Linda Tillery

Before becoming a prominent figure in women's music in the 1990s, San Francisco native Linda Tillery began her singing career in the 1960s with the gender-integrated psychedelic/soul band <a href="spotify:artist:4mf2oCU4zJ45dbH9bsgOCG">the Loading Zone</a>, which was modeled somewhat after <a href="spotify:artist:5m8H6zSadhu1j9Yi04VLqD">Sly and the Family Stone</a>. After two albums with that band, Tillery released her solo debut, Sweet Linda Divine, on CBS in 1970 to enthusiastic reviews and high praise. She spent most of the '70s singing and playing drums on over 40 albums, including efforts by <a href="spotify:artist:4yB65gxFgrNfc0F6axxWQu">Mary Watkins</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:7nUSR7DZbfljpF4fdxT5Eb">Teresa Trull</a>. Having become a staff musician and producer at Olivia Records, Tillery released her second solo album, a self-titled effort, on the label in 1978, garnering a Bay Area Music Award for Best Independently Produced Album; Tillery has twice gone on to win Bay Area Jazz Awards for Outstanding Female Vocalist.

In subsequent years, Tillery collaborated with such female musical powerhouses as <a href="spotify:artist:5OaKUZYihpWyXo6owDGvnm">June Millington</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1LuNbgdeAMK3VJvt847RaZ">Deidre McCalla</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7fqxUkJRvLvJbWMwaCoxZw">Barbara Higbie</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3nLRyl1uOOEg77naarhY3e">Margie Adam</a>, as well as on the Olivia Tenth Anniversary Album, Meg/Cris Live at Carnegie (1983).

In 1985, Tillery released Secrets on her own 411 label; distributed by Redwood Records, it returned her to center stage. In recent years, she has assembled a large band, Skin Tight, which plays jazzy, funky blues, as well as briefly joining the Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra. She has also branched out into areas like radio, film, theater, and television commercials, worked for the National Endowment for the Arts, and appeared with artists ranging from <a href="spotify:artist:6GI52t8N5F02MxU0g5U69P">Santana</a> to <a href="spotify:artist:3Y3xIwWyq5wnNHPp5gPjOW">Kenny Loggins</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:2OU0OH164ypvP4G3AYynXs">Huey Lewis</a> to <a href="spotify:artist:5ofemHoNWTjeADvzFTAhy2">the Turtle Island String Quartet</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2FjkZT851ez950cyPjeYid">Bobby McFerrin</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:55coNbEHd5rBUgUIXyUVNW">Holly Near</a>.

In 1992, Tillery decided to form an outlet for her desire to perform the traditional spiritual music of African-American slaves and their descendants. The Cultural Heritage Choir today includes Tillery and fellow Bay Area vocalists <a href="spotify:artist:2ASefxaI7iINFG1jjWmyf5">Rhonda Benin</a>, Elouise Burrell, sometime solo artist <a href="spotify:artist:456sqV9ovwBVhDxkIAwiAt">Melanie DeMore</a>, and Emma Jean Foster-Fiege. The group has released the albums Good Time a Good Time (1995) and Front Porch Music (1997). ~ Laura Post & Steve Huey, Rovi