Alice Rozier (February 24, 1942 – April 3, 1994) – I'm Gonna Hold On To You (1965)

This soul masterpiece was written by the unsung singer/songwriter and recorded in Macon, Georgia for Stone Records with future Sam & Dave guitarist Little Joe.

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Alice Rozier was an unsung soul singer/songwriter who recorded three singles in Macon, Georgia during the mid 1960s.

Born in small town Parrott, Georgia, Rozier sang in church and grew up loving gospel, soul, and the blues. In the mid-sixties she lived in Macon, GA where she got involved with the city’s thriving local music scene and wrote and recorded songs that ended up on several singles. The first was released under her own name. “My Candy Man” (1964) was written by Wayne Cochran (who would leave the music industry behind to become an evangelist in the early 70s), b/w the girl group/doo-wop-flavored “George, BB and Roy,” which she wrote. It was put out by King Records.

On the single, she was backed by two other singers and for a short time they may have billed themselves as Alice Rozier & The Rozierettes.

The following year she recorded a duet with “Little Joe” Clower, who played with the Flintstones, the backing band for local label owner Thomas Bailey’s Stone Records, and later toured with Sam & Dave as a guitarist. Written by Rozier, “I’m Gonna Hold On To You” (1965) was a haunting, phenomenal, heartfelt soul masterpiece. Its B-side was the upbeat jam “I Love You.” The last time an original copy changed hands on Discogs in 2021, it sold for more than $1300.

In 1966, local group The Premieres recorded her song “I'm Better Off Now (Than I Was Before).” It was the B-side to “She's Always There,” released on King Records.

Her final single was “I Don't Wanna Cry” b/w the heartfelt “Your Best Friend,” issued around the same time period by another Macon label, Gene Records.

After her initial records were released, Rozier was offered a recording contract by another unknown but presumably bigger label. For whatever reason, her husband also had to sign the deal, and he refused. Rozier soon left Georgia and relocated to Brockton, Massachusetts, where she raised three children. She died in Everett, MA exactly thirty years ago, gone much too soon at age 52.

Rest in Peace, Alice Rozier.

Further info:

“Alice Rozier,” Sir Shambling's Deep Soul Heaven.

#soul #doowop #gospel #AliceRozier