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Mable John

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Vocalist

The Resume

    (November 3, 1930-August 25, 2022)
    Born in Bastrop, Louisiana
    Best-known for the Stax single ‘Your Good Thing (Is About To End)’ (1966)
    Member and musical director of Ray Charles ‘ Raelettes (1970-77)
    Acted in the film ‘Honeydripper’ (2008)
    Older sister of Little Willie John
    Received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation (1994)

Why she might be annoying:

    She got her first break as the opening act for her brother.
    Berry Gordy dropped her from Motown Records when her blues songs failed to sell (1962).
    None of her follow-ups to ‘Your Good Thing’ entered even Billboard’s R&B chart.
    She left secular music to manage gospel acts (1977).

Why she might not be annoying:

    She and Smokey Robinson convinced Berry Gordy that he should start his own record label.
    She was the first female artist signed to Motown Records.
    The Supremes and Temptations were backing vocalists on her Motown records.
    She cowrote about 50 songs with Ray Charles.
    She earned a doctor of divinity degree and became pastor of a church in Los Angeles.
    She founded Joy Community Outreach, a charity to feed the homeless (1986).
    She was featured in the documentary about background singers ’20 Feet from Stardom.’ (2014)

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 88 Votes: 52.27% Annoying