Hometown Rankin - October & November 2016

Dorothy began to sing professionally
with a group called The Poppies while she
attended college at Jackson State University. They
recorded for Epic Records, reaching the Billboard Hot 100
chart in 1966 with “Lullaby of Love.”
Some years later, Dorothy joined with Jackson’s Malaco
Records as an independent artist. At Malaco, Dorothy
recorded “Misty Blue,” the song that would take her to the
top of her career. She recorded “Misty Blue” in 1973. The
producers at Malaco did not trust that “Misty Blue” would
become a hit song, so they put Dorothy’s record on the
shelf. Two years later, producers at Malaco found themselves
in financial turmoil. In a last attempt to avoid bankruptcy,
they released every record they had on label in hopes that
just one song might take off. “Misty Blue” climbed the
charts and became an instant hit in the R&B genre.
At the same time “Misty Blue” was taking off, Dorothy
had married. She was working at School Pictures on
Mill Street. Dorothy and her coworkers were listening
to the radio at work when “Misty Blue” began to play.
The song played all around town, and locals recognized
the unmistakable smooth voice that flowed from their
radio speakers.
“Dorothy, ‘Misty Blue’ is on! They are playing it again!”
Dorothy’s coworkers would cheer. When “Misty Blue”
made the top 50 chart, Malaco Records contacted Dorothy
about going on tour. Thanks to “Misty Blue,” Malaco was
financially stabilized. At the age of 27, Dorothy was on her
way to the big stage–a really big stage. Madison Square
Garden was Dorothy’s first stop on the “Misty Blue” journey.
Dorothy was the opener for Smokey Robinson and Hal
Melvin and the Blue Notes. “I was just singing ‘Misty
Blue,’” Dorothy said. “It was all I had.” That night on the
Madison Square Garden stage, Dorothy got encore after
encore. She came back out to the crowd waving and
bowing. When she finally came off the stage,
Dorothy’s booking agent lifted her up, twirled
her around, and said “What do you want, Dorothy? You
can have anything you want.” Dorothy smiled, and said
“I really want a hamburger deluxe.”
The world had chosen Dorothy Moore and her song.
Fame came to her in as pure a form as it could. She was
simply following her dream and doing what she loved.
After “Misty Blue” came out, people wanted more.
Dorothy’s record went gold in the United States and
Canada and platinum in the United Kingdom. In 1996,
“Misty Blue” went gold again after being featured in the
movie “Phenomenon” on compilation. Today, the song
remains in the iTunes top 10 chart for the blues genre.
Dorothy toured all over the world and sang alongside
stars she had always listened to and seen on TV like
Johnnie Taylor, Ray Charles and The Temptations. She
felt right at home on stage with a band and a microphone.
But Dorothy’s voice was never meant for just performing–
and Dorothy knew that well.
In addition to the blues, Dorothy had a passion for
singing gospel. After all, the church is where it all began
for Dorothy Moore. “I don’t perform when I’m singing
gospel,” Dorothy said. “I minister.” During her career,
Dorothy recorded a gospel album that made it to the top
10 chart. Despite the album’s success, Dorothy faced a
battle. “I was confused.” Dorothy explained. “I felt wrong
performing gospel for people.” Dorothy prayed that God
would help her. “He told me to just sing and He would do
the rest. I’m not the star when I’m singing gospel. He is.”
Over the years, fame pulled Dorothy in every direction
but never defeated her. The industry pressured her to
abandon comfort zones and sing music she did not
believe in. “I was very particular about what I sang.”
Dorothy said. She turned down songs that did not match
10 • October/November 2016