Doris Troy - I'll Do Anything

Doris Troy was suffering from emphysema when we tried to film her for our "Strange World Of Northern Soul" mega-documentary in late 1998, and was so ill that she went into hospital at the time we were due to film in New York. Then, in early 1999, she was determined to do it, and was temporarily well enough to re-record the classic Northern Soul anthem, "I'll Do Anything", and to film this oh so priceless performance at her house. She was a rarity in the early sixties - a singer who wrote her own material. She was always at the cutting edge. One of the earliest Soul divas, on Atlantic before Aretha, and recording with Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff years before the heady days of the Philadelphia sound. In 1963, while working as an usherette at Harlem's Apollo, Doris was spotted by James Brown and was on her way to greatness. A short stint as one half of Jay & Dee, was followed by her classic "Just One Look" (No.10 for 8 weeks in the US in 1963), later covered in the UK by The Hollies. This was followed by the great "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" (No. 37 for 7 weeks in the UK in 1964 and No. 38 for 5 weeks in the UK in 1965). This success in Britain prompted Doris to try her luck there, adding her unique sound to Dusty Springfield's classic recordings "In the Middle of Nowhere" and "Little by Little". In 1969 The Beatles signed her to their Apple label, as an artist, writer and producer! Those sessions featured Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, Leon Russell & Ringo Starr, among others. While gaining respect for the album, sales were disappointing; but Doris carried on regardless. She recorded a live Gospel album at London's Rainbow Theatre in 1971 for Polydor. 1974 saw Doris in the studio again, for People Records, working with reggae producer Dandy Livingstone on the album "Stretchin' Out". In the years that followed, she returned to the States, recording the musical "Mama I Want to Sing". Becoming the highest grossing off-Broadway show ever, "Mama" was the story of Doris's life, with a liberal sprinkling of Gospel, and of course "Just One Look". Since it's inception in 1981, the show has packed 'em in all over the world - Greece, Japan, Switzerland, Egypt, and earning an Olivier Awards nomination in London's West End, with a cast that included Chaka Khan & Deniece Williams. Doris played her own mother in the production. In the fall of 1999 Doris appeared in a new show "Gospel Is...!" at the Williams Lafayette Institute for the Arts, 7th. Avenue @ 131st Street, Harlem, NYC., described by one reviewer as "The Mama for the Millennium". Doris died in her sleep on February 16, 2004, in Las Vegas. She had been suffering from emphysema for some years. Listen and watch this great video in memory of her.