R.I.P. Izora

A hearty goodbye to Izora Rhodes Armstead, better known as one half of the Weather Girls, whose early 80's smash IT'S RAINING MEN became the ultimate fag anthem. She and uber-diva Martha Wash began as Sylvester's back-up singers. You may remember that stop in the music during DANCE (DISCO HEAT) when Izora bellows "Get on your feet and dance to the beat and dance!"--certainly one of disco's most stirring vocal performances in just that one line. She and Martha went on to record a couple of albums as the Two Tons of Fun, which yielded downtempo underground classics like JUST US, I'VE BEEN DOWN and NEVER LIKE THIS, as well as the insane uptempo DO YOU WANNA BOOGIE, HUH? which was remixed by MAW a few years ago and they just looped Izora's verse--it's so strong that you WANT to hear it twice! Now we all know that Martha's voice is heavenly and almost impossible to compete with, but when Izora blew---watch out, now! Izora lived out her final years in Germany, still recording. The fab cd shoppe in San Francisco (Medium Rare Records) sold me a recent album of disco covers by Izora and her daughter.
And you just have to give points to anyone of Izora's size who covers AIN'T GONE BUMP NO MORE (WITH NO BIG FAT WOMAN)! Attention, Flotilla Debarge and Suggapie Koko! You finally have a new lip-synch number! Izora, you will be missed! With the queenius Sylvester and you both gone, Martha will just have to CARRY ON!