That's Why I Cry - Music

Varetta Dillard Feb 03 1933 Harlem New York - Oct 04 1993 Brooklyn New York Was One Of The Great Unknown Blues Shouters Of The 1950s. A Two-Time Winner Of The Apollo Theater's Amateur Competition She Recorded Solo And As A Part Of A Duo That She Shared With Vocalist/pianist H-Bomb Ferguson. Signed By Savoy In 1951 Her Singles Included "Easy Easy Baby" In 1952 And "Mercy Mr. Percy " Her Theme Song The Following Year. Dillard Became Known For Her Tribute Songs To Fallen Heroes. She Recorded "Johnny Has Gone " In Memory Of Late Vocalist Johnny Ace In 1955 And Was Pressured To Record "I Miss You Jimmy " In Tribute To James Dean After Switching To The RCA Victor/Groove Label In 1956. Although She Subsequently Recorded For Triumph And MGM's Club Subsidiary Dillard Ended Her Solo Recording Career In 1961 And Joined Her Husband's Gospel Group The Tri-Odds. A Product Of New York's Harlem Dillard Spent Much Of Her Childhood In Hospitals Due To A Bone Deficiency. She Turned To Music As A Form Of Therapy. read less