Odia Coates

Odia Coates (November 13, 1941 – May 19, 1991) was an American singer, best known for her high-profile hits with Canadian singer-songwriter Paul Anka.

Early life

The daughter of an evangelical minister, Odia Coates was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. As a young child her family moved to Watts, California, where her father served as pastor in the Beautiful Gates Church Of God In Christ, where she sang in the church choir. She eventually became a member of the Northern California State Youth Choir, co-founded by Edwin Hawkins.

Work with Paul Anka

Coates is best remembered for her duet with Paul Anka, "(You're) Having My Baby", that went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 24-September 7, 1974. Having heard Coates singing on an Edwin Hawkins Singers gospel album, he decided to use her on the recording as it needed a female voice. Because of her being good, it was decided that she be used on further recordings. The two recorded several more Top 10 & Top 20 hits, including 1974's "One Man Woman/One Woman Man" and 1975's "I Don't Like To Sleep Alone" and "(I Believe) There's Nothing Stronger Than Our Love". She recorded "Make It Up To Me in Love", (a sequel,) to "One Man Woman/One Woman Man", with Anka in 1977.

Solo work

She had minor success as a solo artist with the Anka-penned track "You Come And You Go" and a cover of the Electric Light Orchestra song Showdown. Both songs come from her only self-titled solo album released in 1975 by United Artists Records with producer Rick Hall.

Death

Odia Coates died from breast cancer in 1991, aged 49, at Oakland Medical Center following a four-year battle with the disease.