Gloria Scott

Gloria Scott (born February 26, 1946) is an American soul singer.

Her first recording, titled "I Taught Him" by Gloria Scott and the Tonettes, was written and produced by Sylvester Stewart (better known as Sly Stone), and released in 1964 when she was 17 years of age. She signed a seven-year contract with Barry White in 1972. White produced the 1974 album What Am I Gonna Do, and a single "Just as Long as We're Together (In My Life There Will Never Be Another)" which reached the top 20 on numerous record charts. She recorded a second album with arranger H. B. Barnum, but it was never released.

Scott was recruited as a member of the Ikettes with PP Arnold in 1965 and she also worked as a background singer for Mary Wilson (of The Supremes).

Scott is a regular performer at The Baltic Soul Weekender in Germany. In an interview with Christian John Wikane of Popmatters, Scott says: "He [Sly] just kind of took me under his wing. I sang at the Cow Palace. Sly and his sister and his cousin LaTanya backed me up and they were called the Tonettes: Gloria Scott and the Tonettes."

She later met and signed a seven-year contract with Barry White. White produced and arranged her first album, What Am I Gonna Do, which was released in 1974. Two tracks were released as singles. The album is notable for being the second released by Casablanca Records—label number NB0002 (NB0001 was by Kiss).

Despite her seven-year contract with Barry White, and (indirectly) with Casablanca, her career failed to take off. PopMatters comments: "However, a combination of factors, including the growing pains of a new record company and White's focus on his own burgeoning career, ultimately limited the reach of What Am I Gonna Do. Though a follow-up single, 'Just As Long as We're Together', hit the R&B Top 20 and held the top spot on the Disco Singles chart in early-1975, the second album she recorded with arranger H. B. Barnum was not released. For all his solo success, Barry White was not delivering on his contract with Gloria Scott. He became one of the most seminal figures of the 1970s while Scott faded into obscurity." Her performance of "Help Me Get Off This Merry-Go-Round", with the Baltic Soul Orchestra, was released as a single.

On September 30, 2022, Scott released her second album on Acid Jazz, titled So Wonderful.

Personal life Scott was born in Port Arthur, Texas, to part-time church singer, mother Ella. She was raised in the city of Houston, before moving with her family to northern California when she was 14 years of age. Her parents, both cooks opened Ella's Cafe in Palo Alto to help support Scott's nine siblings. Subsequent to her recording and musical career in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Scott relocated to Guam where she spent eight years.

Scott currently resides in Lake County, California.

Discography Albums What Am I Gonna Do (Casablanca, 1974) So Wonderful (Acid Jazz, 2022)

Singles Year Title Chart Positions U.S. Hot Dance U.S. R&B 1974 "Just as Long as We're Together (In My Life There Will Never Be Another)" 14 14 "What Am I Gonna Do" — 74

"What Am I Gonna Do" – (7", Single) Casablanca Records 1974 "What Shall I Do" – (7", Single) Casablanca Records 1974 "Just As Long As We're Together (In My Life There Will Never Be Another)" – (7", Single) Casablanca Records 1974 "(A Case Of) Too Much Love Makin'" – Casablanca Records 1975 "You're Losing Me" – Ann Sexton & Baltic Soul Orchestra/ Gloria Scott & Baltic Soul Orchestra – Unique 2009 "Help Me Get Off This Merry-Go-Round" – Ann Sexton & Baltic Soul Orchestra/ Gloria Scott & Baltic Soul Orchestra – Unique 2009 "That's The Way Love Is" – Sedsoul – 2010 "Can't Keep Running Away" – Single – (2013) "It's So Wonderful" – Single – (2013) "Never Gonna Let You Go" – Single – (2013) "Promised Land" – Single – (2022) "All of the Time, You're on my Mind" – Single – (2022) "So Wonderful" – Single – (2022)

Backing vocal credits 1972: Bo Diddley – Where It All Began 1979: Mary Wilson – Mary Wilson

Cultural references John Connolly in Nocturnes writes: "Jerry passed through the main gates to the Benson farm, instinctively turning down the truck radio, since Bruce didn't appreciate music much, and certainly not the stuff that was pouring out of Jerry's speakers just now: Gloria Scott's sultry vocals, backed up by the late, great Barry White's production skills."