From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Wed Jun 19, 2002  1:42 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Shirley Goodman
 
SHIRLEY GOODMAN

Born 19 June 1936, New Orleans, Louisiana

Shirley Goodman was one half the New Orleans-based duo Shirley and
Lee. Her male partner, Leonard Lee, was born ten days after her (29 June
1936). They had one trait in common among their recordings : the duo
almost never sang together, let alone in harmony. Their contrasting
male-female duet style was later influential on early ska and reggae
productions from Jamaica.
Shirley and Lee began recording together in 1952. Billed as The Sweethearts
Of The Blues, they enjoyed a series of US R&B hits, including "I'm Gone"
(# 2 R&B, 1952) and "Feel So Good" (also # 2, 1955), marked by the juxta-
position of Shirley's shrill, child-like intonation and Lee's bluesy
counterpoint.
In 1956 they crossed over into the pop US Top 20 with "Let The Good Times
Roll", a charming, infectious performance, written and arranged by Lee.
The song became the first million-seller for the Aladdin label and is now
regarded as an R&B standard.
Shirley and Lee enjoyed smaller hits with "I Feel Good" (1956) and "When I
Saw You (1957). The pair stayed on Aladdin into 1959 before moving to Warwick,
where they ended up re-recording "Let the Good Times Roll" (# 48 pop).
In 1963 the Sweethearts of the Blues decided to call it a day. Shirley moved to
the west coast, where she appeared on sessions for producer Harold Battiste
and Dr. John, while Lee pursued a low-key solo career.
In 1974, Shirley Goodman reappeared on the R&B scene, this time paired
with studio musicians -- they called themselves Shirley and Company -- for
"Shame, Shame, Shame," released on the Vibration label. The disco-fied hit
topped the R&B charts at number one in early 1975 and peaked at # 12 on the
pop charts. It was written by producer Sylvia Robinson, who had also been part
of a successful '50s duo, Mickey & Sylvia, with Mickey Baker. Robinson also
penned Goodman's less successful follow-up "Cry, Cry, Cry." They issued one
more single on Vibration, then dropped out of sight.
Leonard Lee died on 23 October 1976.

CD recommendation: Let The Good Times Roll (Ace 751). 30 Aladdin tracks.
Trevor Cajiao wrote in his review in NDT 205: "Of course, the age-old problem
with Shirley & Lee is Shirley's shrieking voice. (...) How about a Shirley & Lee
instrumental album?"
Bear Family issued a 4-CD box-set ("The Sweethearts of the Blues") in 1997.