Margie Joseph facts for kids

Margie Joseph, born on August 19, 1950, is an American singer. She is famous for her R&B, soul, and gospel music. Margie had her biggest hits in the 1970s. She sang a popular duet with the group Blue Magic called "What's Come Over Me." She also had success with her own versions of famous songs. These included Paul McCartney's "My Love" and The Supremes' "Stop! In the Name of Love."

Margie Joseph's Musical Journey

Early Life and First Songs

Margie Joseph was born in Gautier, Mississippi. She started singing in her church choir. In 1967, while studying at Dillard University in New Orleans, she recorded some demo songs. Demos are like practice recordings for new artists. These recordings helped her get her first record deal. Her first song, "Why Does a Man Have to Lie?", was released on the Okeh label.

Becoming a Star in the 1970s

In 1969, Margie signed with Volt Records. This record label was part of Stax Records. Her song "Your Sweet Lovin'" became her first hit. It reached number 46 on the Billboard R&B chart. The R&B chart lists the most popular rhythm and blues songs.

Her next hit was a cover of "Stop! In the Name of Love" by The Supremes. This song also became popular on the pop charts. On her 1971 album, Margie Joseph Makes a New Impression, she included a longer version of this song. It started with a spoken part called "Woman Talk." This version was played a lot on the radio.

Working with Atlantic Records

Later, Margie signed with Atlantic Records. She worked with producer Arif Mardin on three albums. People often compared her voice to the famous singer Aretha Franklin. This was especially true when Margie sang her version of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together."

Her cover of Paul McCartney's "My Love" became her biggest hit. It reached number 10 on the R&B chart in 1974. Her 1975 album, Margie, is seen by many as her best work. It included the popular songs "Words (Are Impossible)" and "Stay Still." She also sang a duet with the group Blue Magic called "What's Come Over Me." This song was another big hit, reaching number 11 on the R&B chart.

Later Career and New Paths

In 1976, Margie moved to Cotillion Records. She released the album Hear the Words, Feel the Feeling. The main song from this album reached number 18 on the R&B chart. She later returned to Atlantic Records for the album Feeling My Way.

After some time, Margie decided to try a teaching career. However, she still loved music. In 1982, she released the song "Knockout." This song became her last big hit, reaching number 12 on the R&B chart. She released one more album in 1984 called Ready for the Night.

Music Lives On

In 1993, the famous hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa used a part of Margie's 1970 song "Your Sweet Lovin'." They used it in their hit song "None of Your Business." This shows how Margie's music continued to inspire new artists.

Margie Joseph later returned to working in human services. She also recorded a gospel album called Latter Rain, which came out in 2006. Many of her older songs have been re-released so new fans can enjoy them. There is also a live album featuring Margie, Blue Magic, and Major Harris.