Jan Bradley facts for kids

Jan Bradley, whose real name is Addie Bradley, is an American singer known for her soulful music. She was born on July 6, 1943.

About Jan Bradley

Early Life and Discovering Her Talent

Jan Bradley was born in Byhalia, Mississippi, in the United States. She grew up in a town called Robbins, Illinois. When she was in high school, she sang with a group called the Passions. A music manager named Don Talty noticed her amazing voice at a high school talent show.

Starting Her Music Career

After finishing high school, Jan got a chance to audition for Curtis Mayfield. He was a famous musician and songwriter. Soon, she recorded a song that Curtis Mayfield wrote called "We Girls." This song became very popular in the Midwest region of the United States. It was released on Don Talty's record label, Formal Records.

Jan released several more songs after that. Another song written by Curtis Mayfield, "Mama Didn't Lie," became a big hit. It was released by Chess Records in 1963. This song reached number 8 on the US Billboard R&B music chart. It also reached number 14 on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Changes in Her Music Journey

After "Mama Didn't Lie" became a success, Jan faced a challenge. Curtis Mayfield and Chess Records had a disagreement about who owned the rights to his songs. Because of this, Jan could no longer work with Curtis Mayfield.

Jan then started writing her own songs. She released more singles with Chess Records. Her song "I'm Over You" reached number 24 on the R&B chart in 1965. She also released other songs like "Just a Summer Memory" and "These Tears." Even after her time with Chess Records ended, Jan continued to work with Don Talty. She released songs on smaller record labels like Adanti and Night Owl.

Life After Singing

Jan Bradley stopped singing professionally in the early 1970s. She decided to focus on her family and became a social worker. Today, she lives in the southern suburbs of Chicago. She has two children, Timothy and Jamila, and three grandchildren. Jan still loves to sing and is part of her church choir. Even though she stopped recording, her music remains popular with fans of Northern soul music. Her songs include soul, pop, and rock and roll styles.

Jan Bradley's Songs

Jan Bradley released many songs throughout her career. Here are some of her singles and how they performed on the music charts: