Ann Peebles
Ann Peebles is a central voice of Memphis soul, whose songs continue to be covered, sampled, and played in the soundtrack of daily life. Born in 1947 in East St. Louis, Peebles' father was a minister, her mother a singer. The family toured as the Peebles Choir in the gospel circuit, which had been co-created by her grandfather. She was offered a contract by Willie Mitchell's Hi Records at the age of twenty-one after singing with Gene "Bowlegs" Miller's group in Memphis. Mitchell teamed Peebles with song writer Don Bryant, who would later become Peebles' husband. Two of her stand-out songs are "I Can't Stand the Rain," and "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down," one of John Lennon's favorites. Ann Peebles can most recently be heard in collaborations with Maria Muldaur.
