313:, and she had more creative control over her material. Frank Collette of the Underhand Band recorded most of the keyboards, with contributions from Gary Stephens and Eddie Beyer. Stan Seymore played guitar, Maurice Miller handled the drums, and Ray Neapolitan served as bassist. In addition, the multi-instrumentalist Don Menza played and arranged the "McCormick Horns" section with Chuck Findley (trumpet and trombone), Slyde Hyde (additional trombones), and Sam Falzone (tenor saxophone).
184:
367:. McCormick's attractiveness also caught the notice of male reviewers, whose observations ranged from flattering to misogynistic. For example, one concert reviewer in Wisconsin hailed the vocalist as a "rock-blues empress," and another male reporter in Minnesota crassly described her as a "b---h goddess in tight pants."
370:
After a troubled relationship with one of her Smith bandmates, Gayle McCormick focused on her music career. On 22 September 1972, she married a carpenter named
Richard L. Halley in Carson City, Nevada. They moved to Hawaii soon thereafter. Her union with Halley lasted under three years. According to
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Much attention was paid to Gayle McCormick's appearance during her breakout period in 1971-1972. Most of this press exposure was positive. "I started out looking like the stereotypical rock singer...faded jeans, messy hair, no make-up. But now I've been there and I know that's not really me at all."
170:
In 1967, she was the lead singer in a pop band named Steve
Cummings and The Klassmen. The band released a single in 1967 titled "Without You" which had local success in Missouri, and a second and final single in 1968 titled "Wonderous Time." Both songs were supported by early TV videos, which since
246:
Gayle confessed that she intentionally shed her 'Smith' image (even though her new band routinely performed "Baby It's You"). She stated that felt more confident as a solo artist, being able to choose her own material. "I pick songs that I can feel and put myself into," McCormick told a
Cincinnati
383:
In late 2015, McCormick was hospitalized for pneumonia, and during the treatment, it was discovered that she had cancer that had metastasized from a tumor in a lung to the rest of her body. Disc jockey Jonnie King was often by her side as the former vocalist fought for her life. McCormick died of
379:
After leaving professional music, Gayle McCormick returned home to St. Ann, Missouri and pursued a quiet career in retail and information technology. She never remarried or had any children. Gayle did not resume her singing career. She later cited burnout from the atmosphere of alcohol and drugs
320:
including several dates on the
California night-club circuit. Despite Decca's efforts to rebrand Gayle McCormick, neither single from her second album, the ballad "Near You" nor the rock-inflected "Grey Line Tour," charted. More than one reviewer from this period lamented the fact that McCormick
283:
McCormick admitted her first album was something of a "downer...Most of the songs, well, just weren't my kind of material," she said. "But I did it because it was a single album and...I needed that. Now, I know what I want to do." She hinted that her next releases would move away from the
341:
on
Fantasy in 1974. Reviews were sparse in comparison with her earlier music, but still somewhat favorable. Like its predecessor, "Hour" failed to chart despite a spirited cover of "Original Midnight Mama," which echoed her first love of R&B music.
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For her final efforts at Top 40 airplay, McCormick recorded two dance-rock tracks, "Coming in Out of the Rain" and "Simon Said," for a 1975 45 single on the Shady Brook label. McCormick also contributed backing vocals to Jimmy
Rabbitt and Renegade's
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in early 1972. Jay Lasker of
Dunhill had dropped McCormick from his label for lack of sales. Grousing about the recent trend of "singing broads," Lasker implied that he had expected Gayle McCormick's debut to perform as well as
324:
After two big commercial disappointments in the top 40 arena, McCormick changed music labels once again in 1973, this time to
Fantasy Records. She continued to tour sporadically, sharing one date with the ascendant
31:
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566:"Three Dog Night Devotees Can't Take It Sitting Down," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 November 1971, 34; "Three Dog Night's Harmony," Star-Phoenix of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 15 December 1971, 46.
584:"Three Dog Night Devotees Can't Take It Sitting Down," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 November 1971, 34; "Gayle McCormick A Solo and Enjoying It," The Los Angeles Times, 16 November 1971, 68.
296:'s. "It just didn't work out," he bluntly told the Philadelphia Enquirer in 1972. However, Gayle McCormick continued to work with manager Burt Jacobs, the same manager as Three Dog Night.
306:, former bassist for Three Dog Night. The LP cover featured McCormick in tight cutoffs and a form-fitting top, capitalizing on the chiefly male appeal she was receiving at this time.
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Gayle's new package of R&B-influenced tunes, was perhaps her strongest offering, with generally positive reviews in the U.S. and Canada. It was co-produced by Tom
Thacker and
243:. To support this record, McCormick took her touring group, billed as the Underhand Band, on the road across North America. McCormick's outfit opened for Three Dog Night.
350:-produced 1976 self-titled Capitol LP, from which the single "Ladies Love Outlaws" was drawn. At this time, she covered "Torn Between Two Lovers," first made popular by
380:
shared by many musicians, both of which she ultimately rejected; she was a lifelong smoker. Gayle stayed very close to her mother Ethel until her death in 2010.
235:
After the group Smith disbanded, Gayle McCormick recorded three solo albums. Many of her songs were penned by Dennis
Lambert and Brian Potter, who also produced
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at #98. Another single, "C'est La Vie," failed to generate any chart activity. McCormick recorded a version of "Superstar" at around the same time as
203:, featured McCormick as the primary vocalist. On the strength of her vocals, Smith made the top five with a passionate remake of Burt Bacharach's "
247:
Enquirer reporter. While she did not envision herself singing professionally in another twenty years, she was enjoying herself on the road.
841:
647:
Allen Maculay, "'Pure Music' Is Knockout," The Record, 19 November 1974; Will Smith, "New Sounds," Omaha World-Herald, 6 December 1974, 8.
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Ruth King, The Daily News, 3 May 1972, 380; The Minneapolis Star, 16 October 1971, 10; Stevens Point Daily Journal, 1 December 1972, 9.
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her debut album of mostly covers. This platter was released in 1971 on ABC Dunhill, the same label as the contemporary sensation
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She was born Gayle Annette to Richard and Ethel McCormick, who had an older son, Michael (b. 1945). Gayle attended
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On the radio, Gayle's performance of Lambert and Potter's "It's a Cryin' Shame" charted at a modest #44 on the
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John Weisman, "Records: A Trend Is a Matter of Hindsight," The Philadelphia Enquirer, 8 October 1972, 247.
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video for "It's a Cryin' Shame." Her follow-up single, "You Really Got a Hold on Me," barely scraped the
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126:(November 26, 1948 – March 1, 2016) was an American singer, best known for her work with the rock band
575:"Gayle Is A Combination Of Brains, Beauty, and Talent," The Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 November 1971, 26.
629:
The Honolulu Advertiser, 9 November 1972, 24; Robert Scott, Journal and Courier, 7 November 1974, 46.
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In the same interview, she joked that she hoped to one day share the same stage as French mime
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and sang high soprano with the Suburb Choir, a 150-voice unit that performed annually with the
284:"bubble-gum" of her first single and fully embrace the R&B style she greatly preferred.
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have been circulated online. Soon afterward, she moved to California and joined what became
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Rich Zitrin, "Singing Next For Quarry," The Akron Beacon-Journal, 15 June 1972, 63.
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Jancik, Wayne, "The Billboard book of one-hit wonders", Billboard Books, 1998,
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records on Ancestry, they were divorced in Los Angeles sometime in June 1975.
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550:"Quentin Tarantino's least-seen flick delivers one of his best music choices"
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was instrumental in raising Gayle McCormick's profile after her passing.
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Gayle McCormick recorded her second album on a new label, Decca/MCA at
86:
450:"Gayle McCormick, Singer Behind Smith's 'Baby It's You,' Dies at 67"
527:
130:. Her recording and performing career stretched from 1965 to 1976.
384:
cancer March 1, 2016 in suburban St. Louis. She was age 67. VH1's
211:. Smith's version, as sung by Gayle McCormick, was featured in
183:
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possessed great vocal talent, but could not find a radio hit.
91:
776:"Gayle McCormick, lead singer of the band Smith, dies at 67"
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Gayle McCormick (in the middle of the back row) as part of
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McCormick toured with her nine-piece band in support of
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1950 U.S. Federal Census. St. Louis, Missouri, 95-44.
657:
Jimmy Rabbitt and Renegade, Capitol Records ST-11491
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Gayle co-wrote "Take Me Back," the opening track on
207:", charting higher than the previous hit version by
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was formed in Los Angeles, their first album titled
329:in El Paso. Ultimately, Gayle drifted toward the
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746:"WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL JONNIE KING WEBSITE!"
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638:The El Paso Prospector, 18 January 1973, 19.
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438:(79 ed.). Goldmine Magazine. p. 7.
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479:St. Louis Post-Dispatch (at NewsPapers.com)
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611:The Pittsburgh Press, 22 April 1973, 126.
257:but later became a top 10 hit on the new
620:Santa Maria Times, 19 December 1972, 24.
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182:
521:
804:
436:In Conversation With Gayle McCormick
842:Deaths from lung cancer in Missouri
434:Leitheiser, Kevin (December 1982).
13:
782:. November 1, 1969. Archived from
548:McCown, Alex (September 3, 2015).
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261:chart. It was covered in 1976 by
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679:"THE GAYLE McCORMICK TRIBUTE"
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265:. McCormick also recorded an
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852:21st-century American women
827:American women rock singers
481:. March 3, 1967. p. 51
16:American singer (1948–2016)
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280:recorded their major hit.
144:Maryland Heights, Missouri
503:Strong, MC (March 2016).
386:Save the Music Foundation
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75:St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
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150:. She was influenced by
837:Dunhill Records artists
140:Pattonville High School
847:American blues singers
832:Singers from St. Louis
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41:Background information
522:Unterberger, Richie.
186:
509:The Great Rock Bible
201:A Group Called Smith
335:Country and Western
289:Bolic Sound Studios
59:St. Louis, Missouri
524:"Biography: Smith"
318:Flesh & Blood,
300:Flesh & Blood,
267:American Bandstand
259:Adult Contemporary
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148:St. Louis Symphony
822:American sopranos
505:"Gayle McCormick"
311:Flesh & Blood
213:Quentin Tarantino
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56:November 26, 1948
35:McCormick in 1970
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727:"Join Ancestry®"
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709:"Join Ancestry®"
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475:"The Klassmen"
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331:Easy Listening
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110:Years active
71:(2016-03-01)
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817:2016 deaths
812:1948 births
459:October 14,
375:Final years
294:Carole King
231:Solo career
218:Death Proof
160:Tina Turner
806:Categories
392:References
278:Carpenters
224:Grindhouse
134:Early life
101:Occupation
52:1948-11-26
272:Billboard
253:Billboard
195:In 1969,
114:1965–1976
790:March 7,
760:June 11,
533:April 7,
528:Allmusic
215:'s film
780:Msn.com
693:July 1,
274:Hot 100
255:Hot 100
191:in 1970
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104:Singer
80:Genres
61:, U.S.
197:Smith
189:Smith
179:Smith
173:Smith
128:Smith
92:blues
792:2016
762:2015
695:2020
535:2010
487:2020
461:2017
415:ISBN
333:and
263:Cher
158:and
87:Rock
66:Died
46:Born
142:in
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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