Naomi Shelton

Naomi Shelton
Naomi Shelton, in 2015
Naomi Shelton, in 2015
Background information
Also known asNaomi Davis Shelton
Born
Naomi Virginia Davis

(1942-10-14)October 14, 1942
Midway, Alabama, U.S.
OriginBrooklyn, New York
DiedFebruary 17, 2021(2021-02-17) (aged 78)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
GenresGospel, blues, funk, Soul, black gospel, deep funk, northern soul, rhythm and blues
OccupationsSinger, songwriter
Instrumentvocals
Years active1958–2021
LabelsDesco, Daptone

Naomi Davis Shelton (born Naomi Virginia Davis; October 14, 1942 – February 17, 2021) was an American gospel, blues, funk, and soul musician, who performed traditional black gospel, deep funk, northern soul and rhythm and blues styles of music. She started her music career in 1958, and in 1999 she formed the group Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens.

Biography

Shelton was born in Midway, Alabama. She and her two older sisters grew up as members of Mount Coney Baptist Church, and sang together until the oldest graduated from high school.[1][2] After Naomi graduated in 1958, she moved to Florida and in 1963 she settled in Brooklyn, New York. She worked as a maid while singing at the Night Cap venue in the evenings. She later married Dennis Shelton.[3][4]

In 1999 she formed the Gospel Queens with Cliff Driver. After a recording deal fell through in the mid 2000s when the label folded,[3] the group signed with Daptone in the late 2000s.Their first studio album What Have You Done, My Brother? was released in 2009,[5] and peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart.[6] They released Cold World in 2014,[7] and that album reached No. 23 on the Top Gospel Albums chart.[6]

Shelton appeared as herself in the 2014 film Song One and she contibuted one song to its soundtrack.[8] She died in Brooklyn at age 78 in 2021.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Freedman, Samuel G. (June 12, 2009). "Gospel Singer's Discovery Was 60 Years in the Making". The New York Times. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  2. ↑ Forman, Bill (July 22, 2015). "Soul stirrer: Naomi Shelton brings her gospel truths to Blues Under The Bridge". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Honeyman, Lins (February 23, 2016). "Naomi Shelton: The veteran singer bringing gospel fire to a cold world". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  4. ↑ Hoffman, K. Ross. "Naomi Shelton : Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  5. ↑ Hoffman, K. Ross. "What Have You Done, My Brother? - Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens : Review". AllMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Billboard. "Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens : Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  7. ↑ Deming, Mark. "Cold World - Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens : Review". AllMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  8. ↑ Turman, Katherine (January 21, 2015). "Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice Give 7 'Non-Hits' to Song One". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on January 24, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  9. ↑ Pearis, Bill. "Naomi Shelton, rest in peace". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
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