Post by Diamond Girl on Jun 12, 2006 21:17:37 GMT -5
____________________________________________________
Profile: Mary Wells
Born: Mary Esther Wells, May 13, 1943, Detroit, MI; died July 26, 1992
Genres: Motown, Soul, R&B, Pop, Jazz, Disco
Instruments: Vocals, Piano
Contributions to music:
• Signature voice and founder of the Motown Sound
• One of the best female singers in the music industry
• Helped bring Motown to the mainstream
• An underrated writer in her own right
• A vital part of the success of the prestigious label
Early years: As a small child, she suffered a bout of spinal meningitis, which left her temporarily paralyzed, with loss of hearing and partial blindness in one eye. When she returned to good health, Wells suffered the hardship of learning to walk again. She was always grateful, however, to regain her hearing and sight. From an early age Wells had a love of music and singing, and was a member of the Northwestern High School choir. She also sang at local clubs and competed in various talent contests.
Success: In 1959, she met Berry Gordy's assistant, Robert Bateman, telling him about a song she had written for artist Jackie Wilson. Bateman arranged an audition for Wells. As a talented teenager, Wells auditioned for Berry Gordy's Tamla Records as a songwriter, but instead received a contract to be a performer. Instead of buying the song for Wilson, Gordy offered Wells a contract as an artist. The song Wells had sung, "Bye Bye Baby," became her first single after some polishing and was recorded and released on the Motown imprint. The song ended up a top ten R&B hit in 1960. During those years, and with the help of producer and songwriter Smokey Robinson, Wells made several recordings. Her intimate and assertive voice, mixed with a soulful urgency, gave Wells a distinctive sound. Three major singles, "The One Who Really Loves You" (no. 8, 1962), "You Beat Me to the Punch" (no. 9, 1962) and "Two Lovers" (no. 7, 1962), as well as her tours of the U.S. and Europe, turned her into one of the most popular singers in the Motown label. In 1964, Wells' career reached a significant peak when her song, "My Guy," made it to No. 1 on the pop chart and became one of the year's best recordings. She also sang duets with Marvin Gaye, includng "Once Upon a Time," which reached No. 17 in 1964.
Later years: Mary Wells signed a contract with 20th Century Fox which was both lucrative and promised a film career following her immense success of the previous year. She released three successful singles for the label. The Beatles declared Mary Wells their favorite American singer, calling her "their sweetheart," and invited her to England to tour with them. Upon her return to the states, the Beatles sent Wells several compositions to be released on their next album. In return, Mary recorded an album called "Mary Wells Sings Love Songs to The Beatles." Next she signed with Atco Records, and released the R&B hit “Dear Lover”. After signing with Jubilee Records, Wells released “The Doctor” and “Dig the Way I Feel”. After briefly retiring from recording, Wells released two singles for Reprise. She returned to some success with her album recorded for Epic Records, with the single, “Gigolo”.
***Other Facts***
• Was the only artist signed to the Motown label for two years
• Teamed with her male counterpart at the Motown, at the time, Marvin Gaye
• Mary Wells sued the label, arguing not only for larger royalties, but to dissolve the original contract she'd signed at age seventeen. Wells won the lawsuit and was rewarded a fair settlement
• In 1990, diagnosed with cancer of the larynx; treatments harmfully effected her voice causing her to discontinue touring
• In 1991, testified before a Congressional Committee concerning funding for cancer research
• In 1999, Received Grammy Hall of Fame Award for “My Guy”
***Songs, Albums, and Charts***
#1 hits:
Pop:
• "My Guy" (1964)
R&B:
• "You Beat Me to the Punch" (1962)
• "Two Lovers” (1962)
• Since Billboard had stopped publishing the R&B chart (then called the Black Singles Chart), none of Wells' (or any other soul/R&B singer's) hits from 1964 and early 1965 were tracked on R&B radio. This explains the void in R&B chart peaks at the pinnacle of her success.
Top 10 hits:
Pop:
• " The One Who Really Loves You" (1962)
• " You Beat Me to the Punch" (1962)
• " Two Lovers" (1962)
• " My Guy" (1964)
R&B:
• " Bye Bye Baby" (1960)
• " I Don't Want to Take a Chance" (1961)
• " The One Who Really Loves You" (1962)
• " You Beat Me to the Punch" (1962)
• " Two Lovers" (1962)
• "Laughing Boy" (1963)
• "Your Old Standby" (1963)
• "What's So Easy for Two Is So Hard for One" (1963)
• "Dear Lover" (1965, Atco)
____________________________________________________
Song Choice of the Month:
Mary Wells - Whisper You Love Me Boy 
From the album Mary Wells Sings My Guy 
