Mable John

Mable John (born November 3, 1930) is an American blues vocalist who was the first female signed by Berry Gordy to Motown's Tamla label. John was born in Bastrop, Louisiana, and moved from the south to Detroit to find employment. After graduating Pershing High School, she took a job as an insurance representative at a company run by Berry Gordy's mother, Bertha. She soon met Gordy, and in 1959 began recording for him.