Charity Brown (born Phyllis Boltz in Kitchener, Ontario) is a Canadian
film actress, singer, and voice artist for television animation
shorts. She is one of Eastwood Collegiate Institute's notable
alumni.Charity Brown began singing with local bands while still in
high school in Kitchener, Ontario in the late 60s. She performed and
recorded under the name Phyllis Brown until 1973. Around 1970 she
became the lead vocalist for Rain, a popular Kitchener-based rock
band. Rain scored a #22 hit in Canada in 1971 with "Out of My Mind",
written by Greg Hambleton and released on Axe Records. She left Rain
in 1973 to focus on her solo career. Her Motown-flavoured brand of
white soul was produced by Harry Hinde and was strong enough to secure
her a contract with A&M Records. It was at this time she changed her
stage name to Charity Brown.[1]Her two original studio albums with A&M
produced four top ten hits in Canada, including the #5 hit "Take Me in
Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)". "Take Me in Your Arms" was a
Holland-Dozier-Holland composition that had been an R&B hit for Kim
Weston in 1965 and the Isley Brothers in 1968. Charity Brown released
her single in mid April, 1975 about a week before the Doobie Brothers
released the same song in the US. The Doobie Brothers version peaked
at #11 in the US but was overshadowed in Canada by Brown's release.
The Doobie Brothers peaked at number 30 in Canada only after Brown's
version began to leave the charts.During the 1980s, Brown performed as
a voice artist for Atkinson Film-Arts TV specials and programmes
including The Velveteen Rabbit, Rumpelstiltskin, Dennis the Menace and
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin.
film actress, singer, and voice artist for television animation
shorts. She is one of Eastwood Collegiate Institute's notable
alumni.Charity Brown began singing with local bands while still in
high school in Kitchener, Ontario in the late 60s. She performed and
recorded under the name Phyllis Brown until 1973. Around 1970 she
became the lead vocalist for Rain, a popular Kitchener-based rock
band. Rain scored a #22 hit in Canada in 1971 with "Out of My Mind",
written by Greg Hambleton and released on Axe Records. She left Rain
in 1973 to focus on her solo career. Her Motown-flavoured brand of
white soul was produced by Harry Hinde and was strong enough to secure
her a contract with A&M Records. It was at this time she changed her
stage name to Charity Brown.[1]Her two original studio albums with A&M
produced four top ten hits in Canada, including the #5 hit "Take Me in
Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)". "Take Me in Your Arms" was a
Holland-Dozier-Holland composition that had been an R&B hit for Kim
Weston in 1965 and the Isley Brothers in 1968. Charity Brown released
her single in mid April, 1975 about a week before the Doobie Brothers
released the same song in the US. The Doobie Brothers version peaked
at #11 in the US but was overshadowed in Canada by Brown's release.
The Doobie Brothers peaked at number 30 in Canada only after Brown's
version began to leave the charts.During the 1980s, Brown performed as
a voice artist for Atkinson Film-Arts TV specials and programmes
including The Velveteen Rabbit, Rumpelstiltskin, Dennis the Menace and
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin.
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