US singer Loleatta Holloway, best known for her vocals which were sampled on Black Box's 1989 hit Ride On Time, has died at the age of 64.

The performer died of heart failure, her manager Ron Richardson confirmed to the BBC.

She made six studio albums and her hits included ballad Only You in 1978 and 1980's Love Sensation.

It was the latter track that Black Box sampled for Ride On Time, which was number one in the UK for six weeks.

The song became controversial after it emerged the Italian dance act had used Holloway's performance without crediting her, and she went on to successfully sue the band.

Her vocals were lip-synched by model Catherine Quinol, who fronted Black Box during their chart success.

"She was a very strong, powerful woman, but she was sweet at the same time," Mr Richardson told BBC 6 Music.

"She was also very fragile, which a lot of people didn't know."

Singer Carol Williams, who was on the SalSoul Records label with Holloway, said that she "put her right up at the top as one of the greatest voices in the world".

"When she recorded in the studio, she would have to stand so far back from the mic. Most singers, you know, go right up to the mic and almost have their lips on it. Loleatta could stand feet away."

Gilles Peterson, BBC Radio 1 DJ and co-founder of the Acid Jazz label, told 6 Music his favourite Holloway song was Hit and Run.

"That needs to get played again, because that really takes the soul, the emotion, the disco - everything about Loleatta Holloway is in that one song," he said.

Holloway leaves behind four children and nine grandchildren.

A private service for the family and a public memorial at Rev Jesse Jackson's church in Chicago are due to be held.

Let's not forget she also lend her vocals to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eSN8Cwit_s

^ I remember that.

Sad to see her go; she will be remembered for her musical works.

Aw, man! I grew up with Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch! I will miss all of Loleatta's "Good Vibrations".  :\'(

NO! Not Lolleeta Holloway!  :\'(  I enjoyed her song "Love Sensation" back when it was played on the radio. Man,All of the good disco divas are almost dead,Who's left?  :-\\

The original 'Love Sensation' came back in 2006 in two hit remixed versions.  One credited to Loleatta and another by the duo of Eddie Theonick and Kurd Maverick, both of which were awesome.

It was also sampled in the 1989 hit 'I Wanna Have Some Fun' by Samantha Fox, the 1992 eurodance hit 'Take Me Away' by Cappella, the 1999 hit '(You Got Me) Burning Up' by Cevin Fisher, and the 2011 hit 'Blind Faith' by Chase and Status

Here's the 2006 remix credited to Loleatta ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfmTPcBHvRs

And the alternate 2006 version by Eddie Thoenick and Kurd Maverick ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h26MtNfxTAY

Along with 'Ride on Time' and 'Good Vibrations', that's 8 times the song made the UK Top 40, which is quite a feat considering the original 1980 version never did.

R.I.P. to a great singer.

Did she any other hits too after the 70's were over? ???

'Shout to the Top' (a cover of the Style Council classic) by Fire Island featuring Loleatta Holloway reached #23 in the UK Chart in 1998

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V44d_JtsXE


'Keep the Fire Burning' by Dan Hartman featuring Loleatta Hollway was a club hit and reached #49 in the UK chart in 1995 (She had previously sang back-up on his 1978 hit 'Re-Light My Fire').  This was a posthumous hit for Hartman as it reached the charts after he passed away in 1994.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhXQAAPALPA


She also had 2 solo hits:
'Stand Up' reached UK #68 in 1994

'Dreamin' reached UK #59 in 2000

'Shout to the Top' (a cover of the Style Council classic) by Fire Island featuring Loleatta Holloway reached #23 in the UK Chart in 1998

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V44d_JtsXE


'Keep the Fire Burning' by Dan Hartman featuring Loleatta Hollway was a club hit and reached #49 in the UK chart in 1995 (She had previously sang back-up on his 1978 hit 'Re-Light My Fire').  This was a posthumous hit for Hartman as it reached the charts after he passed away in 1994.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhXQAAPALPA


She also had 2 solo hits:
'Stand Up' reached UK #68 in 1994

'Dreamin' reached UK #59 in 2000




I remember Relight My Fire,that was a great club hit.  :)