Stephanie Mills facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stephanie Mills
Mills for the 2020 United States Census
Born	(1957-03-22) March 22, 1957 (age 68) Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter
Years active	1966–present
Spouse(s)	Jeffrey Daniel ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1983)​ Dino Meminger ​ ​ (m. 1989; div. 1991)​ Michael Saunders ​ ​ (m. 1993; div. 2001)​
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	Soul gospel Pop disco Dance R&B
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	ABC Records Motown 20th Century Casablanca MCA GospoCentric LightYear Expansion Records

Stephanie Dorthea Mills, born on March 22, 1957, is a famous American singer and songwriter. She became very famous playing 'Dorothy' in the original Broadway musical The Wiz from 1974 to 1979. This show won seven Tony Awards! The song "Home" from The Wiz became her most famous song and a number one hit on the U.S. R&B charts.

In the 1980s, Stephanie had five more number one R&B songs, including "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love" and "I Feel Good All Over". She even won a Grammy Award in 1981 for her song "Never Knew Love Like This Before". Many of her albums, like What Cha Gonna Do with My Lovin and Sweet Sensation, sold so many copies that they became 'gold' or 'platinum' records.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Stephanie Mills grew up in Brooklyn, New York, with her parents, Joseph and Christine Mills. As a child, she sang gospel music at her church, Cornerstone Baptist Church.

She started her professional career at just nine years old. She appeared in the Broadway musical Maggie Flynn. When she was eleven, she won the famous Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater six weeks in a row! After that, she became the opening act for the music group Isley Brothers.

In 1973, Stephanie signed with Paramount Records. Her first song, "I Knew It Was Love," was released. Later, she signed with Motown, but her first two albums there did not have any big hits. She left Motown in 1976.

Becoming a Star in The Wiz

Stephanie's career really took off when she played Dorothy in The Wiz. This was a Broadway musical that was an African-American version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Stephanie was the first to sing the song "Home" in the stage show. Later, Diana Ross sang it for the movie version.

Even after The Wiz, it took a little while for Stephanie to have big success in the music industry. In 1979, she signed with 20th Century Fox Records. Here, she found her style, mostly singing disco music. She recorded popular songs like "Put Your Body In It" and "What Cha Gonna Do with My Lovin'". Her album What Cha' Gonna Do with My Lovin' was her first 'gold' record.

More Hit Songs and Albums

Stephanie quickly followed up her success with the 1980 album Sweet Sensation. This album included her hit song "Never Knew Love Like This Before". This song became a top 12 R&B hit and a top 6 Pop hit in 1980. It also reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart.

In 1981, her album Stephanie featured a popular song called "Two Hearts," which she sang with Teddy Pendergrass. Her 1983 album, Merciless, included her cover of Prince's song "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?". It also had "Pilot Error," which was her first dance hit in the U.S.

In 1984, Stephanie had another hit in the UK with "The Medicine Song". This song also reached number 1 on the U.S. dance chart. On May 24, 1984, Stephanie returned to the stage to star in a short tour of The Wiz again.

In 1985, Stephanie's song "Bit by Bit (Theme from Fletch)" was in the Chevy Chase movie Fletch.

Continued Success and Later Career

Stephanie's success continued in 1986 when her song "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love" became a number 1 R&B hit. She then signed with MCA Records. Her next album, If I Were Your Woman (1987), was a huge success. It included the title song, "I Feel Good All Over," and "You're Puttin' a Rush on Me." This album sold so many copies that it became 'platinum'.

In 1989, Stephanie released her Home album. Hits from this album included "The Comfort of a Man" and a new version of her famous song "Home" from The Wiz. Another song, "Something in the Way You Make Me Feel," also became a 'platinum' record for her.

After releasing one more album in 1992 and a Christmas album, Stephanie left MCA. In 1993, she played Dorothy in The Wiz again, but this show also had a short run. In 1994, she released a live gospel album called Personal Inspirations. After this, Stephanie took a break from recording music to care for her son.

In 1997, Stephanie played the main role in a big show called Children of Eden in New Jersey. She also appeared in the gospel TV series Sunday Best in 2007. In 2008, she started making new music, working with artists like BeBe Winans and DMX. She released the album Born for This! in 2004.

Mills on stage performing at the Detroit Opera House, 2017

In 2015, Stephanie played Aunt Em in the NBC live musical production of The Wiz. This was forty years after she first starred in the Broadway show!

In 2021, Stephanie participated in a Verzuz battle with singer Chaka Khan. They both performed many of their hit songs. In 2024, Stephanie returned to Broadway after many years to play Missus Hermes in the musical Hadestown.

Personal Life

Stephanie Mills has been married three times:

• Jeffrey Daniel: (1980–1983), Jeffrey Daniel was a member of the R&B/soul group Shalamar.
• Dino Meminger: (1989–1991).
• Michael Saunders: (1993–2001).

Stephanie has a son named Farad Mills, who was born with Down syndrome. She also had a short relationship with fellow singer Michael Jackson.

Music Albums

• Movin' in the Right Direction (1974)
• For the First Time (1975)
• Love Has Lifted Me (1976)
• What Cha' Gonna Do with My Lovin' (1979)
• Sweet Sensation (1980)
• Stephanie (1981)
• Tantalizingly Hot (1982)
• Merciless (1983)
• I've Got the Cure (1984)
• Stephanie Mills (1985)
• If I Were Your Woman (1987)
• Home (1989)
• Something Real (1992)
• Personal Inspirations (1994)
• Born for This! (2004)

Stage Shows

• Maggie Flynn (1968)
• The Wiz (1974–79; 1984; 1993)
• Harlem Suite (1988)
• Stephanie Mills Comes Home to Broadway (1989)
• Children of Eden (1997)
• Purlie (1998)
• Ragtime (1999)
• Funny Girl (2002) (Actors Fund benefit concert)
• Hadestown (2024)

TV and Movies

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Stephanie Mills para niños

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart