Soul, R&B, and gospel singer Mable John was born in Bastrop, Louisiana on
November 3, 1930. She is best known as the first female artist singed to Tamla
Records, Berry Gordy’s first label before he founded the legendary Motown
Records. The older sister of blues icon Little Willie John, Mable John spent
several years growing up in Arkansas before her family moved to Detroit,
Michigan. After graduating from high school, she got a job where she worked with
Berry Gordy’s mother, Bertha. Several years later, they bumped into each other,
and Bertha told Mable John that Berry was writin...