When Gloria Lynne was growing up in Harlem, like so many of her peers, revolved around music. The icons---Sarah Vaughan, Carmen Mc Fitzgerald---were the revered singers of the time and were Gloria's idols. The center of the musical universe was the Apollo Theater on 125th Street and it was here that Gloria eon first prize at the legendary "Amateur Night" which launched her career as it did for so many others. This beautiful young girl with the amazing voice naturally gravitated toward "the music" and gigged with so many of the jazz greats of all times----Quincy Jones, Bobby Timmins, Philly Joe Jones, Harry "sweets" Edison and others, What happened to Gloria in the early 60's rarely happens to quality singers ---she began to have hits! "June Night," "Love I Found You," and the biggest of all, "I Wish You Love." Gloria Lynne became synonymous with it and the song remains on the airwaves to this day. Gloria suddenly found herself touring with the likes of Ray Charles and on the same bills as Billy Eckstine and Ella Fitzgerald, among others. It was a heady time. Another of her hits, "Speaking Of Happiness," was recently used as part of the soundtrack of the film "Seven," and as music in a Ford TV ad both here and in Europe. Commercial use of her recordings speak of longevity and the wide-appeal of her music.

Hits are one thing---they are, at best, temporary in a lifetime career. Performance becomes the defining quality that bridges the years. Wherever she plays and whoever she plays for, Gloria leaves audiences stunned. One reviewer wrote ecstatically of one of Gloria's performances, stating "My toes curled, so accusingly insightful was her delivery that it transcended the lyrics a became pure emotions.

The record business, being what it is, "when you're hot you're hot when your not," well---The hits quit, leaving a history of dozens of classic albums. Since then, Gloria has been consistently performing but the records have been infrequent. I know, I speak as one voice in her legions of fans.

For this recording we tried to get the very best people around her. Versatile Rodney Jones was the unanimous choice. Rodney produced and arrange projects for Lena Horne, Ruth Brown and others. He maintains a recording career as a guitarist and is the music director of the Rosie O'Donnell Show. This places Rodney in the unique position of being one of the best and visible studio positions in New York. Rodney had trouble assembling the wonderful players who appear on his recording. To a man they were thrilled to be working with the legendary Gloria Lynne.

It was an interesting process that Gloria went through in selecting songs for this album. Gloria is a songwriter in her own right, having supplied lyrics for Herbie Hancock's "Waltermelin Man," and Kenny Burrell's "All Day Long." The latter is included here in this collection along with a newly-written "It's Autumn." This song was inspired by the magic created by the changing colors of the leaves, viewed from her balcony overlooking the Hudson River.

"Gloria knows a lot of songs," commented Rodney Jones, "a lot of good songs." The list of potential songs to be recorded on this album at ine time was as high as 40 tunes---enough foe 4 CDs with no diminution in the quality of material. Gloria always loved Sarah Vaughan's "Snowbound,"and wanted to record it here, but the sheet music proved to be unavailable. The people at Colony records (that famous New York City emporium in Broadway in the equally famous Brill Building) came up with a copy of the original Sarah Vaughan LP that contained her classic rendition. This rarely-re corded song and the other more frequently done tunes, like "Angels Eyes," "In the Wee Small Hours Of the Mourning" and others, now belong entirely to Gloria. she has put her indelible stamp on them. The tittle song "This One's On Me,"written by her long time friend and accompanist Roy Meirwether, is a gem that you will be hearing for many years to come. Great songs, like great singers, last. Here's and unbeatable combination: great songs and Gloria Lynne.