Johnnie Mae Matthews
Encyclopedia
Johnnie Mae Matthews was an American
blues and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer from Bessemer, Alabama
. Known as the “Godmother of Detroit Soul” and as the first African American
female to own and operate her own record label (Northern Recording Company) she was an early influence on the careers of many of the now-famous recording stars who began their careers in Detroit, Michigan
such as Otis Williams
, David Ruffin
, and Richard Street
of the Temptations, Jimmy Ruffin
, Joe Hunter
of the Funk Brothers Band, Richard Wylie, Norman Whitfield
, Berry Gordy
, founder of Motown Records
, Timmy Shaw
, Barbara Lewis
, Bettye LaVette
and many more.
. She learned to sing in her church choir, and also performed with her mother at military bases throughout the Deep South. When she was twelve years old, the family relocated to New Jersey
, and in 1947 Matthews left her parents home and moved to Detroit, Michigan
where she married and started her own family. In 1957 she joined a local quintet called the Five Dapps, assuming lead vocals on "You're So Unfaithful," which was the B-side of their 1958 debut single, "Do Wop a Do". The Instrumental backing on the record was done by pianist Joe Hunter
, who would frequently collaborate with Matthews in the years to follow, and later led Motown's famed studio band, the Funk Brothers.
, Northern Recording Company was largely used as a vehicle to launch her own solo recording career. Her first release, "Dreamer", in 1959, was credited to “Johnnie Mae Matthews & the Daps”. Her follow-up single, "Mr. Fine", featured on its B-side, a song named "Someday", which was a solo tune by local singer Chet Oliver.
Motown Records
founder, Berry Gordy
has often credited Matthews with teaching him the ropes of the recording industry. He acknowledged her assistance in helping land a distribution deal with “Chess Records
” for “The Miracles
” 1959 hit "Bad Girl". Matthews also fostered the early careers of such future Motown stars as David and Jimmy Ruffin
. Some say that she is the un-credited author of Mary Wells
’ breakthrough hit, "Bye Bye Baby." It's impossible to know how differently Matthews' own recording career might have turned out had she accepted any of invitations of Berry Gordy
to record for Motown, particularly during the mid-'60s, when she was delivering some of her finest material, most notably "Lonely You'll Be" and "Cut Me Loose," in 1967, the latter of which was subsequently licensed for national distribution on the Atco Records
label.
, and also included bassist James Jamerson
, guitarist Eddie Willis
, saxophonist Eli Fontaine, and drummer Uriel Jones
, all of who would become staples of Motown's greatest sessions as members of the, now famous, Funk Brothers Band. Northern also nurtured the early career of Richard Wylie whose backup group, the Mohawks, included Norman Whitfield
who later became one of Motown's most visionary songwriters and producers.
Also in 1960 the label issued "Come On," the debut single by “The Distants” who were later re-named “The Temptations
”. In time, Northern spun off a series of sister labels, most notably “Reel”, which was the label of several of Ms. Matthews’ singles, such as "Oh, Baby", "No One Can Love Me the Way You Do", "The Headshrinker", and "Come Home", all of which were released in 1961. In 1963 Reel issued "I Don't Want Your Love", a duet that paired Matthews and Timmy Shaw
, her longtime songwriting collaborator who is best known for his 1964 solo effort "Gonna Send You Back to walking", a song which was later recorded by “The Animals
” and a few other artists. However, Matthews' biggest hit, "My Special Angel", in 1962, appeared, not on her own labels, but rather, on the New York-based “Sue Records
” label.
In 1963 she hired manager Ollie McLaughlin, who had previously launched the career of “Barbara Lewis
”. McLaughlin brought Matthews to the attention of Mercury Records
’ new Blue Rock
subsidiary, where he eventually produced both of her singles for that label, "Baby, What's Wrong", and "My Man (The Sweetest Man in the World)". He also produced her lone “Spokane” label effort, "Worried About You".During the late '60s Matthews also cut a series of excellent singles for her “Big Hit” label, including "I Have No Choice", "My Momma Didn't Lie", and "Don't Be Discouraged".
“Black Nasty” was later renamed “The ADC Band” and the group resurfaced in 1978 with the R&B smash "Long Stroke". Encouraged by their success, Matthews revived Northern Recording Company around this time, with the ADC Band supplying the musical backing on the disco-inspired tune "It's Good", which was later re-issued on the “Cotillion Records
” label for national distribution. After one final Northern effort, 1980s "I Can Feel It," she closed the label for good, effectively ending her recording career.
NORTHERN 3727 - Dreamer / Indian Joe - 1959
NORTHERN 3729 - Mr Fine / Someday - 1959
NORTHERN 3736 - Ooh Wee / Give Me True Love - 1960
NORTHERN 3742 - So Lonely / Help Me - 1960
REEL 3743 - Oh, Baby / You Worry Me - 1960
GLODIS 1004 - Oh, Baby / You Worry Me - 1960
REEL 3745 - No One Can Love Me / No More Tears - 1961
REEL 112 - The Headshrinker / My Little Angel - 1961
SUE 755 - The Headshrinker / My Little Angel - 1962
REEL 119 - Oh Mother / Come Home - 1962
REEL 120 - (With Timmy Shaw) I Don't Want Your Loving (Parts 1 & 2) - 1963
REEL 122 - Lonely Road / I Won't Cry Any More - 1963
NORTHERN 4736 - No Body Business (What I Do) / My Destination (It True Love) - 1963
SPOKANE 4008 - Worried About You / Itty Bitty Heart - 1964
BLUE ROCK 4001 - Baby What's Wrong / Here Comes My Baby - 1964
BLUE ROCK 4011 - My Man / Can't Live Without You - 1965
BIG D 855 - Don't Talk About My Man / He Really Loves Me - 1965
AUDREY 100 - Luck Walked Through My Door / Love Hides All Faults - 1966
AUDREY 112 - (With Joe L. Carter) My Life Story / Don't Cry Baby - 1966
JAM 103 - Lonely You'll Be / That's What My Man is For - 1967
ART 002 - (& The Wonderetts) Cut Me Loose / Lonely You'll Be - 1967
ATCO 6528 - (& The Wonderetts) Cut Me Loose / Lonely You'll Be - 1967
ART 003 - Got to be on (Your Case) / You're the One - 1967
BIG HIT 104 - Two-sided Thing / You Make Me Feel Good - 1968
BIG HIT 105 - I Have No Choice / That's When it Hurts - 1969
BIG HIT 108 - My Momma Didn't Lie / You're The One - 1970
BIG HIT 111 - Don't be Discouraged / Don't be Discouraged - 1971
NORTHERN 10039 - It's Good / Come on Back - 1979
COTILLION 45010 - It's Good / Come on Back - 1979
NORTHERN 10040 - I Can Fell It / Crazy About You - 1980
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer from Bessemer, Alabama
Bessemer, Alabama
Bessemer is a city outside of Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States eight miles west of Hoover. The population was 29,672 at the 2000 Census, but by the 2009 U.S...
. Known as the “Godmother of Detroit Soul” and as the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
female to own and operate her own record label (Northern Recording Company) she was an early influence on the careers of many of the now-famous recording stars who began their careers in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
such as Otis Williams
Otis Williams
Otis Williams is an American baritone singer. Nicknamed "Big Daddy", he has also acted as a sporadic songwriter and record producer. Williams co-founded the Motown vocal group The Temptations in early 1960 as The Elgins, a group in which he continues to perform...
, David Ruffin
David Ruffin
Davis Eli "David" Ruffin was an American soul singer and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations from 1964 to 1968...
, and Richard Street
Richard Street
Richard Allen Street is an American soul and R&B singer, most notable as a member of The Temptations from 1971 to 1993...
of the Temptations, Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin is an American soul singer, and elder brother of the late David Ruffin of The Temptations. He had several hit records between the 1960s and 1980s, the most successful being "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted."-Life:...
, Joe Hunter
Joe Hunter (musician)
Joseph Edward Hunter Born in Jackson, Tennessee was an African-American musician, known for his recording session work as a pianist in Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers. One of the original Funk Brothers, Hunter served as band director for the band from 1959 until 1964, when...
of the Funk Brothers Band, Richard Wylie, Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield
Norman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
, Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
, founder of Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
, Timmy Shaw
Timmy Shaw
Timmy Shaw was a 1960s African American R&B singer from the Deep South, who charted just once with "Gonna Send You Back to Georgia " in 1964. The song was covered by The Animals as "Gonna Send You Back to Walker". John Lennon was also known to be an admirer of the Shaw recording...
, Barbara Lewis
Barbara Lewis
Barbara Lewis , is an American singer and songwriter whose smooth style influenced rhythm and blues.-Career:Lewis was born in Salem, near Ann Arbor, Michigan...
, Bettye LaVette
Bettye LaVette
Bettye LaVette is an American soul singer-songwriter who made her first record at sixteen, but achieved only intermittent fame until 2005, with her album, I've Got My Own Hell to Raise...
and many more.
Early life and career
Johnnie Mae Matthews was born December 31, 1922, in Bessemer, AlabamaBessemer, Alabama
Bessemer is a city outside of Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States eight miles west of Hoover. The population was 29,672 at the 2000 Census, but by the 2009 U.S...
. She learned to sing in her church choir, and also performed with her mother at military bases throughout the Deep South. When she was twelve years old, the family relocated to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, and in 1947 Matthews left her parents home and moved to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
where she married and started her own family. In 1957 she joined a local quintet called the Five Dapps, assuming lead vocals on "You're So Unfaithful," which was the B-side of their 1958 debut single, "Do Wop a Do". The Instrumental backing on the record was done by pianist Joe Hunter
Joe Hunter (musician)
Joseph Edward Hunter Born in Jackson, Tennessee was an African-American musician, known for his recording session work as a pianist in Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers. One of the original Funk Brothers, Hunter served as band director for the band from 1959 until 1964, when...
, who would frequently collaborate with Matthews in the years to follow, and later led Motown's famed studio band, the Funk Brothers.
1950s
In 1958, Matthews formed her own record label, dubbed the “Northern Recording Company”. Headquartered in an office at 2608 Blaine in Detroit, just a few blocks from her home, she used $85 borrowed from her husband's paycheck to become the first African-American woman to own and operate her own label. With sessions typically recorded at either nearby “Special Studio” or at radio station WCHBWCHB
WCHB is an American AM radio station licensed to Taylor, Michigan, at 1200 kHz, and serving the Detroit market. Owned by Radio One, WCHB identifies as NewsTalk 1200 WCHB and airs a News/Talk format.-AM 1440 WCHB:...
, Northern Recording Company was largely used as a vehicle to launch her own solo recording career. Her first release, "Dreamer", in 1959, was credited to “Johnnie Mae Matthews & the Daps”. Her follow-up single, "Mr. Fine", featured on its B-side, a song named "Someday", which was a solo tune by local singer Chet Oliver.
Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
founder, Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
has often credited Matthews with teaching him the ropes of the recording industry. He acknowledged her assistance in helping land a distribution deal with “Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
” for “The Miracles
The Miracles
The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
” 1959 hit "Bad Girl". Matthews also fostered the early careers of such future Motown stars as David and Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin is an American soul singer, and elder brother of the late David Ruffin of The Temptations. He had several hit records between the 1960s and 1980s, the most successful being "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted."-Life:...
. Some say that she is the un-credited author of Mary Wells
Mary Wells
Mary Esther Wells was an American singer who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s...
’ breakthrough hit, "Bye Bye Baby." It's impossible to know how differently Matthews' own recording career might have turned out had she accepted any of invitations of Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
to record for Motown, particularly during the mid-'60s, when she was delivering some of her finest material, most notably "Lonely You'll Be" and "Cut Me Loose," in 1967, the latter of which was subsequently licensed for national distribution on the Atco Records
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
label.
1960s
In her 1960 tune, "So Lonely," Matthews dropped the Dapps altogether. She then, quickly followed up with her second solo, "Ooh Wee Baby." On both of these recordings she was backed by a band called the “Groovers”, a group that was led by Joe HunterJoe Hunter (musician)
Joseph Edward Hunter Born in Jackson, Tennessee was an African-American musician, known for his recording session work as a pianist in Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers. One of the original Funk Brothers, Hunter served as band director for the band from 1959 until 1964, when...
, and also included bassist James Jamerson
James Jamerson
James Lee Jamerson was an American bass player. He was the uncredited bassist on most of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s , and he is now regarded as one of the most influential bass players in modern music history...
, guitarist Eddie Willis
Eddie Willis
Eddie "Chank" Willis is an African-American musician. Willis played electric guitar and occasional electric sitar for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s....
, saxophonist Eli Fontaine, and drummer Uriel Jones
Uriel Jones
Uriel Jones was an African-American musician. Jones was a recording session drummer for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s....
, all of who would become staples of Motown's greatest sessions as members of the, now famous, Funk Brothers Band. Northern also nurtured the early career of Richard Wylie whose backup group, the Mohawks, included Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield
Norman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
who later became one of Motown's most visionary songwriters and producers.
Also in 1960 the label issued "Come On," the debut single by “The Distants” who were later re-named “The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
”. In time, Northern spun off a series of sister labels, most notably “Reel”, which was the label of several of Ms. Matthews’ singles, such as "Oh, Baby", "No One Can Love Me the Way You Do", "The Headshrinker", and "Come Home", all of which were released in 1961. In 1963 Reel issued "I Don't Want Your Love", a duet that paired Matthews and Timmy Shaw
Timmy Shaw
Timmy Shaw was a 1960s African American R&B singer from the Deep South, who charted just once with "Gonna Send You Back to Georgia " in 1964. The song was covered by The Animals as "Gonna Send You Back to Walker". John Lennon was also known to be an admirer of the Shaw recording...
, her longtime songwriting collaborator who is best known for his 1964 solo effort "Gonna Send You Back to walking", a song which was later recorded by “The Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
” and a few other artists. However, Matthews' biggest hit, "My Special Angel", in 1962, appeared, not on her own labels, but rather, on the New York-based “Sue Records
Sue Records
Sue Records was founded in 1957 by Henry 'Juggy' Murray in New York City.Also within the group was Symbol Records and Sue also financed and distributed A.F.O.Records owned by Harold Battiste in New Orleans....
” label.
In 1963 she hired manager Ollie McLaughlin, who had previously launched the career of “Barbara Lewis
Barbara Lewis
Barbara Lewis , is an American singer and songwriter whose smooth style influenced rhythm and blues.-Career:Lewis was born in Salem, near Ann Arbor, Michigan...
”. McLaughlin brought Matthews to the attention of Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
’ new Blue Rock
Blue Rock Records
Blue Rock Records was a subsidiary of Mercury Records, and like their parent, based in Chicago between 1964 and 1969.Despite their name, they didn't release blues or rock, concentrating almost exclusively on soul music, with a fair number of the singles echoing Chi-town styles popularized by Curtis...
subsidiary, where he eventually produced both of her singles for that label, "Baby, What's Wrong", and "My Man (The Sweetest Man in the World)". He also produced her lone “Spokane” label effort, "Worried About You".During the late '60s Matthews also cut a series of excellent singles for her “Big Hit” label, including "I Have No Choice", "My Momma Didn't Lie", and "Don't Be Discouraged".
1970s
However, as the decade of the sixties came to a close, so did Northern Recording Company and all of her subsidiaries, and as the 1970s were being ushered in, Matthews turned her attention to “Black Nasty” an up and coming funk group that featured two of her children, Artwell and Aubrey. In 1973, Matthews produced the band's only album, “Talking to the People”, which was released on the “Stax” record label.“Black Nasty” was later renamed “The ADC Band” and the group resurfaced in 1978 with the R&B smash "Long Stroke". Encouraged by their success, Matthews revived Northern Recording Company around this time, with the ADC Band supplying the musical backing on the disco-inspired tune "It's Good", which was later re-issued on the “Cotillion Records
Cotillion Records
Cotillion Records was a subsidiary of Atlantic Records and was active from 1968 through 1985. The label was originally formed as an outlet for blues and deep Southern soul; its first single, Otis Clay's version of "She's About A Mover", reached the R&B charts. Cotillion's catalog quickly expanded...
” label for national distribution. After one final Northern effort, 1980s "I Can Feel It," she closed the label for good, effectively ending her recording career.
Discography
BRAX (The Five Dapps) - Do Whop A Do / You're So Unfaithful - 1958NORTHERN 3727 - Dreamer / Indian Joe - 1959
NORTHERN 3729 - Mr Fine / Someday - 1959
NORTHERN 3736 - Ooh Wee / Give Me True Love - 1960
NORTHERN 3742 - So Lonely / Help Me - 1960
REEL 3743 - Oh, Baby / You Worry Me - 1960
GLODIS 1004 - Oh, Baby / You Worry Me - 1960
REEL 3745 - No One Can Love Me / No More Tears - 1961
REEL 112 - The Headshrinker / My Little Angel - 1961
SUE 755 - The Headshrinker / My Little Angel - 1962
REEL 119 - Oh Mother / Come Home - 1962
REEL 120 - (With Timmy Shaw) I Don't Want Your Loving (Parts 1 & 2) - 1963
REEL 122 - Lonely Road / I Won't Cry Any More - 1963
NORTHERN 4736 - No Body Business (What I Do) / My Destination (It True Love) - 1963
SPOKANE 4008 - Worried About You / Itty Bitty Heart - 1964
BLUE ROCK 4001 - Baby What's Wrong / Here Comes My Baby - 1964
BLUE ROCK 4011 - My Man / Can't Live Without You - 1965
BIG D 855 - Don't Talk About My Man / He Really Loves Me - 1965
AUDREY 100 - Luck Walked Through My Door / Love Hides All Faults - 1966
AUDREY 112 - (With Joe L. Carter) My Life Story / Don't Cry Baby - 1966
JAM 103 - Lonely You'll Be / That's What My Man is For - 1967
ART 002 - (& The Wonderetts) Cut Me Loose / Lonely You'll Be - 1967
ATCO 6528 - (& The Wonderetts) Cut Me Loose / Lonely You'll Be - 1967
ART 003 - Got to be on (Your Case) / You're the One - 1967
BIG HIT 104 - Two-sided Thing / You Make Me Feel Good - 1968
BIG HIT 105 - I Have No Choice / That's When it Hurts - 1969
BIG HIT 108 - My Momma Didn't Lie / You're The One - 1970
BIG HIT 111 - Don't be Discouraged / Don't be Discouraged - 1971
NORTHERN 10039 - It's Good / Come on Back - 1979
COTILLION 45010 - It's Good / Come on Back - 1979
NORTHERN 10040 - I Can Fell It / Crazy About You - 1980
Further reading
- Dancing in the street:Motown and the culture politics of Detroit - Suzanne E. Smith - ISBN 978-0674000636
- Standing in the shadows of Motown:The life and music of James Jamerson - James Jamerson - ISBN 978-0881888829
- Motown:Music, money, sex, and power - Gerald Posner - ISBN 978-0812974689
- Temptations - Otis Williams - ISBN 978-0815412182