Jeanie Tracy

Growing up in Fresno, Houston vocalist Jeanie Tracy got her start performing in the local church choir. She also pursued studies in opera and piano. Prior to relocating to San Francisco, Tracy self-produced her initial single, "Making New Friends," which appeared on the Brown Door label. In 1970, she took the starring role in Oscar Brown Jr.'s production Slave Driver, and Harvey Fuqua discovered her six years later. As a songwriter and producer, Tracy worked with the gospel ensemble Voices of Harmony while securing a solo contract on Fuqua's Milk and Honey imprint. Her voice featured on the soundtrack to Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now before she joined Sylvester as a backing vocalist. The pair collaborated on the 1981 duet "Here Is My Love," and Fantasy released her album Me And You the following year. That same year, she provided lead vocals for Freddie Hubbard's track "Splash" and contributed background singing to projects by Jeffrey Osborne, Narada Michael Walden, Peabo Bryson, Aretha Franklin with George Michael, Two Tons of Fun, the Skool Boyz, and Herbie Hancock. Subsequently, Tracy focused on dance material for the Megatone label. Although recognized for her powerful vocal range, she waited until issuing her debut AM Records single in 1999, "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," to achieve a Top 20 placement on the dance charts.