Mable John Husband: Was Mable John Married?

Mable John, the first female solo artist signed to Motown (then Tamla) Records, a Stax singer and longtime Ray Charles collaborator, has died at the age of 91. She was born on November 3, 1930 and died on August 26.

Was Mable John married? John was married four times, according to The Detroit News.

Mable John was also known as the older sister of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted R&B singer Little Willie John.

Mable was born in Louisiana and grew up in the South before the John family moved to Detroit in the early 1940s. Like her musical family, John embarked on a career as a singer, opening for artist like Billie Holiday.

Following a brief break from her music career, John reemerged as musical director of and singer in Ray Charles’ famed Raelettes backing band; during her tenure with Charles, John wrote over 50 songs with the R&B legend, uDiscoverMusic writes.

Later in her career, John moved away from secular music and instead focused on gospel songs.

She also became a preacher as well as received a doctorate in divinity — as well as founding Los Angeles’ Joy Community Outreach, a charity that helped feed and cloth the homeless.

Most recently, John appeared as blues singer Bertha Mae in the film Honeydripper in 2007, as well as the hit documentary 20 Feet from Stardom in 2013, in which she discussed her years as Ray Charles’ head Raelette.