Disco/Dance Divas Head to Head: Martha Wash vs. Loleatta Holloway...Who's the Best?

[garrybcoston]

This is a hard one.

Martha is a songbird, and can cascade up and down the scales at will (though the older she has gotten the less this is true), has an almost unlimited range, and possibly has a deeper "disco/dance" history. Her voice is absolutely beautiful to listen to and to behold.

Loleatta Holloway; has a deeper musical history overall singing since she was 4 years old; also has deeper soul/R&B/gospel roots before moving over to disco/dance. Doesn't have the range that Martha has but sings with fierceness, more emotion, from the heart, gospel roots can be clearly heard, and is a tried and true "blue collar" singer who has what it takes to sing, sings hard, sings with much emotion and can be relied upon to "be there" and do "what it takes" to get the song done and done right. In her "singing from the heart with much emotion," Loleatta also has this tremendous gift of what's called in musical circles, "vamping," in which the artist is given free reign to ad lib the hell out of the vocals; this is done nowadays in the rap arena when rap artists are told to freestyle, that is, come up with whatever comes to mind out of their heart and head. Loleatta's voice is raspy, churchy, soulful with a gospel edge, and she also has a strong, carrying voice that can resonate and sing over the most layered of orchestras.

Though I love Martha Wash, I'll have to choose Loleatta Holloway as the best.

One more thing, I heard that when Black Box was looking for a singer for their first album, Loleatta was picked to sing all of the songs; Loleatta was trying to get an album price to do the songs and Black Box did not want to pay her that price. They brought Martha in to sing one song and Loleatta, the whole time was thinking they would commission her at the album price. Martha was calling Loleatta everyday, gathering information to pass back to the Producers, etc. of Black Box with Loleatta not knowing that Martha was recording the songs the whole time. Before Loleatta knew it, the album was finished and recorded and Martha had perfomed on over 90% of the album and performed the album at a much cheaper price. Loleatta was duped and scammed and lied to; however, what goes around comes around as Black Box paid Martha up front but didn't pay her any additional monies afterward such as royalties. Martha took Black Box to Court as did Loleatta a little later on.

It was sad to find this info out about Martha. I have lost a little bit of fandom for Martha after hearing this; so I must choose Loleatta over Martha.

Garry

[Dayna]

I'm going to have to give it to my girl Loleatta
Hands Down~!!
Loleatta really feels the song and connects to the lyrics and audience when she is performing.. And this lady can throw out some fierce improvised rap in the mix too.....
I give Martha her dues as well she has a wide vocal range and can blow as well But if You asked me to pick one to see live again I would pick Loleatta..as I have seen both before.
And If I had to give up any record's accociated with Martha or Loleatta I'm sorry but all my records with Loleatta's voice accociated with them would still be safe in my collection.

[Cdnbob]

Sadly I've never been lucky to see either ladies live, only through the odd video, or performances on various tv shows and listening to the albums/singles they recorded; so my vote will be based on this and it definitely has to go to Martha Wash hands down. I like both performers, but Martha wins the day as I think she has the better, more distinctive voice. I'd be able to pick out Martha's voice any where any time.

[ryannunn2007]

Martha all the way....... simple as that...... she's got the number 1 song in the country, "Keep Your Body Working", with Tony Moran on Billboard Magazine's Hot Dance Club Play chart.... two weeks at number 1 in fact.

Martha is the Queen... and she's got a whole new website coming for 2008.... ;)