1975 was a hell of a year for the word bitch in pop music… Singer Marlena Shaw titled her second Blue Note LP Who is this Bitch, Anyway?. Elton John came out of his corner (or simply “came out”) screaming "The Bitch is Back." And Yvonne Fair - a woman who had waited an agonizing seven years for her album to be released – got her wish via a 10-song LP for Motown that she herself slapped with the most outrageous title of them all: The Bitch is Black!
When one thinks of female artists on Motown, Yvonne Fair would not be the first name that comes to mind considering the legacies of golden era greats such as Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Mary Wells, Martha Reeves and Tammi Terrell, on up to latter day successes Syreeta and Teena Marie. Though the material released by Motown on Ms. Fair in her lifetime shakes out to just one album and a b-side (with other gems from the Hitsville vault only recently surfacing on rarities compilations), she was one of the most entertaining, burn-the-house-down performers to grace the world renowned company through her small but unforgettable role in the film, Lady Sings the Blues, and her cult classic album.
To borrow from the title of the infamous late `60s sex text, the essay that follows offers “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Yvonne Fair (But Were Afraid to Ask)” (for fear of a lash from that whip she's flexing on the saucy album cover).
The lady was born Flora Yvonne Coleman on October 21, 1942, in Richmond, Virginia, and raised in the Bronx, New York. She was the oldest of three children: her sister Carolyn and her baby brother Charles Jr. Her mother Catherine was a switchboard operator for Jacobi Hospital and her father Charles was a parking lot attendant. Never fond of her first name, Flora favored her middle name and reminded people that it was NOT pronounced in the typical manner (ee-von) but rather yuh-von. Boisterous by nature, young Yvonne gravitated toward show business, basking in the attention it afforded her. She was the only sibling to pursue music and enjoyed watching performers in several styles. However, Yvonne’s idol was - without question - Etta James.
Yvonne dropped out of high school after the 11th grade, married one Leroy Fair and gave birth to her first child, son Leroy Fair Jr. Though this relationship would be short, she retained the last name Fair for personal, practical and performing purposes.
Yvonne grew up during a magical time in New York City as doo-wop and rock n’ roll were emerging. She did talent shows and local spots, pining for her big break amongst hopeful peers such as Tony Orlando and Ronnie Spector. But the world at large got its first good look at Yvonne Fair in 1961 when she joined the pioneering female vocal group the Chantels (the first black girl group to achieve nationwide success with their 1958 single "Maybe," written by leader/lead singer Arlene Smith). When Arlene went solo, Annette Smith replaced her and Yvonne was also added.
When Yvonne joined the Chantels, they were recording for the Carlton label where they had their last hit record, “Look in My Eyes” b/w “Glad to Be Back,” which peaked at #6 R&B and #14 pop on Billboard’s chart. But not long after that single peaked, 19 year-old Fair jumped ship to join James Brown’s revue…
