1923-2016?
Fanny Tuell was a pioneering R&B singer who had several chart-topping hits in the 1950s, including 1953 hit “Shake a Hand”. She was active from the 1940s-1960s. In 1953, the New York Age calls her, “one of the most sensational new recording stars to come along in many a year.”
In 1962, she was highlighted on Venezuelan variety show Show De Reeny for 3 weeks.
Fanny was born in Newark as “Fanny Tuell” and lived at 588 North 11th Street through at least 1950 when she was married to Thomas Scruggs. She performed Gospel / religious music in Newark with two of her older sisters. The Herald News mentions the Tuell Sisters. The sisters became a Sunday morning feature on the radio.
It’s unclear what high school she graduated from. After graduation, articles claim she won a chance to sing at the Apollo but her parents disapproved. She got married, had two sons, and eventually was contracted by agent Phil Moore, after working with Joe Morris.
Later in life, Faye married Clarence Jones and her name is listed “Fannie Jones of Englewood, NJ” and “Fannie Tuell Adams-Jones” in family obituaries. Some sources say she died in 2016, and this seems likely as she is no longer listed in her sister’s 2017 obituary.
Fanny had three sisters Eleanor, Phola and Anna. Anna (Reverend Anna) is mentioned frequently in the Newark Herald News and in the columns of Tiny Prince. She had her own radio show on WBHI. However, Anna was much older than Fanny and in an article in the New York Age, states that she grew up in Montclair. She is not listed on any censuses in the family’s Newark home.
Bibliography
- Ankeny, Jason. “Biography: Faye Adams”. Allmusic. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
- Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins. p. 63. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- “Timeline of Musical Styles & Guitar History”. Acoustic Music. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who’s Who of Blues (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 11. ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
- Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. pp. 264–265. ISBN 978-0313344237.
- Marv Goldberg, “Faye Adams”, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2021
- Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–1995. Record Research. p. 4.
- Census records
- After Hours
- L’Rhue, June “A. Tuell At Town Hall” New York Age Apr 2, 1955
- “Tuell”, death notice, Star Ledger Apr 28, 1987
- “Rock and Roll At the Fabian” Hackensack Record Nov 12, 1956
- “Faye Adams to Appear at Coliseum” The Sentinel Nov 2, 1956
- Eleanor Workman (sister obit, 2017)
- “Faye Adams” New York Age Jan 22, 1955
- “Faye Adams Opens At Flamingo” New Pittsburgh Courier May 25, 1957
- “Faye Adams Scores…” New York Amsterdam News Aug 11, 1962
- “3-ply triumph” Afro American Dec 5, 1953