Barbara Acklin
A soulful Chicago voice and gifted songwriter who penned timeless hits for others while carving out her own poignant chapter in the city's musical legacy.
1943–1998 (age 55)·American singer-songwriter·Birthday: February 28·The Silent Generation
Biography
Barbara Acklin's story is woven into the fabric of Chicago soul. She started not as a singer, but as a receptionist at the famed Brunswick Records, a front-row seat to the city's vibrant scene. Her songwriting talent soon demanded attention. Teaming with labelmate Eugene Record of the Chi-Lites, she co-wrote a string of smooth, aching classics, most notably the immortal 'Have You Seen Her,' a monologue of loss that became a multi-million seller. When given the chance to step to the microphone herself, her voice—clear, emotive, and subtly powerful—proved equally compelling. Her 1968 single 'Love Makes a Woman' became her signature, a sophisticated declaration that cracked the Top 20. Though later hits were harder to come by, Acklin remained a respected figure, her work embodying the elegant, strings-laden sound of Chicago in that era. Her dual legacy is that of a behind-the-scenes architect and a front-and-center performer who left an indelible mark on the soul genre.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Barbara was born in 1943, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Barbara Was Born
The biggest hits of 1943
#1 Movie
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Best Picture
Casablanca
Barbara's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1943Born
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1948Started school
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1956Became a teenager
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1959Could drive
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1961Could vote
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Turned 21
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1973Turned 30
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 40
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 50
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Died at 55
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote the Chi-Lites' classic 'Have You Seen Her,' which sold over two million copies and became a soul standard.
- Scored her biggest solo hit with 'Love Makes a Woman,' which reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968.
- As a songwriter, penned hits for other artists including 'I Can't Stand the Rain' for Ann Peebles (though the most famous version is by Tina Turner).
- Had multiple singles chart on the Billboard R&B charts throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Did You Know?
She was married to songwriter and producer David Scott, who co-wrote several of her later songs.
Acklin initially pursued a career as a professional dancer before focusing on music.
She recorded a duet with Gene Chandler, 'Show Me the Way to Go,' in 1972.
Her song 'Am I the Same Girl' was later famously covered by Swing Out Sister in 1992, becoming an international hit.
“Love makes a woman do things she sometimes regrets.”
