Loleatta Holloway (born in Chicago, 1946) was an American R&B-Disco singer known for her massive hit songs like “Hit and Run,” “Love Sensation,” and “Relight My Fire,” all of which have been sampled extensively worldwide. Billboard magazine ranked her as one of most successful dance artists of all-time.
Holloway first began her career singing gospel music, then in the early '70s, she met her future producer, manager (and husband) Floyd Smith which kick-started her impressive recording career. Shortly after Holloway signed with the Atlanta-based soul music label Aware where she recorded two albums: Loleatta (1973) and Cry to Me (1975).
Later, in the mid '70s she signed with top Philadelphia arranger and producer Norman Harris’ Gold Mind/Salsoul Records, where she recorded many more top charting hit singles and launched her career as a disco act. From then on (and until this day) Holloway’s songs (which became DJ favorites) were heavily remixed and sampled on a multitude of tracks from renowned acts such as Whitney Houston, Bobby Byrd, Raekwon, Flo Rida, Pitbull, Ice Cube, and many others.
Her second album (Cry to Me from 1975), is a total classic; both the album (and the title track) peaked in the R&B and Billboard Hot Soul Singles charts. Cry To Me was produced by Floyd Smith and it features tracks penned by some of the most talented songwriters of the time. Sam Dees (Gladys Knight, Bo Diddley, Aretha Franklin) wrote five of the tracks on the album and his arrangements provide the perfect backdrop for Loleatta’s emotive, dramatic and powerful vocals. Curtis Mayfield also contributes the magnificent "Just Be True" track and Jo Armstead (Ray Charles, Syl Johnson, Tina Turner) wrote the beautiful "Casanova" song.
