Biography
Formed as a female vocal trio in 1965, the Apollas—Billie Barnum, Ella Jamerson, and Leola Jiles—were assembled expressly to serve as Loma Records’ counterpart to the Supremes, mirroring Warner Bros.’ broader effort to replicate the Motown sound through its fledgling soul imprint. Signed that autumn, the group entered the studio immediately and released its debut single in October, the urgent, uptempo “You’re Absolutely Right,” a track whose Motown-derived energy drew notice among discerning listeners yet failed to register on any national chart. Over the ensuing three years the singers remained active, first under the Loma banner and later on Warner Bros. itself, issuing eight singles in total; among them were the buoyant “Pretty Red Balloons,” the expansive “Mr. Creator,” and a tender Everly Brothers ballad, “Who Would Want Me Now,” none of which achieved commercial traction. When Loma was shuttered in 1968, Warner Bros. simultaneously withdrew from its soul-music initiative, and the Apollas disbanded. Years afterward, England’s Northern soul scene revived interest in their catalog, elevating the group to cult status and placing particular value on “Mr. Creator,” “You’re Absolutely Right,” “All Sold Out,” and “Lock Me in Your Heart”—enough strong sides, had licensing proved feasible, to sustain a retrospective collection. Barnum went on to supply backing vocals for Van Dyke Parks, Lionel Richie, Teddy Pendergrass, and Taj Mahal, while Jamerson and Jiles likewise contributed session harmonies to assorted artists.
Albums