A sultry jazz chanteuse, who began her career in the 1950s with Ray Charles Singers and continued to perform into the ’00s. Anne Latta Dinsmore was born 17 February 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Phillips was raised near Readong in Pennsylvania. She ‘played the piano by ear non-stop when she was a child’ and later studied voice and piano. Phillips attended Oberlin College and sang in the college’s big band her freshman year. She was the host of her own radio station and sang on it. She moved to New York City after attending the New England Conservatory of Music. She was a member of the Ray Charles Singers Choir and the Norman Luboff Chorus, which were two of the most well-known choirs. She sang for many songwriters, including Hal David, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Carole King and Neil Diamond. Her recording debut was in 1959 with Born To Be Blue for Roulette Records. The marked shift in popular music styles led to a successful career in the studios. Phillips became one of New York’s most sought-after studio performers. She sang on numerous recording sessions with backing vocals and wrote, arranged, and produced commercials for Pepsi Cola, Kent Cigarettes and Campbell’s Soup. Sammy Davis Jnr. were among the artists with which she collaborated during those years. The Four Tops, Leslie Gore and Linda Ronstadt were among her collaborators. She started her own choir to record and broadcast, and was appointed music director at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Park Avenue. She wrote the book, music, and lyrics for The Great Grey Ghost Of Old Spook Lane. This children’s show has been performed by many theatre groups. With her husband, Bob Kindred (tenor saxophonist), Bending Towards The Light… a Jazz Nativity is the Christmas story told through jazz. The work is performed annually in New York, as well as elsewhere in America, and features guests like Al Grey, Tito Puente, Clark Terry, and Lionel Hampton. The Kindred Spirit Foundation, which she and her husband run, is a non-profit. Phillips was also an adjunct professor at New York University’s Jazz and Contemporary Music Department, where she organizes and directs the NYU Jazz Choir. Phillips’ songs were the ones that showed how well she was able to interpret American popular song when she returned to a recording session under her own name in 2000. They are all gems that deserve to be included in the repertoires and appreciation of music of high quality. Kindred (That Kindred Spirit, Hidden Treasures) has recorded sessions she has arranged or produced. Phillips is a great performer of popular song today, with a fluid and melodic voice that complements her ability to read lyrics. Allmusic
