Mary Wells was the first female solo singer signed to Motown records. Born in Detroit in 1943, she suffered poor health, contracting spinal meningitis at 2 years old which resulted in temporary paralysis, hearing loss and partial blindness in one eye. When she recovered she had to learn how to walk all over again. Fortunately, however, she regained her hearing and eyesight.
Ironically, her decision to leave Motown in 1964 opened the door for Brenda Holloway, who became the darling of the label at the time. The decision to leave Motown is widely regarded as a mistake and she never really enjoyed the recording success she had at Motown.
In 1990 she was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx and with no health insurance the cost of treatment wiped her out financially. She died of pneumonia aged 48 in California in 1992.
Mary Wells records available :
- Bye Bye Baby
- I’m Learnin’
- Keep Me In Suspense
- You Beat Me To The Punch
- Ain’t It the Truth
- Me Without You
- My Guy
- Dear Lover
- Your Old Standby
HEAL 