Disco Diva Loleatta Holloway has died aged 64. Holloway was best known for her 1980 disco hit ‘Love Sensation’, the tune that was subsequently sampled by Black Box to create their smash hit Ride on Time.
Holloway’s vocal calling out ‘it’s just a good vibration, it’s just a sweet sensation’ formed the hook of Black Box’s 1990 house tune but the American disco singer vocal was not credited. Holloway later successfully sued the Italian band for using her vocals without permission.
In a career that spanned decades Holloway was not a constant hit maker but she left her mark on the music scene with her standout powerful vocals. Holloway provided the backing vocals on Dan Hartman’s Re-light My Fire. Hartman selected Holloway over other up and coming 70’s singer including Bette Midler and Patti Labelle. Hartman then went on to produce her most well know song Love Sensation.
After her popularity was revived through the Black Box controversy Holloway contributed vocals to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch’s Good Vibrations, which also borrowed heavily from Love Sensation. Holloway scored more dance hits collaborating with Cappella for Take Me Away and Fire Island for a cover of the Style Council’s Shout to the Top. She also contributed to the Madonna tribute album Virgin Voices singing Like a Prayer.
Holloway suffered heart failure and died on March 21, 2011
