Johnnie Mae Matthews

Rhythm and blues, Musical Artist

1922 – 2002

32

Who was Johnnie Mae Matthews?

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 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.

We need you!

Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!

Born
Dec 31, 1922
Bessemer
Also known as
  • Johnny Mae Matthews
Ethnicity
  • African American
Profession
Died
Jan 6, 2002
Detroit

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

Citation

Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Johnnie Mae Matthews." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 7 May 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/johnny_mae_matthews>.

Discuss this Johnnie Mae Matthews biography with the community:

0 Comments

    Browse Biographies.net