The Marvelettes singer Wanda Young dies at 78

Dec 26, 2021

Washington [US], December 26 : Singer Wanda Young, one of the few remaining members from the Motown doo-wop girl group, The Marvelettes, has died at age 78.
According to TMZ, her daughter Meta Ventress confirmed to a news outlet on Saturday that Young died on December 15 from complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
She had replaced another singer in the Michigan group when Motown head Berry Gordy signed the band in 1961. A month later, The Marvelettes' 'Please Mr Postman' became the first song on the young label to reach the top of the charts.
The group followed the hit with popular songs like 'My Baby Must Be A Magician' and 'Don't Mess With Bill', which both featured Young providing lead vocals.
Young left the Marvelettes in 1969 and tried her hand at a solo career with varying success through the early '70s. Eventually, she left music altogether and lived a relatively private life.
The frequent collaborator of Smokey Robinson is survived by three children; seven grandchildren; a great-grandson; four sisters and four brothers, as per TMZ.