After leaving Stax Records in 1968, John rejoined the Raelettes for several years. She released six more singles for the label, none of which captured her first single's success. 6 on the R&B chart, and even managed to cross over onto pop radio, peaking at No. Her first single with the label was 'Your Good Thing (Is About to End).' The song peaked at No. In 1966 she attempted a solo career again, signing with Stax Records. While John continued to be used as a background singer, Gordy dissolved her contract in 1962.Īfter leaving Motown, John spent several years as a Raelette, backing many Ray Charles hits. As a result, Gordy soon thinned out his roster of early blues artists. While Motown was beginning to have success with acts like the Miracles and the Marvelettes (and later Martha & the Vandellas and the Supremes, both of whom had sung background vocals for John) that appealed to teenagers and young adults, it was making no impact in the established blues market. John followed with 'No Love' in June of that year and then with 'Actions Speak Louder Than Words' by year's end. In 1960, she released her first Tamla single, 'Who Wouldn't Love a Man Like That?,' a romantic blues number, to no success. Eventually, she became one of the first artists signed to Tamla, Gordy's own label. First she was signed to United Artists, but nothing was released there. The same year, John began recording for Gordy. This continued until 1959, when John performed at the Flame Show bar on John R Street at the last show that Billie Holiday did in Detroit, just weeks before Holiday's death. Gordy began coaching her and would accompany John on piano at local engagements.

Gordy again, who told Mable that her son, Berry, was writing songs and was looking for people to record them. Later, she left the company and spent two years at Lewis Business College. After graduating, she took a job as an insurance representative at Friendship Mutual Insurance Agency, a company run by Berry Gordy's mother, Bertha.

She attended Cleveland Intermediate School, and then Pershing High School. In 1941, after her father was able to secure a better job, the family moved to Detroit, where two additional brothers were born.

Stay Out of the Kitchen! by Mable John