Kathleen Emery

Kathleen Emery is the recording artist of a 1970 rendering of the public domain African-American spiritual "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child". Emery's version incorporates fuzz guitar, a funky hip-hop style beat, string orchestra and brass. The song was only released as a 7 inch single on Jazzman records, which is now a collectors item.
On March 27, 1971 "Billboard" magazine announced: "Kathleen Emery will cut her first album for Love Records". However, Emery apparently has no other released repertoire, although may have other recordings under other names.
Discography (singles)
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
* LOVE records, 1970, 7" vinyl:
A Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child 4:02 - arranged by George Siravo
B Evil ways 3:16 - arranged by Johnny Pate
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
* Jazzman, 1998, 7" vinyl:
A Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child 4:02 - arranged by George Siravo
B Evil ways 3:16 - arranged by Johnny Pate
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
* Jazzman, 2006, 7" vinyl:
A Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child 4:02 - arranged by George Siravo

B Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (Quantic Version) 3:22 - remix by Will Holland
Someone Else May Be There
* LOVE records, L101, 7" vinyl:
A Someone Else May Be There 2:39 - written by Irving Berlin
B World Of Love 2:16 - written by Roger Webb
Cultural significance and influence
Instrumentation of Emery's version was used by Portishead when Tom Jones did a cover version of "Motherless Child" in 1999 for his album "Reload" including orchestra and Beth Gibbons on backing vocals.