Frances Nero
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Frances Nero, at the age of 22, became the first live performance contest winner in MOTOWN's history. Topping out 5,000 contestants, she emerged victor in June 1965. She was awarded $500, a dozen long stemmed red roses, a contract for one year (ended up being 3) and the prestigious honor of being the first female artist signed to MOTOWN's Soul Label. The contest was sponsored by WCHB, the soul radio station in Detroit and MOTOWN. She also took her place in history as WCHB's first live contest winner. July 1966, Nero recorded "Keep On Loving Me" and "Fight Fire With Fire" penned by William Weatherspoon and James Dean and produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson.
She appeared on Canada's TV Show, "Swinging Time" with host Robin Seymour. The record, without promotion, sold 10,000 copies on its own merit. Today it is a rare recording and currently sells for $250 in the collector's market. Each year its value goes up.
She had a one hit wonder with 'Footsteps Following Me' in 1991.
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[edit] Early Life
Frances attended Stephens-Lee High School where she performed with two bands simultaneously. The Famous Tams featuring William "PO Bill" Mills and The Untils, a group of Stephens-Lee's Band Members.Stanley Baird, Bynum Griffin and Clifford Cotton went on to play with such stars as Chuck Jackson and James Brown. Frances was the featured vocalist with both bands. Luckily they were never booked on the same nights.
Frances married Johnny Nero, who was a native of Detroit. She had aspired to go to Detroit after dancing to the sounds of Marv Johnson, who later became a close friend of Frances.She was homesick and went back to Asheville, NC. After a few months she returned to Detroit and settled into married life. After giving birth to her second child, January 21, 1965 she decided it was time to make the world sit up and take notice of her.
[edit] A Second Chance
Frances after being shelved by MOTOWN and not being able to market herself, asked for a release from her contract. Berry Gordy did so with resistance, knowing Frances had the voice for the new "pop" sound that would soon mesmerize the world. After the release and Frances taking control over her career, her mother was stricken with diabetes and her legs had to be amputated. Without hesitation Frances put her career on hold. She cared for her mother until she died in 1978. Frances went to cosmetology school and began teaching the beauty trade.
In 1989, she was contacted by British Producer, Ian Levine. Levine produced over 100 former MOTOWN artists but Frances Nero gave him his biggest hit of his career. "Footsteps Following Me" charted at #3 in the UK Billboard Charts and was affectionately dubbed "the soul anthem of the nineties".[citation needed]
Frances Nero has appeared on England's top radio and television shows such as Top Of The Pops, The Terry Wogan Show and The Hitman and Her. Her biggest fan base is located in the UK. Her vocals are being distributed around the world constantly by Ian Levine, but she has yet to receive royalties from his company, MotorCity Records.[citation needed]
[edit] Discography
1965 - MOTOWN Records "Keep On Loving Me" "Fight Fire With Fire"
1968 - Shrine Records "Lady In Waiting" (duo with Gino Parks)
1993 - MotorCity Records "Footsteps Following Me" Single & Album "The Best Of Frances Nero" "MotorCity Various Artists Albums"
1996 - Aja Records "Love Ride" "It Ain't The Same Without You"
1997 - "For My Very Special Fans" - A Compilation of Christmas Carols
2007/8 - "Frances Nero Salutes Dinah Washington"
[edit] References
- Frances Nero - Autobiography - "Mountains, MOTOWN & Motion Pictures"
