Doris Troy
A soulful powerhouse whose one timeless hit, 'Just One Look,' cemented her place in the bedrock of 1960s pop and R&B.
1937–2004 (age 67)·American actress and singer·Birthday: January 6·The Silent Generation
Biography
Doris Higginsen, known professionally as Doris Troy, lived a life steeped in music. Growing up in Harlem, she sang in her father's church and later as a backup vocalist for stars like James Brown and Dionne Warwick, earning the nickname 'Mama Soul' for her mentoring warmth. Her own moment in the spotlight arrived in 1963 with the self-penned 'Just One Look,' a burst of pure, yearning pop-soul that soared into the Top 10. Despite its massive success, a consistent string of follow-up hits proved elusive in the U.S. Undeterred, she moved to England in the late 1960s, where she found a more receptive audience and collaborated with artists like The Beatles and Pink Floyd on their seminal 'The Dark Side of the Moon.' She later crafted a successful stage show, 'Mama, I Want to Sing!,' based on her life, which became one of the longest-running Off-Broadway musicals in history, ensuring her legacy extended far beyond that one perfect, unforgettable single.
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.
Doris was born in 1937, 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 Doris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1937
#1 Movie
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Best Picture
The Life of Emile Zola
Doris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1937Born
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1942Started school
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1950Became a teenager
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1953Could drive
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1955Could vote
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1958Turned 21
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1967Turned 30
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 40
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 50
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 60
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2004Died at 67
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
Key Achievements
- Wrote and recorded the classic 1963 hit 'Just One Look,' which has been covered by dozens of artists including The Hollies and Linda Ronstadt.
- Performed backup vocals on The Beatles' 1970 single 'Let It Be' and on Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side of the Moon' album.
- Co-wrote and starred in the long-running Off-Broadway musical 'Mama, I Want to Sing!', based on her life.
- Had a successful career in the UK, recording for The Beatles' Apple label and scoring a hit there with 'Ain't That Cute.'
Did You Know?
Her sister, Vy Higginsen, co-wrote 'Mama, I Want to Sing!' and runs a famous gospel choir in Harlem.
She worked as an usherette at the Apollo Theater before performing on its stage.
The legendary Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler signed her after hearing her sing 'Just One Look' in a club.
“You just get in that studio and let the feeling take you where it needs to go.”
