Mable John

Mable John (born November 3, 1930) is an American blues vocalist who was the first female signed by Berry Gordy to Motown's Tamla label. John was born in Bastrop, Louisiana, and moved from the south to Detroit to find employment. After graduating Pershing High School, she took a job as an insurance representative at a company run by Berry Gordy's mother, Bertha. She soon met Gordy, and in 1959 began recording for him. She released her first single, "Who Wouldn't Love a Man Like That," the following year to no success. John followed with "No Love" and then with "Actions Speak Louder Than Words" the following year. Motown eventually found a home in the world of accessible R&B with smooth production, and Gordy thinned out his roster of early blues artists. He kept John on through the next year as a background singer and dissolved her contract in 1962. After leaving Motown, Mable John spent several years as a Raelette, backing many Ray Charles hits. In 1966 she attempted a solo career again, signing with Stax Records. Her first single with the label, "Your Good Thing is About to End" became a soul classic as result of its honest lyrics and John's emotional performance. The song peaked at #6 on the R&B charts, and even managed to cross over onto pop radio, peaking at #95 there. She released six more singles for the label, none of which captured her first single's success. After leaving Stax Records in 1968, John rejoined the Raelettes for several years. She left secular music in 1973, and began managing Christian gospel acts, occasionally returning to the studio as a singer. Mable John received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994. Mable is the oldest sister of legendary R&B singer Little Willie John.