Born Name:  Damita Jo DeBlanc

Born Date:  August 5, 1930

Born Place:  Austin, Texas

Died Date:  December 25, 1998

Died Place:  Baltimore, Maryland

Occupations:  Singer, comedian, actress

Brief Biography:  Damita Jo DeBlanc known for her 1960s "answer songs." Born in Austin, Texas, she achieved success with hits like "I'll Save the Last Dance for You" and "I'll Be There," and was a featured vocalist with Steve Gibson and the Red Caps.

Early Life and Career:
Education: Attended Sam Houston College and the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Early Career: Began her career in the early 1950s, joining Steve Gibson and the Red Caps as a featured vocalist in 1951, where she toured and recorded.

Musical Success and "Answer Songs":

Chart Hits:
Damita Jo gained major recognition for "answer songs" in the early 1960s:
"I'll Save the Last Dance for You" (1960): An answer to The Drifters' "Save the Last Dance for Me".
"I'll Be There" (1961): An answer to Ben E. King's "Stand by Me," reaching number 12 on the pop chart.
Other Work: Recorded for labels including Mercury, RCA Victor, and her own label, Black Masters. Her 1966 cover of "If You Go Away" was also notable.
Versatility: Performed jazz, pop, and soul in international supper clubs, and later worked with artists such as Ray Charles and Count Basie.

Comedy, Television, and Later Life:
Comedy: In the 1970s, she toured with comedian Redd Foxx and was a regular on his television variety show.
Accolades: On May 9, 1967, she was honored by the Mayor and City Council in Austin, Texas, with "Damita Jo Day" and a street named in her honor.
Gospel: Later in her career, she turned to gospel music, releasing an album of religious material in 1985.

Legacy:
Singer Janet Jackson named her 2004 album Damita Jo, citing her as a personal inspiration.