BARBARA ACKLIN

She was born in Oakland, California, on February 28, 1943, but grew up in Chicago. By age eleven, she was singing solos at the New Zion Baptist Church. As a teen-ager, she began performing in Chicago-area nightclubs. After high school, Acklin worked as a secretary at St. Lawrence Records. Her debut single, “I’m Not Mad Anymore,” came out on the Special Agent subsidiary. It was produced by her cousin, saxophonist/producer Monk Higgins. Acklin also worked as a back-up singer at Chess Records behind artists like Fontella Bass, Etta James, and Ko Ko Taylor.

By 1966, she had found employment as a receptionist at Brunswick Records. Acklin submitted demo recordings to producer Carl Davis. He liked one of her compositions, “Whispers’ (Gettin’ Louder),” well enough to place it with Jackie Wilson. It went to #5 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues chart and #11 pop, giving Wilson his biggest hit in three years. A grateful Wilson got Acklin signed to Brunswick as a recording artist.

Her third single for the label was a duet with Chicago soul star Gene Chandler (“Duke of Earl,” “Groovy Situation”). “Show Me the Way to Go” became Acklin’s first charted single, reaching #30 R&B in 1967. She soon began to co-write songs with a fellow Brunswick recording artist, Eugene Record of the Chi-Lites. They co-authored “Two Little Kids,” a 1967 chart single for Peaches & Herb.

In 1968, Eugene Record and Carl Davis co-wrote and produced Barbara Acklin’s biggest hit. “Love Makes a Woman” hit #3 R&B and #15 pop. It also won a BMI award and earned Acklin a place in The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders (Wayne Jancik, 1998).

Acklin placed three additional singles on the charts in 1968. This included “Am I the Same Girl,” the backing track of which was recycled on “Soulful Strut” by Young-Holt Unlimited. They simply replaced Acklin’s vocal with a piano and created a million-selling instrumental smash. (Reportedly, and understandably, Acklin was not happy about it.) “Am I the Same Girl” also charted in England in 1969, when Dusty Springfield recorded it, and again in 1992, when Swing Out Sister did a version.

In 1971, Barbara Acklin and Eugene Record co-wrote “Have You Seen Her,” a half-spoken, half-sung ballad, for Record’s group, the Chi-Lites. The resulting single spent two weeks at #1 on the Soul chart and hit #3 pop in the fall of 1971. The song became a hit again in 1990, when it was remade by MC Hammer. Acklin and Record would co-write additional hits for the Chi-Lites, including “Stoned Out of My Mind” (1973), “Toby” (1974), and “Too Good to Be Forgotten” (1975). But contrary to popular belief, they were never married.

After eight years with Brunswick, Acklin signed with Capitol Records in 1974. She co-wrote her first release, “Raindrops,” with producer Willie Henderson. It got to #14 on the Soul chart, giving Acklin her biggest hit in six years. But after additional releases proved less successful, Capitol dropped her in 1975.

Acklin spent the rest of the ‘70s touring, both as a solo act and as a back-up singer for the likes of Tyrone Davis and the Chi-Lites. In 1980, she recorded for Carl Davis’ Chi-Sound label. In 1993, Acklin supplied back-up vocals on Otis Clay’s album, The Gospel Truth. She also relocated to Omaha, Nebraska.

Barbara Acklin, 55, died of pneumonia on November 27, 1998.

Charted singles:

“Show Me the Way to Go” (with Gene Chandler, 1967) R&B #30
“Love Makes a Woman” (1968) R&B #3, Pop #15
“From the Teacher to the Preacher” (with Gene Chandler, 1968) R&B #16, Pop #57
“Just Ain’t No Love” (1968) R&B #23, Pop #67
“Am I the Same Girl” (1968) R&B #33, Pop #79
“After You” (1969) R&B #30
“I Did It” (1970) R&B #28, Pop #128
“Lady, Lady, Lady” (1971) R&B #44
“I Call It Trouble” (1972) R&B #49
“Raindrops” (1974) R&B #14
“Special Loving” (1975) R&B #73
“Give Me Some of Your Sweet Love” (1975) R&B #98