Mary Wells was born in 1943 in Detroit, Michigan, and was one of the first stars to emerge from the legendary Motown Records. Despite having a difficult childhood, Wells went on to become a superstar, overcoming early struggles to achieve great success.
As a child, Wells contracted spinal meningitis, which left her with temporary paralysis, hearing loss, and partial blindness in one eye. After regaining her health, she had to learn how to walk again. Fortunately, she regained her hearing and eyesight, and at the age of ten, she began singing in Detroit-area clubs and talent contests.
Wells' big break came when she was 17 and wrote a song called "Bye Bye Baby" that she wanted to give to her idol, Jackie Wilson. She auditioned for Motown head Berry Gordy, who not only bought the song but also signed her to a recording contract. Her first single, "Bye Bye Baby," landed in the top 50 on the R&B charts.
Gordy paired Wells with legendary songwriter and producer Smokey Robinson, and together they produced a string of hit songs, including "The One Who Really Loves You," "You Beat Me to the Punch," and "Two Lovers." Wells embarked on a series of successful US and European tours and released her most famous and successful song, "My Guy," which reached number one on the US pop charts.
Wells became the first Motown artist to have a number one song on the label and was the first Motown artist to have a number one song on any of the Motown family of labels. She sang a duet with Marvin Gaye, "Once Upon a Time," which charted at number 17. The Beatles praised Wells as their favorite American singer and invited her to tour with them in England.
In 1964, Wells was approached by 20th Century-Fox Records and offered a contract of several hundred thousand dollars to leave Motown and sign with them. She took the offer and left Motown but didn't have the same level of success. She later recorded for various labels, including Atlantic, Atco, Jubilee, and Reprise.
Wells' personal life was marked by turmoil, with two divorces, including one to Cecil D. Womack, the brother of singer Bobby Womack. In the 1970s and '80s, she toured the US on the oldies circuit and developed a loyal following.
In 1990, Wells was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx, which left her unable to sing. She had no health insurance and was financially ruined by the cost of treatment. Her colleagues in the music industry, including Martha Reeves, Rod Stewart, and Bruce Springsteen, provided financial assistance. The experience affected her deeply, and she traveled to Washington, DC, to testify before Congress on the need for funding for cancer research.
In 1992, Wells caught pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital, where she died on July 28 at the age of 48.
