Trivia

Has five children.

Holds a Doctorate of Divinity degree.

First female vocalist signed by Berry Gordy's Motown's Tamla label. Martha Reeves and the Vandelas and The Supremes have worked as background singers for her.

In 1963 she left Motown Records and was running a record company for Four Brothers and Bright Star.

Brother is the legendary singer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, William 'Little Willie' John.

Eldest of ten children.

Began her professional singing career by substituting for R&B singer Etta James as the opening act for 'Little Willie' John's show when he came to Detroit.

First female artist on Tamla Records.

Served as the musical director of Ray Charles' the Raelettes. She co-wrote 52 songs with Charles.

In 1956 she worked as a secretary at the Friendship Mutual Insurance Company where her supervisor was Bertha Gordy, mother of the Motown music founder Berry Gordy.

In 1965 Al Bell, who she knew from his disc jockey days at WVOL in Memphis, and was now the president of Stax Records convinced her to sign to his label.

Co-wrote three spiritual novels with David Ritz: Sanctified Blues, Stay Out of the Kitchen, and Love Tornado.

In 1994 she was awarded the Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.

Earned her doctorate in divinity from the Crenshaw Christian Center in 1993.

Oversaw her Meda Records label, for which she wrote, recorded, and marketed her own music, and that of a small roster of Christian artists.