# Topsy Chapman

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{{Short description|American musician (1947–2022)}}
alt=Women in silver dress holding microphone|thumb|Chapman performing in 2013
'''Topsy Chapman''' (1947–2022) was a [Jazz](/source/Jazz) and [Gospel music](/source/Gospel_music)ian from [New Orleans, Louisiana](/source/New_Orleans).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Topsy Chapman (1947-2022) - OffBeat Magazine |url=https://www.offbeat.com/articles/topsy-chapman-1947-2022/,%20https://www.offbeat.com/articles/topsy-chapman-1947-2022/ |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=www.offbeat.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Chapman was born in [Kentwood, Louisiana](/source/Kentwood%2C_Louisiana).<ref name=":0" /> She sang and played piano at the age of 3 and was considered a musical prodigy. By the age of 6 or 7, she was earning money performing in churches.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Advocate |first=KATY RECKDAHL {{!}} Special to The |title=Topsy Chapman dodges the spotlight from 'One Mo' Time' to Jazz Fest's Economy Hall |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/entertainment_life/festivals/topsy-chapman-dodges-the-spotlight-from-one-mo-time-to-jazz-fests-economy-hall/article_79accf66-32a1-11e7-a8fd-ab7f57c48dba.html |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=The Advocate |date=6 May 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
Chapman moved to New Orleans when she was 17 where she led her family's Gospel group, The Chapmans.<ref name=":0" /> Playwright and director, [Vernel Bagneris](/source/Vernel_Bagneris), recruited the group to appear in his production on 'One Mo' Time'. The show ran at [Toulouse Theatre](/source/Toulouse_Theatre) and later premiered [Off-Broadway](/source/Off-Broadway).<ref name=":1" />

Chapman performed with her daughters, Yolanda Robinson and Jolynda Phillips, under the group name Topsy Chapman and Solid Harmony.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times-Picayune |first=Ann Maloney, NOLA com {{!}} The |title=Topsy Chapman in perfect harmony at New Orleans Jazz Fest |url=https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/festivals/article_fb868a55-f302-52d4-8b85-280a67b21b61.html |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=NOLA.com |date=30 April 2010 |language=en}}</ref>

Chapman often performed at [New Orleans Jazz Fest](/source/New_Orleans_Jazz_%26_Heritage_Festival) and was well known in the New Orleans music scene.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TOPSY CHAPMAN & SOLID HARMONY (Closed September 10, 2022) {{!}} New Orleans {{!}} reviews, cast and info {{!}} TheaterMania |url=https://www.theatermania.com/shows/new-orleans-theater/topsy-chapman-solid-harmony_356658 |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=www.theatermania.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Death ==
Chapman died in 2022.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.americanroutes.org/archives/artist/862/Topsy-Chapman American Routes Podcast, episodes featuring Topsy Chapman]

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chapman, Topsy}}
Category:1947 births
Category:2022 deaths
Category:American jazz singers
Category:American gospel singers
Category:Musicians from New Orleans

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Topsy Chapman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topsy_Chapman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topsy_Chapman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.