Ketty Lester
Ketty Lester, born Revoyda Frierson on August 16, 1934, in Hope, Arkansas, rose to fame as a singer and actress.
One of fifteen children in a farm family, Lester developed her musical talent singing in church and school choirs. She pursued higher education on a scholarship at San Francisco State College before launching her professional career.
Her breakthrough came with the 1962 hit "Love Letters," a B-side that reached number five on the pop charts and number two on R&B charts, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocalist in 1963. She released albums like Love Letters (1962) and When a Woman Loves a Man (1966), toured with the Everly Brothers, and performed at venues like the Purple Onion and Village Vanguard.
Lester starred in films such as Blacula (1972), Blue Velvet (1986), and Uptown Saturday Night (1974), and earned a Theatre World Award for the Off-Broadway revival of Cabin in the Sky. On television, she played Hester-Sue Terhune on Little House on the Prairie (1978-1983) and Helen Grant on Days of Our Lives (1975-1977).
In 2020, she published her memoir Ketty Lester: From Arkansas to Grammy-Nominated “Love Letters” to Little House on the Prairie and was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 2022. She resides in Los Angeles.
The Soul Of Me
Written-By – I. and G. Gershwin 2:15
A2 Time After Time
Written-By – Cahn - Styne 2:37
A3 Hello Lover, Goodbye Tears
Written-By – Ott 2:43
A4 Lonely People Do Foolish Things
Written-By – Snyder, Ahlert 3:07
A5 I Want To Be Happy
Written-By – Caesar, Youmans 2:50
A6 It's The Talk Of The Town
Written-By – Neiberg, Livingston, Symes 2:27
B1 When Day Is Done
Written-By – DeSylva, Katscher 2:28
B2 Look For Me (I'll Be Around)
Written-By – Wood, Dee 3:02
B3 We've Come A Long Way
Written By – Segal, Wells 2:22
B4 Sweet Torture
Written-By – Chase 2:36
B5 Gotta Be This Or That
Written-By – Skylar 2:33
B6 You Can Have Him
Written-By – Cook 2:26
Label: RCA Victor – LPM-2945
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1964
Genre: R&B Jazz
Style: Jazz, Soul
The Soul of Me is Ketty Lester's debut full-length album with RCA Victor, showcasing her transition toward a more R&B-oriented vocal jazz style.
The album is widely regarded as a "mellow blend of jazz and soul". Reviews highlight Lester's "rich, creamy voice" and emotive delivery, often comparing her vocal sophistication to that of Nancy Wilson and Dinah Washington, though with less emphasis on the blues.
Critics praise her "superb and emotive voice" and her ability to capture feelings of "longing and unrequited love".
The album features polished, larger-scale backings typical of 1960s RCA productions.
The album maintains solid community ratings, including a 3.32/5 on Rate Your Music (ranked #615 for 1964) and a 4/5 average on Discogs.
Released following her massive 1962 hit "Love Letters," The Soul of Me was one of two albums she recorded for RCA. While it did not match the commercial height of her earlier singles, it remains a "thoroughly enjoyable release" for collectors of vocal jazz and 1960s soul.
Today, vintage copies of the vinyl—both in mono and stereo—are sought after by collectors, typically priced between $20 and $25 for high-quality pressings.