Mable John facts for kids

Mable John (born November 3, 1930 – died August 25, 2022) was an American blues singer. She made history as the first woman to sign with Motown's Tamla record label, started by Berry Gordy.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Mable John was born in Bastrop, Louisiana, on November 3, 1930. She was the oldest of many brothers and sisters. When she was very young, her family moved to Arkansas. Her father found work there.

Later, in 1941, her family moved to Detroit. Mable went to high school there. After school, she worked at an insurance company. This company was run by Berry Gordy's mother.

Mable later met Berry Gordy. He was writing songs and looking for singers. Gordy started helping Mable with her music. He played piano for her at local shows. This continued until 1959. That year, Mable sang at the Flame Show bar. She performed at the last show that Billie Holiday did in Detroit.

Signing with Motown

In 1959, Mable John began recording music for Berry Gordy. She first signed with United Artists. But no songs were released there. Then, she became one of the first artists to sign with Tamla. This was Berry Gordy's own record label.

In 1960, she released her first song on Tamla. It was called "Who Wouldn't Love a Man Like That?". It was a blues song, but it was not a big hit. She released two more songs that year.

Motown started to become very popular. Groups like the Miracles and the Marvelettes had big hits. Later, Martha & the Vandellas and the Supremes also became famous. These groups even sang background vocals for Mable John. But Mable's blues style did not fit Motown's new sound. So, Berry Gordy ended her contract in 1962.

Later Career and Gospel Music

After leaving Motown, Mable John sang with the Raelettes. This was the backup group for Ray Charles. She sang on many of his famous songs.

In 1966, she tried to be a solo artist again. She signed with Stax Records. Her first song with Stax was "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)". This song was a big success! It reached number 6 on the R&B music chart. It even made it to number 95 on the pop music chart. She released six more songs for Stax. But none of them were as popular as her first hit.

After leaving Stax Records in 1968, Mable joined the Raelettes again for several years. In 1973, she stopped singing popular music. She started working in gospel music. She managed Christian gospel groups. Sometimes, she would still sing in the studio.

In 1991, she released a song called "Time Stops." In 1993, Mable John earned a special degree. It was a Doctor of Divinity degree from a ministry in Los Angeles.

Mable John also worked on other projects. In 2006, she wrote a book with David Ritz. It was a novel called Sanctified Blues. In 2007, she acted in a movie called Honeydripper. She played an old blues singer named Bertha Mae. She also appeared in the 2014 movie 20 Feet from Stardom. This movie won an Oscar!

Personal Life and Legacy

Music experts say Mable John's career was sometimes overlooked. This was because her brother, Little Willie John, started his singing career earlier.

In the late 1970s, Mable John started a charity in Los Angeles. It was called "Joy Community Outreach to End Homelessness." This charity helped people who did not have homes. It gave food and clothes to over 100 people every day.

Mable John passed away in Los Angeles on August 25, 2022. She was 91 years old.

Awards

Mable John received a Pioneer Award in 1994. This award was from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.

Discography

Albums

• Stay Out of the Kitchen (1966, Stax)

Singles

• "You Are Only My Love!" (1960)
• "Who Wouldn't Love a Man Like That?" (1960, Tamla)
• "(I Guess There's) No Love" (1960)
• "Actions Speak Louder Than Words" (1961)
• "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)" (1966, Stax) R&B: #6 US: #95
• "You're Taking Up Another Man's Place" (1966)
• "Same Time, Same Place" (1967)
• "I'm a Big Girl Now" (1967)
• "Don't Hit Me No More" (1967)
• "Able Mable" (1968)
• "Running Out" (1968)
• "Time Stops" (1991)

See also

In Spanish: Mable John para niños