Background: The 42-year-old singer was born in Mississippi but moved to Chicago when she was 8 years old.
Performing professionally since: 1971. ”Before that there was the church,” Young says.
Backup: Works regularly with her ”posse” and bands led by Dion Payton, Michael Coleman, Carlos Johnson and others.
Repertoire: ”I do classic blues, urban blues, rhythm-and-blues and sometimes standards too,” she says, adding that North Side crowds usually prefer the urban blues and R&B.
Influences: Although Young dislikes singling out influences ”because you leave out the rest,” she cites Gladys Knight, R&B singers in general and gospel singers Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Mahalia Jackson.
Most requested songs: ”I get a lot of requests for old R&B like Aretha
(Franklin), Betty Wright and the Staples.”
Turf: Young plays the local blues club circuit-including regular appearances at Kingston Mines-and tours in Europe three or four times a year. Side project: A few years ago, Young played Bessie Smith in a local theater production of ”The Heart of the Blues.”
Recordings: Young`s album ”Stumbling Blocks and Stepping Stones” came out three years ago. She has since released other records in Europe and plans to record a new domestic album next month for an early summer release. She says the majority of the new songs will be originals, but ”I like to get other people`s songs in so people don`t think you think you`re the best writer who ever lived. I like to have different points of view on an album.” One of the non-originals will be a song given to her by Willie Dixon.
Philosophy, Part 1: ”In my theory it`s not the song, it`s what you bring to the song. You get your teeth into it and work it your way.”
Philosophy, Part 2: ”Music in general is good. I even like opera if it`s done well with good feeling.”
Goals: ”I`d like to bring a positive message to the blues, to try and help keep this art form alive,” she says, adding that she likes ”to try and mix it up and show there`s not much difference between R&B and the blues and Top 40.”
Next appearances: In April Young plays Friday and Saturday nights at Woolly Bully`s on North Western Avenue and Sunday and Tuesday nights at Kingston Mines.
