Mable John

Mable John was the first female artist signed by Berry Gordy, Jr. to the Tamla label, which preceded Motown by more than two years, and one of the few artists to record for the top two labels for '60s soul, Motown and Stax. John's three singles releases were part of an unsuccessful blues fling for the company; besides Mable John, Gordy released blues sides by Sammy Ward, Luther Allison, Amos Milburn, Earl King, Arthur Adams, and many others. The eldest of nine siblings (one of which was legendary R&B artist Little Willie John, of "Fever" and "Talk to Me" fame), Mable John was born in Bastrop, Louisiana. Her parents moved to Arkansas when she was a kid, then later to Detroit to find employment in the bustling auto industry. After graduating from Pershing High School in Detroit, John began working for Berry Gordy's mother Bertha, who ran a small insurance company. She met Gordy in 1956, started recording for him in 1959, and had her first release "Who Wouldn't Love a Man Like This" on Tamla in 1961, a solid blues item that went nowhere. Her next release, in June of 1961, "No Love" had potential, but Motown simply couldn't sell blues. Her final release "Action Speaks Louder Than Words" dropped during the latter part of 1961. By 1962, blues at Motown became history, and Mable John was dropped from the roster. (The Supremes, who sang backing vocals on some of John's sessions, became superstars a few years after her departure.) John then moved to Ray Charles' Raelettes, performing with them before and after her stint with Stax Records. Her Stax experience began in 1966 and ended in 1968, during which time she waxed the deep soul classic "Your Good Thing Is About to End," her most successful record. Stax released six other singles by her: "You're Taking Up Another Man's...