Mable John, a well-known blues singer, died on August 25. Her nephew Kevin John broke the news, saying that they adored her and that she was a kind person. She was 91 years old. Mable’s cause of death was not disclosed at the time, and she may have died as a result of age-related health difficulties. Her funeral arrangements have not yet been made public.
Mable John Career In the music industry
Mable John, who was born on November 3, 1930, moved to Arkansas with her family after her father was hired at a paper factory in Cullendale. In 1941, the family relocated to Detroit, where John attended Cleveland International School and Pershing High School. Following graduation, she began working as an insurance salesperson at Friendship Mutual Insurance Agency, which was owned by Berry Gordy’s mother, Bertha. She subsequently left her job and enrolled at Lewis Business College. Mrs. Gordy approached her again, telling her that her son was creating songs and looking for performers to record them.
John studied with Gordy until 1959, and she appeared at the Flame Show bar on John R Street. She then began recording for Gordy, and although signing with United Artists, she released nothing on their label. Her debut song, Who Wouldn’t Love a Man Like That?, was published in 1960 by Gordy’s record company Tamla. No Love and Actions Speak Louder Than Words followed. Mable was the first solo female performer signed by Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records. Mable, however, was unable to become a major musical artist at the time since Motown was well recognized for performers such as the Miracles and the Marvelettes. She worked as a background vocalist until her contract was terminated in 1962.
In 1966, she joined with Stax Records, and her single, Your Good Thing (Is About to End), was released the following year. It peaked at No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 on the R&B charts. This was followed by six additional singles, none of which were as successful as the first. She departed Stax Records in 1968 and spent a few years with the Raelettes.
Mable John then began managing Christian gospel groups before returning to the studio as a performer. In 1986, she founded the nonprofit Joy Community Outreach in Los Angeles, and in 1991, she recorded a song called Time Stops on the record label Motorcity Records. Crenshaw Christian Center in south Los Angeles awarded John a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1993. In 2006, Mable and David Ritz collaborated on a book called Sanctified Blues. In the 2007 musical drama film Honeydripper and the 2013 documentary film 20 Feet from Stardom, she played Bertha Mae.
Twitter users pay homage to Mable John
Despite being mainly inactive in the music business after the 1990s, Mable John has remained an iconic figure for her popular tunes throughout the years. When word of her death spread, Twitter was inundated with tributes:
RIP Mable John, 91. A lovely person and a wonderful singer, soulful from top to toe.
— Richard Williams (@rwilliams1947) August 28, 2022
Rip to Dr Mable John, key figure when it comes to Motown
— pat313 (@Pat313_) August 26, 2022
