Beverly Ann Gibson

[Roburt]

Born: June 16th 1943 -- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

The 14 year-Old Beverly Ann Gibson had won the amateur hour at the Apollo theatre in New York.

The win led to her landing a deal with Imperial Records in May 1958 ("The Ways Of Love")

Beverley's cause had been taken up in New York by Julius Dixon (a veteran songwriter whose successes included Bill Halley's "Dim Dim the Lights" in 1954 & the Chordettes' 1958 smash "Lollipop"). Dixon dabbled in all areas of the music business and in 1958, he launched the Deb Label as a vehicle for Beverly. She introduced Dixon to the Chanels who also hailed from Harrisburg and they were also signed to his label.

Her 1st Deb 45 was released in February 1959 -- "Loves Burning Fire" & the record soon broke big in Baltimore.The single entered the Top 20 National R&B chart in mid March & she performed for a big music biz audience at Hotel Essex House, Newark on March 21st . April saw the track breaking really big in Chicago & New York and all the success led to Beverly landing a prestigious gig with the Drifters at Sparrows Beach (a weekend retreat for blacks outside Annapolis, Maryland).

The Deb label wasn't a big enough concern to really build on her initial hit and so Beverley soon found herself with King Records. Her 1st King 45 escaped in August 59 ("Call on Me" - KING 5244) with "Oh Yes I Love" (KING 5258) being released in October. Before December was out, "Wait and See" (KING 5288) was in the shops and her 4th King 45 followed in February 60 ("No Other But You"). Some of these enjoyed regional success but none repeated the sales her first single had enjoyed.

Her career went quiet for a while and even a new outing for her earlier hit "Loves Burning Fire" on the Landa label (# 671) in June 1961 did little to change the situation. However, she was to make a strong return in 1963. Jubilee had signed her and they put out the 45 "Do The Monkey / A Three Dollar Bill" which was advertised in the trade press in April. By July 63 the top side was doing really well in Chicago. This was probably due to two reasons. She still had an established profile with radio DJ's who had been around in 1958 plus 'the Monkey' was just about the top dance craze in the city at the time (all the local kids looking for other cuts to dance to after they had learnt the steps from Major Lance's local smash "Monkey Time").

However it is the flip of her only Jubilee 45 that has gone on to find favour with soul fans around the world, "Three Dollar Bill" getting loads of NS exposure down the years and this resulted in it being included on Sequel's 'Soul Underground Vol.2' CD.

Beverly married and soon had a family to look after, so her recording career came to an end. She lived back in Harrisburg until her death (just after her 64th birthday) in June 2007.

Edited February 5, 2013 by Roburt

[Guest posstot]

Enjoyed reading that, thank you. Had no idea of her history, but, i do now.

Mike