659:" and "Never, Never Leave Me". However, the album flopped, as did the Beatles tribute album she released not too long afterwards. Rumors have hinted Motown may have threatened to sue radio stations for playing Wells's post-Motown music during this time. After a stressful period in which Wells and the label battled over multiple issues after her records failed to chart successfully, the singer asked to be let go in 1965 and left with a small settlement.
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A pending lawsuit kept Wells away from the studio for several months, as she and Gordy brokered the contract details, with Wells fighting to gain a larger share of the royalties she had earned during her tenure with Motown. Finally, Wells invoked a clause that allowed her to leave the label, advising
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In 1991, Wells brought a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Motown for royalties she felt she had not received upon leaving Motown
Records in 1964 and for loss of royalties for not promoting her songs as the company should have. Motown eventually settled the lawsuit by giving her a six-figure sum.
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stated that Wells was their favorite
American singer, and soon she was given an invitation to open for the group during their tour of the United Kingdom, thus making her the first Motown star to perform in the UK. Wells was only one of three female singers to open for the Beatles, the others being
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s Hot 100, peaking at number 7 and becoming her second number 1 hit on the R&B chart. This helped to make Wells the first female solo artist to have three consecutive Top 10 singles on the pop chart. The track sold over one million copies, and was awarded a
804:. Treatments for the disease ravaged her voice, forcing her to quit her music career. Since she had no health insurance, her illness wiped out her finances, forcing her to sell her home. As she struggled to continue treatment, old Motown friends, including
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at
Detroit's Twenty Grand club, with a song she had intended for Jackie Wilson to record, since Wells knew of Gordy's collaboration with Wilson. However, a tired Gordy insisted Wells sing the song in front of him. Impressed, Gordy had Wells enter Detroit's
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the court that her original contract was invalid, as she had signed while she was still a minor. Wells won her lawsuit and was awarded a settlement, leaving Motown officially in early 1965, whereupon she accepted a lucrative ($ 200,000) contract with
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Ironically during her most successful year, Wells was having problems with Motown over her original recording contract, which she had signed at the age of 17. She was also reportedly angry that the money made from "My Guy" was being used to promote
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was released, but it flopped and was quickly withdrawn, and Wells's Epic contract fizzled. The album's failure may have been due to light promotion. She still had one more album in her CBS contract, and in 1982, released an album of cover songs,
696:-produced singles. In 1972, Wells scored a UK hit with a re-issue of "My Guy", which was released on the Tamla-Motown label and climbed to number 14. Though a re-issue, Wells promoted the single heavily and appeared on the British TV show
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s Hot Dance/Club
Singles chart and number 2 on the Hot Disco Songs chart. A four-minute radio version released to R&B stations in January 1982 achieved a modest showing at number 69. It turned out to be Wells's final chart single.
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had signed to the then-fledgling label a year prior to Wells' arrival. Nevertheless, Wells' early hits as one of the label's few female solo acts did make her the label's first female star and its first fully successful solo artist.
404:" a few months later. The song became her first R&B number 1 single and peaked at number 9 on the pop chart. The success of "You Beat Me to the Punch" helped to make Wells the first Motown star to be nominated for a
933:. With the effects of her unsuccessful treatments and a weakened immune system, Wells died on July 26, 1992, at the age of 49. After her funeral, which included a eulogy given by her old friend and former collaborator,
632:", just as "My Guy" was promoted, using the profits from another, earlier hit Motown song. Though Gordy reportedly attempted to renegotiate with Wells, the singer still asked to be freed from her contract with Motown.
674:", which also became a modestly successful pop hit, peaking at number 51. However, much like her tenure with 20th Century Fox, the singer struggled to come up with a follow-up hit, and in 1968, she left the label for
480:". The Smokey Robinson song became her trademark single, reaching number 1 on the Cashbox R&B chart for seven weeks and becoming the number 1 R&B single of the year. The song successfully crossed over to the
465:", "What Love Has Joined Together", "Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right" and "Old Love (Let's Try It Again)". Wells and Robinson also recorded a duet titled "I Want You 'Round", which would be re-recorded by
359:" hit number 33 in June 1961. In the fall of that year, Motown issued her first album and released a third single, the bluesy ballad "Strange Love". When that record bombed, Gordy set Wells up with
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Wells' early Motown recordings reflected a rougher R&B sound than the smoother style of her biggest hits. Wells became the first Motown female artist to have a Top 40 pop single after the
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Part of the terms of the agreement of her release was that she could not receive any royalties from her past works with the label, including use of her likeness to promote herself.
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Wells used singing as her comfort from her pain and by age 10 had graduated from church choirs to performing at local nightclubs in the
Detroit area. Wells graduated from Detroit's
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I'm here today to urge you to keep the faith. I can't cheer you on with all my voice, but I can encourage, and I pray to motivate you with all my heart and soul and whispers.
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Wells married twice: first, in 1960, to
Detroit singer Herman Griffin; they divorced in 1963. Despite rumors, she never dated fellow Motown singer
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in 1989. A year later, the foundation raised more than $ 50,000 to help with her treatment after her illness had wiped out all of her finances.
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In 1964, Mary Wells was our big, big artist, I don't think there's any audience with an age of 30 through 50 that doesn't know the words to
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concerts, starting in the fall of 1962. The singer showcased a rawer stage presence that contrasted with her softer R&B recordings.
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Wells worked on material for her new record label while dealing with other issues, including being bedridden for weeks suffering from
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268:" (1964), she became recognized as "The Queen of Motown" until her departure from the company in 1964, at the height of her success.
505:. The album peaked at number 1 on the R&B album chart and number 42 on the pop album chart, and yielded the double-sided hits "
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Wells's teaming with
Robinson led to a succession of hit singles over the following two years. Their first collaboration, 1962's "
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at the age of two and struggled with partial blindness, deafness in one ear and temporary paralysis. At age 10, Wells contracted
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In the summer of 1992, Wells' cancer returned and she was rushed to the
Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital in Los Angeles with
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at the age of 17 and set her sights on becoming a scientist, but after hearing about the success of
Detroit musicians such as
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516:"My Guy" was one of the first Motown songs to break on the other side of the Atlantic, eventually peaking at number 5 on the
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on May 13, 1943, to a mother who worked as a domestic, and an absentee father. One of three children, she contracted spinal
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Also in 1963, Wells recorded a session of successful B-sides that arguably became as well known as her hits, including "
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In 1989, Wells was celebrated with a
Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation during its inaugural year.
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Leaving CBS in 1983, she continued recording for smaller labels, gaining new success as a touring performer.
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for the first time. Despite this mini-revival, she decided to retire from music in 1974 to raise her family.
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Wells was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2006. She was inducted into the
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in October 1981. The album, which had been recorded in 1979, yielded Wells's biggest hit in years, the
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To build on the song's success, Motown released a duet album recorded with fellow Motown singing star
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492:" at number 1, remaining there for two weeks. The song became Wells's second million-selling single.
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431:. Wells's success at the label was recognized when she became a headliner during the first string of
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Wells earned one Grammy Award nomination during her career. Her song "My Guy" was inducted into the
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214:(May 13, 1943 – July 26, 1992) was an American singer, who helped to define the emerging sound of
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735:"Gigolo" became a smash at dance clubs across the country. A six-minute mix hit number 13 on
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and struggled with poverty. By age 12, she was helping her mother with house cleaning work.
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After the parent album failed to chart or produce successful follow-ups, the Motown-styled
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688:(1967). In 1970, Wells left Jubilee for a short-lived deal with Warner Music subsidiary
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In 1977, Wells divorced Cecil Womack and returned to performing. She was spotted by
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Wells's success continued in 1963 when she hit the Top 20 with the doo-wop ballad "
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Former Motown sales chief Barney Ales described Wells's landmark success in 1964:
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production that defined Wells's early hits. Motown released the similar-sounding "
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is buried in The Garden of Honor, about 850 feet (260 m) to the west.
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1570:"Cecil Womack: Half of the husband-and-wife duo known for their soul"
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Larkin Arnold in 1978 and offered a contract with the CBS subsidiary
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419:" became Wells's third consecutive single to hit the Top 10 of
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1289:"Mary Wells, 49, the Pop Singer Who Made 'My Guy' a 1960s Hit"
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1764:"Mary Wells, 49, the Pop Singer Who Made 'My Guy' a 60's Hit"
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1688:"Mary Wells, 49, Recording Star For Motown Records in 1960s"
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Mary Wells: The Tumultuous Life of Motown's First Superstar
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and making Wells an international star. Around this time,
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Wells was given one of the first Pioneer Awards by the
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to encourage government funding for cancer research:
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Though Wells has been eligible for induction to the
844:. Wells was also given a tribute by friends such as
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1969: "Never Give a Man the World: (US R&B #38)
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1120:1966: "Can't You See (You're Losing Me)" (US #94)
777:reported that Wells was attempting to establish a
2351:Deaths from laryngeal cancer in the United States
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244:With a string of hit singles composed mainly by
2341:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
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442:" and scored three additional Top 40 singles, "
1104:1965: "Never, Never Leave Me" (US R&B #15)
2083:The Old, The New & The Best of Mary Wells
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1810:"Michigan Rock and Roll Legends – MARY WELLS"
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277:Early life and initial recordings (1943–1962)
1742:"Mary Wells Marries Youngest Womack Brother"
1345:"Mary Wells – Chart history – R&B Chart"
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917:Wells had four children from two marriages:
2271:20th-century African-American women singers
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1136:1969: "Dig the Way I Feel" (US R&B #35)
2336:Northwestern High School (Michigan) alumni
1952:Bye Bye Baby I Don't Want to Take a Chance
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1094:1964: "Stop Takin' Me for Granted (US #88)
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281:Mary Esther Wells was born near Detroit's
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16:American singer and songwriter (1943–1992)
1716:"Mary Wells – The Oral Cancer Foundation"
1661:Harrington, Richard (February 22, 1991).
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1143:" (US Disco #2, US Club #13, R&B #69)
1065:What's So Easy for Two Is So Hard for One
902:In 1966, Wells married singer-songwriter
860:That same year, she testified before the
611:Learn how and when to remove this message
293:. During her early years, Wells lived in
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1832:National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame
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1257:The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music
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19:For other people named Mary Wells, see
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484:Hot 100, where it eventually replaced
452:What's Easy for Two Is So Hard for One
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315:In 1960, 17-year-old Wells approached
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792:In 1990, Wells recorded an album for
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2148:What's Easy for Two Is Hard for One
1462:University of North Texas Libraries
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1123:1966: "Such a Sweet Thing" (US #99)
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1883:History of Rock page on Mary Wells
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1419:"Mary Wells, First Lady of Motown"
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1091:1964: "Ain't It the Truth (US #45)
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2291:American rhythm and blues singers
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767:On the April 21, 1984 edition of
2346:Deaths from cancer in California
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408:when the song was nominated for
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2176:What's the Matter with You Baby
1968:Two Lovers and Other Great Hits
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1405:Recording Academy Grammy Awards
1161:Two Lovers and Other Great Hits
1110:1965: "Me Without You" (US #95)
1086:What's the Matter with You Baby
580:needs additional citations for
511:What's the Matter With You Baby
371:, of Motown's first star group
235:Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
1935:
1814:Michiganrockandrolllegends.com
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628:, who had found success with "
410:Best Rock & Roll Recording
328:to record the single, titled "
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2261:20th-century American singers
2106:I Don't Want to Take a Chance
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1107:1965: "He's a Lover" (US #74)
1016:I Don't Want to Take a Chance
899:after Wells had left Motown.
357:I Don't Want to Take a Chance
2276:African-American songwriters
2113:The One Who Really Loves You
1960:The One Who Really Loves You
1373:"Mary Wells – Chart history"
1023:The One Who Really Loves You
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647:Career struggles (1965–1977)
390:The One Who Really Loves You
250:The One Who Really Loves You
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1992:The Two Sides of Mary Wells
1631:Benjaminson, Peter (2012).
973:Rhythm and Blues Foundation
921:, Harry, Stacy, and Sugar.
662:In 1966, Wells signed with
21:Mary Wells (disambiguation)
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2296:American women pop singers
1752:(19): 25. August 18, 1966.
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959:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
561:Leaving Motown (1964–1965)
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2311:Songwriters from Michigan
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2155:You Lost the Sweetest Boy
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2051:Love Songs to the Beatles
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1478:Murrells, Joseph (1978).
1058:You Lost the Sweetest Boy
943:Forest Lawn Memorial Park
536:Love Songs to the Beatles
476:In 1964, Wells recorded "
448:You Lost the Sweetest Boy
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2120:You Beat Me to the Punch
1720:Oralcancerfoundation.org
1637:. Chicago Review Press.
1482:The Book of Golden Discs
1030:You Beat Me to the Punch
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638:20th Century Fox Records
402:You Beat Me to the Punch
302:Northwestern High School
262:You Beat Me to the Punch
2326:Jubilee Records artists
2016:Keeping My Mind on Love
1976:Mary Wells Sings My Guy
1188:Mary Wells Sings My Guy
1130:" (US #65, R&B #22)
788:Final years (1990–1992)
105:Los Angeles, California
2035:Recorded Live On Stage
1117:" (US #51, R&B #6)
992:Mary Wells discography
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862:United States Congress
757:, which aimed for the
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456:Holland–Dozier–Holland
355:-penned doo-wop song "
283:Wayne State University
50:Background information
2286:American soul singers
1792:"Grammy Hall of Fame"
1595:"Mary Wells – Charts"
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630:Where Did Our Love Go
544:
2321:Epic Records artists
2306:Singers from Detroit
2301:Nightclub performers
2000:Servin' Up Some Soul
1838:on October 20, 2019.
1722:. September 28, 2016
1260:(Concise ed.).
854:The Joan Rivers Show
706:Comeback (1977–1989)
589:improve this article
450:", and its B-side, "
326:United Sound Systems
218:in the early 1960s.
2281:American contraltos
1667:The Washington Post
1607:on October 15, 2012
966:Grammy Hall of Fame
712:CBS Urban president
384:Success (1962–1964)
2008:In and Out of Love
1769:The New York Times
1549:. October 19, 2012
1322:The New York Times
1294:The New York Times
759:adult contemporary
721:In and Out of Love
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1693:The Seattle Times
1541:"Official Charts"
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830:Bruce Springsteen
798:Motorcity Records
718:, which released
692:and released two
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346:pop singles chart
212:Mary Esther Wells
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146:Singer-songwriter
88:Detroit, Michigan
70:Mary Wells Womack
60:Mary Esther Wells
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2193:Related articles
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2141:Your Old Standby
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1574:The Independent
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1546:Official Charts
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1325:. July 27, 1992
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1297:. July 27, 1992
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935:Smokey Robinson
927:
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834:Aretha Franklin
814:the Temptations
790:
770:American Top 40
739:
728:disco single, "
708:
699:Top of the Pops
690:Reprise Records
676:Jubilee Records
649:
617:
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597:
586:
574:
563:
557:
554:
527:Brenda Holloway
486:Louis Armstrong
433:Motortown Revue
423:
415:In late 1962, "
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365:Smokey Robinson
279:
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272:Life and career
246:Smokey Robinson
231:the Temptations
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850:Little Richard
822:Dionne Warwick
789:
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685:Catalina Caper
666:'s subsidiary
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2067:Vintage Stock
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2059:Greatest Hits
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1377:Billboard.com
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1179:Greatest Hits
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846:Stevie Wonder
843:
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815:
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654:
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583:
578:This section
576:
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538:
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528:
523:
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514:
512:
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498:
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491:
490:Hello, Dolly!
487:
483:
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366:
362:
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354:
349:
347:
343:
340:
337:
336:
331:
327:
322:
318:
317:Tamla Records
313:
311:
307:
306:Jackie Wilson
303:
298:
296:
292:
288:
284:
269:
267:
263:
259:
255:
251:
248:, including "
247:
242:
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217:
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98:July 26, 1992
97:
93:
89:
77:
73:
69:
66:Also known as
63:
59:
53:
48:
44:Wells in 1965
41:
36:
29:
26:
22:
2225:Cecil Womack
2134:Laughing Boy
2081:
2073:
2065:
2057:
2049:
2041:
2033:
2027:Other albums
2014:
2006:
1998:
1990:
1982:
1974:
1966:
1958:
1950:
1936:
1901:Find a Grave
1836:the original
1831:
1822:
1813:
1804:
1795:
1786:
1774:. Retrieved
1767:
1758:
1749:
1745:
1736:
1724:. Retrieved
1719:
1710:
1698:. Retrieved
1691:
1682:
1670:. Retrieved
1666:
1633:
1609:. Retrieved
1605:the original
1598:
1589:
1577:. Retrieved
1573:
1563:
1551:. Retrieved
1544:
1535:
1523:. Retrieved
1519:ClassicBands
1518:
1515:"Mary Wells"
1481:
1455:
1439:
1427:. Retrieved
1422:
1413:
1404:
1401:"Mary Wells"
1380:. Retrieved
1376:
1352:. Retrieved
1348:
1339:
1327:. Retrieved
1320:
1311:
1299:. Retrieved
1292:
1262:Virgin Books
1255:
1252:Colin Larkin
1203:
1195:
1186:
1177:
1168:
1159:
1146:
1044:Laughing Boy
1009:Bye Bye Baby
977:
970:
963:
956:
928:
916:
912:Bobby Womack
904:Cecil Womack
901:
882:
867:
858:
853:
838:Bonnie Raitt
791:
783:
768:
766:
763:
752:
747:
745:
736:
734:
719:
716:Epic Records
709:
697:
694:Bobby Womack
683:
680:Cecil Womack
661:
653:tuberculosis
650:
642:
634:
626:the Supremes
622:
607:
598:
587:Please help
582:verification
579:
547:
545:
541:
534:
515:
500:
494:
481:
475:
460:
440:Laughing Boy
437:
420:
414:
406:Grammy Award
387:
373:the Miracles
361:the Miracles
350:
333:
330:Bye Bye Baby
314:
310:the Miracles
299:
295:Black Bottom
291:tuberculosis
280:
243:
227:the Miracles
223:the Supremes
220:
211:
210:
152:Years active
100:(1992-07-26)
85:May 13, 1943
25:
2256:1992 deaths
2251:1943 births
2230:Meech Wells
2220:Marvin Gaye
2200:Discography
2097:(US Top 40)
1828:"Inductees"
1776:October 27,
1553:October 27,
1525:February 2,
1200:(#145 U.S.)
1191:(#111 U.S.)
986:Discography
885:Marvin Gaye
842:Anita Baker
826:Rod Stewart
810:Mary Wilson
775:Casey Kasem
522:the Beatles
497:Marvin Gaye
467:Marvin Gaye
321:Berry Gordy
256:", and the
221:Along with
2245:Categories
2127:Two Lovers
2075:Easy Touch
1984:Mary Wells
1937:Mary Wells
1897:Mary Wells
1888:Mary Wells
1869:Mary Wells
1423:Legacy.com
1213:References
1197:Mary Wells
1182:(#18 U.S.)
1173:(#42 U.S.)
1164:(#49 U.S.)
1128:The Doctor
1115:Dear Lover
1101:" (US #34)
1088:" (US #15)
1081:" (US #19)
1067:" (US #29)
1060:" (US #22)
1053:" (US #40)
1046:" (US #15)
1037:Two Lovers
1018:" (US #33)
1011:" (US #45)
897:Diana Ross
889:Kim Weston
873:Mary Wells
806:Diana Ross
794:Ian Levine
754:Easy Touch
748:These Arms
672:Dear Lover
601:March 2022
471:Kim Weston
417:Two Lovers
377:Mable John
287:meningitis
254:Two Lovers
237:, and the
143:Occupation
81:1943-05-13
56:Birth name
32:Mary Wells
1700:August 7,
1039:" (US #7)
1032:" (US #9)
1025:" (US #8)
982:in 2017.
968:in 1999.
953:Accolades
947:Sam Cooke
931:pneumonia
919:Cecil Jr.
737:Billboard
482:Billboard
429:gold disc
421:Billboard
412:in 1963.
335:Billboard
239:Four Tops
198:Motorcity
156:1960–1990
2043:Together
1892:AllMusic
1726:June 27,
1672:June 27,
1611:June 27,
1600:AllMusic
1579:June 27,
1447:(1969).
1429:June 27,
1382:June 27,
1354:June 27,
1329:June 27,
1170:Together
939:Glendale
871:—
553:—
518:UK chart
502:Together
463:Operator
396:-styled
319:founder
2094:Singles
1452:(audio)
1139:1981: "
1126:1968: "
1113:1966: "
1097:1965: "
1084:1964: "
1077:1964: "
1070:1964: "
1063:1963: "
1056:1963: "
1049:1963: "
1042:1963: "
1035:1962: "
1028:1962: "
1021:1962: "
1014:1961: "
1007:1960: "
1002:Singles
781:chain.
779:hot dog
509:" and "
394:calypso
339:R&B
188:Reprise
183:Jubilee
119:R&B
2205:Albums
2162:My Guy
2086:(1983)
2078:(1982)
2070:(1966)
2062:(1966)
2054:(1965)
2046:(1964)
2038:(1963)
2019:(1990)
2011:(1981)
2003:(1968)
1995:(1966)
1987:(1965)
1979:(1964)
1971:(1963)
1963:(1962)
1955:(1961)
1641:
1494:
1268:
1204:
1194:1965:
1185:1964:
1176:1964:
1167:1964:
1158:1963:
1141:Gigolo
1072:My Guy
730:Gigolo
548:My Guy
478:My Guy
266:My Guy
216:Motown
168:Motown
161:Labels
112:Genres
107:, U.S.
90:, U.S.
2210:Songs
925:Death
740:'
726:funky
424:'
342:chart
134:disco
1873:IMDb
1778:2017
1728:2017
1702:2008
1674:2017
1639:ISBN
1613:2017
1581:2017
1555:2017
1527:2009
1492:ISBN
1431:2017
1384:2017
1356:2017
1331:2017
1303:2008
1266:ISBN
895:and
848:and
836:and
816:and
668:Atco
555:1992
529:and
488:'s "
469:and
446:", "
398:soul
308:and
252:", "
193:Epic
178:Atco
129:soul
95:Died
75:Born
1899:at
1890:at
1871:at
1746:Jet
941:'s
852:on
796:'s
732:".
591:by
513:".
124:pop
2247::
2150:"/
1830:.
1812:.
1794:.
1766:.
1750:30
1748:.
1744:.
1718:.
1690:.
1665:.
1653:^
1621:^
1597:.
1572:.
1543:.
1517:.
1506:^
1490:.
1470:^
1460:.
1454:.
1421:.
1403:.
1392:^
1375:.
1364:^
1347:.
1319:.
1291:.
1280:^
1221:^
891:,
856:.
832:,
828:,
824:,
808:,
773:,
640:.
499:,
473:.
233:,
229:,
225:,
2185:"
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2171:"
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2136:"
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2125:"
2122:"
2118:"
2115:"
2111:"
2108:"
2104:"
1929:e
1922:t
1915:v
1816:.
1798:.
1780:.
1730:.
1704:.
1676:.
1647:.
1615:.
1583:.
1557:.
1529:.
1500:.
1464:.
1433:.
1407:.
1386:.
1358:.
1333:.
1305:.
1274:.
614:)
608:(
603:)
599:(
585:.
550:.
260:"
83:)
79:(
23:.
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