Mable John, the first female solo artist signed to Motown (then Tamla) Records, a Stax singer and longtime Ray Charles collaborator, has died at the age of 91.
After leaving Motown, John spent several years as a Raelette, backing many Ray Charles hits. In 1966 she attempted a solo career again, signing with Stax Records.
Her first single with the label was “Your Good Thing (Is About to End).” The song peaked at #6 on the R&B chart, and even managed to cross over onto pop radio, peaking at #95 there.
She released six more singles for the label, none of which captured her first single’s success. After leaving Stax Records in 1968, John rejoined the Raelettes for several years.
She left secular music in 1973, and began managing Christian gospel acts, occasionally returning to the studio as a singer.
In recent years Mable appeared as blues singer Bertha Mae in “Honeydripper” (2007), as well as the documentary “20 Feet from Stardom” (2013), in which she discussed her years as Ray Charles’ head Raelette.
Mable John age
John was born on November 3, 1930 and died August 26, 2022 at age 91.
Mable John height
John’s exact height is not known. However, she was of average height.
Mable John family
John was born in Bastrop, Louisiana and was the eldest of at least nine siblings.
At a very young age, she and her parents moved north into Arkansas, where her father got a job in a paper mill near Cullendale, where four of Mable’s brothers (including R&B singer Little Willie John) and two sisters were born.
In 1941, after her father was able to secure a better job, the family moved to Detroit, where two additional brothers were born. She attended Cleveland Intermediate School, and then Pershing High School.
After graduating, she took a job as an insurance representative at Friendship Mutual Insurance Agency, a company run by Berry Gordy’s mother, Bertha.
Mable John husband
John was married four times, according to The Detroit News.
Mable John children
John had four sons: Jesse, Joel, Otis and Lemuel. Lemuel survives her, as well as a number of grandchildren.
Mable John cause of death
What was Mable Joh cause of death? A cause of death was not revealed. However, considering her age, it is most likely she died of natural causes.
Mable John net worth
What was Mable John net worth at time of death? Mable’s career span decades and at the time of death, she had an estimated net worth of $2 million.