Ketty Lester was a standout voice in early 1960s pop and R&B. Best known for her hit single “Love Letters,” she brought emotional depth and elegance to the charts during a time of musical transition. Though her recording career was short-lived, Lester’s work made a lasting impression, and she later found success as an actress in television and film.
| Real Name | Revoyda Frierson |
|---|---|
| Stage Name | Ketty Lester |
| Born | August 16, 1934 |
| Birthplace | Hope, Arkansas, USA |
| Main Genres | Traditional Pop, R&B, Soul |
| Famous Hit | “Love Letters” (1962) |
| Chart Positions | #5 US Pop, #2 US R&B, #4 UK |
| Notable Albums | Love Letters (1962), The Soul of Me (1965), Where Is Love? (1965) |
| Labels | Everest, Era, RCA, Tower, Pete |
| Other Occupation | Actress (TV & Film) |
| Acting Credits | Uptight!, Blacula, Uptown Saturday Night, Days of Our Lives |
Early Life and Musical Roots
Born Revoyda Frierson on August 16, 1934, in Hope, Arkansas, Ketty Lester was one of 15 children in a farming family. Music was part of her life from a young age. She sang in church and school choirs, which helped develop her vocal talents. With the help of a scholarship, Lester studied music at San Francisco State College.
She began her professional career in the 1950s performing in clubs under the name Ketty Lester. She also toured Europe with Cab Calloway’s orchestra, gaining valuable experience and exposure.
Recording Career Begins
Lester’s first recording came in 1957 with the single “Queen for a Day” on Everest Records. Though the single didn’t chart, it marked the beginning of her recording career. A major break came after she was introduced to Era Records by singer and comedian Dorothy Shay. There, she worked with producers Ed Cobb (of the Four Preps) and Lincoln Mayorga (of The Piltdown Men).
Her first Era release in 1961 was “I’m a Fool to Want You,” backed with “Love Letters.” While “I’m a Fool to Want You” was intended to be the lead single, radio DJs preferred the B-side. “Love Letters” soared to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the R&B chart in early 1962. In the U.K., it reached #4 and sold over one million copies globally.
Follow-Up Success and Challenges
Following her breakout hit, Lester released “But Not for Me,” a standard from the musical Girl Crazy. The single reached #41 on the Billboard Hot 100. She also released an album titled Love Letters, featuring her hit along with other tracks such as “You Can’t Lie to a Liar” and Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.” Unfortunately, these later singles failed to replicate the success of “Love Letters.”
Shift in Sound and Move to RCA
In 1964, Lester signed with RCA Records. Her style began leaning more into soul and R&B during this time. She released two albums with RCA: The Soul of Me and Where Is Love? These albums, while showcasing her vocal versatility, did not chart.
In 1965, Lester joined Tower Records, where she released When a Woman Loves a Man—an answer to Percy Sledge’s hit “When a Man Loves a Woman.” She later released a self-titled album on the Pete label in 1968, but it failed to gain commercial traction.
Retirement from Music and Acting Career
After a series of underperforming releases, Lester retired from the music industry and pursued acting full-time. Her screen presence was as striking as her voice. She appeared in films such as Uptight! (1968), Blacula (1972), and Uptown Saturday Night (1974). On television, she became a familiar face in shows like The Big Valley, Sanford and Son, Little House on the Prairie, and Days of Our Lives.
Legacy
Though Ketty Lester had only one major hit, her smooth voice and signature performance on “Love Letters” left a lasting legacy in pop and R&B history. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Elvis Presley and Alison Moyet, but Lester’s version remains iconic.