Jean DuShon

Jean DuShon (born Anna Jean Harris, later Atwell, August 16, 1935 – July 19, 2019) was an American jazz and R&B singer, and stage actor. She was best known for her recordings in the 1960s, including the first released recording of the song "For Once in My Life" in 1966, although many had not heard her version and assumed the original recording was by Stevie Wonder.

DuShon then joined Cootie Williams' band as featured vocalist, before being spotted by Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records, who paired her with young producer Phil Spector. They recorded a version of Little Willie John's "Talk to Me, Talk to Me" on Atco in 1961, but it was unsuccessful. DuShon then recorded singles with various labels including Lennox, OKeh and Columbia, before joining Chess Records in 1964. There she recorded three albums. The first, Make Way for Jean DuShon, was recorded with the Lou Donaldson quintet and was released on the Argo subsidiary label in 1964. It was followed by You Better Believe Me, with the Ramsey Lewis Trio, in 1965, and finally Feeling Good, again with Donaldson and arranged by Oliver Nelson, on the Cadet label in 1966.

While with Cadet, she was contacted by Motown songwriter Ron Miller, with a song he had co-written, "For Once in My Life". She recorded the song, with arrangement by Bart Keyes and production by Esmond Edwards. The single was issued by Cadet in October 1966, became a local hit, and has been described as "a beauty, capped by soaring modulations that glimmer with the hopefulness of love".

However, she performed as a jazz singer in many leading New York clubs during the late 1960s and 1970s. She also sang and toured with Lloyd Price and Fats Domino, performed in clubs with Ray Charles, sang with Count Basie, and appeared at the 1967 New Jersey Jazz Festival.

Discography

Albums Make Way for Jean DuShon (Argo, 1964) You Better Believe Me (with the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Argo, 1965) Feeling Good (Cadet, 1966)

Singles "Is It Wrong to Be Right" (ABC-Paramount, 1960) "Talk to Me, Talk to Me" (Atco, 1961) "Play Thing" (OKeh, 1962) "Look the Other Way" (Lennox, 1963) "More (Theme from 'Mondo Cane')" (with the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Argo, 1965) "Feeling Good" (Argo, 1965) "Out in the Cold Again" (Cadet, 1966) "For Once in My Life" (Cadet, 1966) "As I Watch You Walk Away" (Cadet, 1966)