Overview

Odia Coates (November 13, 1941 – May 19, 1991) was an American singer and featured vocalist whose most widely known recording is the 1974 duet with Paul Anka, “(You're) Having My Baby.” The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and brought Coates national attention as a duet partner and recording artist.

Early work and development

Coates began her career as a backing and session vocalist, singing on recordings and performing in various local venues before moving into more visible roles. She worked with producers and established performers of the era, building a reputation for a clear, expressive voice suited to pop and soul arrangements. Her background work prepared her for the studio demands and live shows that followed after her first high-profile collaborations.

Career and breakthrough

Her breakthrough came when she recorded a duet with Paul Anka. That pairing produced the chart-topping single and led to further collaborations, television appearances and concert engagements. While the success of the single was commercially significant, it also generated debate in the press and among listeners about its lyrics and themes—illustrating how a hit record can become a cultural talking point as well as a sales phenomenon.

Legacy and later life

Although Coates did not maintain widespread solo chart success on the level of that 1974 hit, she continued to record and perform through the 1970s and remained associated with Anka for several projects and performances. Her career is often cited as an example of a talented session and duet vocalist whose prominence was defined by one major mainstream hit. Coates died in 1991 at age 49; retrospectives of 1970s pop frequently note her contribution to that era.

Selected notes

  • Best-known recording: the duet with Paul Anka, linked above as a notable duet.
  • Worked as a recording and background artist before and after her hit, credited on various sessions as a recording vocalist.
  • Associated performer: Paul Anka, with whom she toured and appeared in televised performances.