Esther Phillips (born Esther Mae Jones, December 23, 1935, Texas – died August 7, 1984, California) was an American soul and blues singer who was an influence on many other artists including Aretha Franklin.
At age fourteen, she won an amateur talent contest in 1949 at the Barrelhouse Club owned by Johnny Otis. Otis was so impressed he added her to his traveling revue, the California Rhythm and Blues Caravan, billed as ‘Little Esther Phillips’.
Her first hit record was “Double Crossing Blues” (#1 R&B), recorded in 1950 for Savoy Records. She had another two #1 plus four top 10 hits in 1950. Few artists, R&B or otherwise, have ever enjoyed such success in their debut year.
By the mid-50ies she was ill due to drug abuse. In 1962 Phillips got well enough to launch a comeback. She recorded a country tune, “Release Me,” with producer Bob Gans. This went to number 1 on R&B listings. Her cover of The Beatles' song “And I Love Him” nearly made the R&B Top Ten in 1965 and The Beatles flew her to the UK for her first overseas performances.
During the 1970’s she scored an international hit with “What A Difference A Day Made”. Phillips died in 1984, at the age of 48 from liver and kidney failure.