HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAMITA JO!

 Damita Jo DeBlanc (1930-1998) had some hit "answer songs" in the 1960s.  "I'll Save the last Dance for you" was her reply to Ben E. King's hit "Save the last Dance for Me," and "I'll Be there" was her response to King's "Stand By Me."  She began as a vocalist for Steve Gibson and the Red Caps, and eventually marrying Gibson before divorcing him in 1959.  She had several hits covering songs from other artists.  she worked with Ray Charles, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, and Billy Eckstine and the Bobby tucker Orchestra.  An actress and a talented comedienne, she toured with Redd Foxx.

The 2004 album by Janet Jackson, Damita Jo, has nothing to do with the singer -- Damita Jo also happened to be Jackson's middle name.

"I'll Be There"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZI5FyCMkoI

"I'll Save the Last Dance for You"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4xm9GrU0FY

"If You Go Away"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kCcfNfPIDk  

"Dance with a Dolly (with a Hole in Her Stocking)"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HklrBZZNjkc

"A Time to Love and a Time to Cry"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQwBeYU1tmk

"Jumbalaya"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P61dvgVL_uM

"I Had Someone Else Before I Had you"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU3LlI7eNQg

"Silver Dollar"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y1tPbOsN-4

"Yellow Days"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QtfHuPVTA0

"Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe978rCIeRE

"Tossin' and Turnin'"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ShkHFWM9rU

"A Reason to Believe"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck2AxIL0wCA

"Do What You Want"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJFqd8gjFIs

"I Burned Your Letter"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-wui9neWyQ