Sweet Angel
Clifetta Louise Colbert [Dobbins], admiringly known as Sweet Angel, made her grand entrance into the world on Monday, March 9, 1964 in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father worked at Riviana Foods in Memphis and did other odd jobs such as his lawn service business and he had a paper route on the weekend. Her mother was a housewife in later years but she also was owner of two cafes, one named Mocombo Grill and the other named Town Talk. Sweet Angel’s father was a deacon at her home church, St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church; he also was a singer who led many spirituals on Sundays with the full choir and male chorus. The talents of Sweet Angel’s father undeniably filtered to her. Both of her parents were born in the Delta and though she reeks with “city-girl” style, this “platinum-haired” beauty is not afraid to sweat.
Sweet Angel grew to love music as her childhood was filled with melody with her mother’s love for the blues on Saturdays and her father belting out gospel. In elementary school, Sweet Angel was part of the Orff Music Program. There she song with the chorus and learned to play the xylophone. In middle school, her musical talents were broadened when she learned to play clarinet in the band. She excelled in music and won top seats in the All- City Band and All West Tennessee Bands. She later began playing the tenor saxophone because of its shiny appeal. She honed her skills further by not only playing in the marching band but also the jazz band.
After graduating from high school, her love for music never ceased, Sweet Angel purchased her own alto sax and played with her church, for weddings and other events. Never hopeful for a musical career, she worked in corporate America as a mortgage banker and real estate agent until fate has it she became acquainted with her now husband, Mac “Mike” Dobbins. Love blossomed between the two and they found many dreams in common. Mike discovered that his lovely wife was enriched with talent. Mike first found out his wife was a super disc jockey. Sweet Angel wore the DJ hat at his club in Memphis, Tennessee called “Mike’s Place”. She mesmerized the patrons with her charisma. Sweet Angel began hosting karaoke and this is when Mike realized this lady has stupendous stage appearance. She would kick off karaoke night singing to get the crowd warmed up and they felt truly entertained.
Mike took Sweet Angel to the studio not certain what would happen but he knew she had to be heard. The first album was released and Sweet Angel quickly established a fan base. ‘Another Man’s Meat on My Plate’ has now become her signature song. In 2008, she won the Jus’ Blues Music Awards - Best New Southern Soul Female.
In 2008, she released the ‘Handle Your Business’ album. The original release included a re-make of James Brown’s ‘It’s A Man’s World’ called ‘Women’s National Anthem’ and also a song called ‘Angel Sings the Blues’ (which was a re-make of B. B. King’s ‘Why I Sing the Blues’. The two songs were dropped from the album and replaced with other cuts when she signed with the Memphis-based record label, Ecko Records. Ecko Records produced two other cuts ‘Guilty As Charged’ and ‘I’m Sharing Your Man’ and re-released the album.
Ecko also re-released the ‘Another Man’s Meat on My Plate’ album in 2009 and added two new cuts, ‘I’d Rather Have A Cheatin’ Man’ and ‘I’m Gonna Give You Good Love’.
Sweet Angel’s name was becoming more popular and soon she began touring more in 2009.
Her third album was released in 2009, entitled ‘Bold Bitch’. It has been getting lots of attention not only because of the name of it, but it is of the three releases, her best project. Sweet Angel’s vocals on each song are crisp and convincing. The seasoning of her talents is revealed in this third release. With cuts like ‘Good Girls Do Bad Things’ and ‘Don’t Let the Clean Up Woman Pick Up Your Man’, she’s really putting it down. She also brings her reed playing talents into the picture on ‘Blow That Thang, Sweet Angel’.
If you ever desire skillful solid indubitable live entertainment, take in a Sweet Angel concert.
Albums:
Another Man’s Meat on My Plate 2007 (Ecko 2009)
Handle Your Business (Ecko 2008)
Bold Bitch! (Ecko 2009)
