Charnissa

Charnissa Jones was known as Charnissa. She started as a member of the female group called Sweet Hearts of Soul. This group sang on the background vocals for the album of Aretha Franklin entitled "Aretha in Paris" in 1968. Also she appeared along with the female group Raylettes for Ray Charles on background vocals. Later sadly she had problems with her voice. After of her voice rehabilitation, she sang for the U.S Navy Band. In the continued she had a chance to meet the producer Bud Reneau in Atlanta when she did a visit to a recording company. Then she did some demos and Columbia Records signed with her. However there were problems between the label and the management team. For this reason this collaboration stopped. So Bud Reneau helped Charnissa to release her first album in 1978 on Zeus Records. It was also released on Equity Records. It was recorded at East Avalon Studio, Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Produced by Bud Reneau. Arranged by Dr.and Mrs Alien Chastain.The track "When can we do this again", composed by Phillip Mitchell and Billy Clements, was re-recorded by Z.Z.Hill in 1982 and Jesse James in 1988. The second album is more scarce and released on Robox Records in 1979. The same year she participated as Charnissa Butts along with Joy Cannon on vocals under the name Frisky. In fact this album was a project by Moses Dillard and Jesse Boyce on Vanguard Records. Four songs were included on the album. Three songs of them were performed by Charnissa. Arranged, conducted and produced by Moses Dillard and Jesse Boyce. In 1984 she released a single entitled "Starting from Scratch / Will it take magic" on CRP Records. Both of these songs were recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio Sheffield, Alabama. Both of the songs were written by Phillip Mitchell. Produced by Roger Hawkins & Charles O.Johnson. Prince Phillip Mitchell re-recorded the song "Starting from Scratch" in 1991 for the album "Loner" which was released on Ichiban Records.