "I Just Can't Say Good-Bye." Her only charting record during that time was a cover of the early Michael Jackson Motown hit Wanna Be Where You Are, which reached #58 R&B. In 1978, she released the album Z-Licious on Le Joint Records in 1978, which featured a duet with long-term collaborator Van McCoy. McCoy also got Zulema on board for Aretha Franklin's 1979 disco album La Diva - having her write one of the songs and perform backing vocals on the entire album, joined once again by her former band members Hilliard and Bailey.
In 1980, Zulema had a starring role in the New York musical, Jazzbo Brown.
In 1982, Zulema formed a duo called Zalmac with Al Macdowell. Their album "Whatcha Gonna Do" on TSOB included the songs Friends, I Get Down and What's In It For Me. Zulema had recorded at least one single on the same label, A Mother Cries, the year before.
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
and rhythm & blues singer and songwriter. Aside from her solo career, she was a member of an early line up of Faith, Hope and Charity
Faith Hope and Charity (US band)
Faith Hope and Charity was the name of a disco band from Tampa, Florida. They are best known for their 1975 hit, "To Each His Own".-Career:Founding members of the group were Zulema Cusseaux, Brenda Hilliard and Al Bailey...
and worked as a backing vocalist and songwriter with Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
.
Biography
Zulema was born Zulema Cusseaux in Tampa, Florida. She and her school friend Brenda Hilliard joined a local group called The 5 Crystals before the two formed the trio the Lovelles together with fellow Tampa native Albert Bailey.When they met producer Van McCoy
Van McCoy
Van Allen Clinton McCoy was an accomplished musician, music producer, arranger, songwriter, and orchestra conductor. He is known best for his 1975 internationally successful song "The Hustle", which is still played in dance halls and on radio to this day more than thirty years since his death...
and were signed by Maxwell records, the group's name was changed to Faith, Hope and Charity
Faith Hope and Charity (US band)
Faith Hope and Charity was the name of a disco band from Tampa, Florida. They are best known for their 1975 hit, "To Each His Own".-Career:Founding members of the group were Zulema Cusseaux, Brenda Hilliard and Al Bailey...
. Their song "So Much Love" hit #15 on the R&B chart and #60 on the pop chart in 1970. Zulema left Faith, Hope and Charity shortly after a label switch to Sussex Records. Bailey and Hilliard would occasionally sing backing vocals on Zulema's albums, though. Her self-titled solo album included the song "American Fruit, African Roots" and a cover of "If This World Were Mine."
Zulema started touring as opening act for major stars like Bill Withers
Bill Withers
William Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"...
. She appeared on a bill with Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
, Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Earth, Wind and Fire and Sly Stone
Sly Stone
Sly Stone is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, most famous for his role as frontman for Sly & the Family Stone, a band which played a critical role in the development of soul, funk and psychedelia in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of...
at the Push Expo in Chicago, a concert which became a motion picture called "Save the Children". The movie's soundtrack was released on Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
and included Zulema's single mother anthem, This Child of Mine.
After a second Sussex album, Ms Z (produced by Bobby Taylor
Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers
Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers were a soul band from Vancouver, British Columbia. Briefly signed to Motown Records in the late 1960s, they had one top 30 hit single, "Does Your Mama Know About Me". As a producer and solo artist, Bobby Taylor contributed to several other soul recordings, both inside...
), the singer signed to RCA records, where she released three albums: Zulema, R.S.V.P. and Suddenly There Was You. She was also one of the featured artists on the soundtrack to the Michael Schultz
Michael Schultz
Michael Schultz is an American director and producer of film and television.-Life and career:Schultz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Katherine Frances , a factory worker, and Leo Schultz, an insurance salesman...
movie Honeybaby, Honeybaby, providing the track "I Just Can't Say Good-Bye." Her only charting record during that time was a cover of the early Michael Jackson Motown hit Wanna Be Where You Are, which reached #58 R&B. In 1978, she released the album Z-Licious on Le Joint Records in 1978, which featured a duet with long-term collaborator Van McCoy. McCoy also got Zulema on board for Aretha Franklin's 1979 disco album La Diva - having her write one of the songs and perform backing vocals on the entire album, joined once again by her former band members Hilliard and Bailey.
In 1980, Zulema had a starring role in the New York musical, Jazzbo Brown.
In 1982, Zulema formed a duo called Zalmac with Al Macdowell. Their album "Whatcha Gonna Do" on TSOB included the songs Friends, I Get Down and What's In It For Me. Zulema had recorded at least one single on the same label, A Mother Cries, the year before.