Motown and Stax singing star Mable John dies at age 91

(August 26, 2022) She was a pioneering star who was there at the inception of the greatest musical label of its time. And tonight we say a sad goodbye to the great Mabel John, who has died at age 91.

Robin Terry, CEO of The Motown Museum, posted the following notice this evening:

“We are deeply saddened by the death of Dr. Mable John. A truly unique talent, Mabel was an instrumental figure in Berry Gordy’s early career, assisting him with his day-to-day work as a budding songwriter and music producer.

Receiving coaching as one of Berry’s first artists, she became the first solo female artist signed to the Tamla label. Her hard work and creativity in Motown’s early development days helped the company become an international sensation. Our hearts are with her family, friends, and fans all over the world’.

John, the sister of famed 1950s crooner Little Willie John, grew up in Detroit as a friend of the Gordy family. And so, when Berry Gordy, Jr. started writing songs and was looking for a muse, he coached John and worked with her regularly. In return, she traveled with him as he tried to sell his songs. She said, “He had no money and no way of getting around, but he had these people who wanted to hear his songs, so I drove him around. And then when Gordy formed his Motown-affiliated Tamla record label, he brought in John to be his first female on the label.

Unfortunately, John was a true blues singer on a label that was instead defining an accessible soul sound, and her Tamla recordings in the early 60s, including "Who Wouldn't Love a Man Like That?" and "Actions Speak Louder Than Words," didn’t click.

Leaving Motown turned out to bring good fortune for John. She signed on as one of Ray Charles’ background singers, the Raelettes, and signed to Stax Records, where her bluesy styles were more at home. There she hit the top 10 with the Isaac Hayes/David Porter song “Your Good Thing Is About To End” -- written specifically for Mable John -- and continued to record for several years, while also continuing to perform with Charles as the leader of the Raeletes.

In the 70s, John formed a charity to help feed homeless in Los Angeles and even earned a Doctor of Divinity degree. And while she sang mostly Gospel music after that, she also continued to sing secular music, both as a headliner on multi-artist tours and in support of other artists. Her years of background singing gave her a prime spot in the Oscar-winning 2014 documentary 20 Feet From Stardom. John also teamed with music writer David Ritz to write three fiction books that were loosely based on her life experiences.

Mable john leaves behind son Limuel Taylor, daughter Sherry Archar, Paul Collins, and grandson Jesse Jr. She is also survived by three great-granddaughters Jasmine, Lindsey, and Leslie; and her last brother, Mertis. There is also a large extended family of nieces and nephews.

Tonight we salute this great singer who never became a household name, but put her indelible stamp on so much great music.