Linda Lyndell

Blue-eyed Southern soul diva Linda Lyndell remains best known for her 1968 pop hit "What a Man," later sampled for Salt-N-Pepa's 1993 hip-hop blockbuster "Whatta Man." Born and raised in Gainesville, Florida, Lyndell attended both white and Black churches as a child, absorbing the latter's gospel tradition so fully that by her teens she was singing with local R&B acts. In the years to follow, Lyndell supported headliners including James Brown and Ike & Tina Turner. Through Atlanta DJ Dave Crawford, she also met the immortal Otis Redding, who recommended her to Stax Records pro...