Johnnie Mae Matthews

Johnnie Mae Matthews (December 31, 1922 – January 6, 2002) 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.
Career
In 1963, Matthews 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 1960s Matthews also cut a series of singles for her Big Hit label, including "I Have No Choice", "My Momma Didn't Lie", and "Don't Be Discouraged".
1970s
Black Nasty was later renamed the ADC Band, and the group resurfaced in 1978 with the R&B smash "Long Stroke" written by Michael Moneystone Judkins who greatly influenced the success of the ADC Band with help in writing from Audrey Matthews. 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 label for national distribution. After one final Northern effort, 1980's "I Can Feel It," she closed the label for good, effectively ending her recording career.
1990s
Johnnie Mae Matthews was portrayed by Vanessa Bell Calloway in the 1998 television miniseries The Temptations.
Death
Matthews died after a long battle with cancer on January 6, 2002. She was 79 years old.
Discography
BRAX (The Five Dapps) – Do Whop A Do / You're So Unfaithful – 1958
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
COTILLION – ADC Band – Long Stroke – 1978
COTILLION – ADC Band – Talk that Stuff – 1979
COTILLION – ADC Band – Renaissance – 1980
COTILLION – ADC Band – Brother Luck −1981
COTILLION – ADC Band – Roll with The Punches – 1982
NORTHERN 10039 – It's Good / Come on Back – 1979
COTILLION 45010 – It's Good / Come on Back – 1979
NORTHERN 10040 – I Can Feel It / Crazy About You – 1980
Further reading
Dancing in the street: Motown and the culture politics of Detroit – Suzanne E. Smith –
Standing in the shadows of Motown: The life and music of James Jamerson – James Jamerson –
Motown: Music, money, sex, and power – Gerald Posner –
Temptations – Otis Williams –
References
External links
Johnnie Mae Matthews Award Presentation from the city of Detroit
Johnnie Mae Matthews/Atco Records
Temptation's Movie
1922 births
2002 deaths
20th-century African-American women singers
American soul musicians
Record producers from Michigan
Songwriters from Michigan
20th-century American singers
Singers from Detroit
20th-century American women singers
American women record producers
Deaths from cancer in Michigan
African-American songwriters
21st-century African-American people
21st-century African-American women