Mary Wells -

Mary Wells (May 13, 1943 — July 26, 1992) was an American soul singer who was part of the original Motown roster along with The Supremes, Martha & the Vandellas, the Four Tops, and The Temptations. She scored one of the biggest hits of 1964 with “My Guy,” written by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles. That same year, she recorded the album Together with Marvin Gaye, serving as his first duet partner (before Kim Weston and Tammy Terrell).

Despite her success at Motown, Wells departed in 1965 for 20th Century Fox, where she released two albums, one comprised of Beatles covers. She followed up with two 1966–68 albums on Atco and Jubilee before exiting the biz for 13 years. In 1981, she issued the soul-funk/boogie album In and Out of Love on Epic scored a comeback hit with “Gigolo.”

Background

Mary Esther Wells was born on May 13, 1943, in Detroit, Michigan. ary and brothers Thomas and Fletcher through domestic work after father Arthur Wells left the household. Wells sang in church from childhood and later performed at talent contests and Detroit clubs. She sang solos with the choir at Northwestern High School and completed her studies shortly before her Motown audition.

By her mid-teens, Wells wrote songs and sought entry into the record business in Detroit. Singer and label owner Johnnie Mae Matthews helped Wells develop an early song and signed her to Northern Records, but Wells left after Matthews prioritized the Distants. Wells then wrote “Bye Bye Baby” for Jackie Wilson, whose recent hits included several Berry Gordy compositions. Satintones member and Motown staffer Robert Bateman arranged a chance for Wells to approach Gordy at the 20 Grand nightclub in Detroit.

Gordy heard Wells sing “Bye Bye Baby” a cappella at the club and asked her to report to Motown. Wells signed with the company at seventeen and recorded the song at United Sound Systems in Detroit. Motown released “Bye Bye Baby” as the first Wells single, followed by the Mickey Stevenson composition “I Don’t Want to Take a Chance” before the debut album Bye Bye Baby I Don’t Want to Take a Chance.

Discography: