Wanda Young, a member of the legendary Motown group the Marvelettes, passed away at age 78, Rolling Stone reported.
Though the specifics surrounding her death are unknown, many have expressed condolences for the singer.
“We are so saddened by the news of Wanda Young of the Marvelettes passing,” the official Classic Motown account tweeted on December 16. “What an impact she has had on the world of Classic Motown and the lives of so many. Her legacy will continue to live on.”
We are so saddened by the news of Wanda Young of the Marvelettes passing. What an impact she has had on the world of Classic Motown and the lives of so many. Her legacy will continue to live on ❤ https://t.co/K3Ycax2zFH
— Classic Motown (@ClassicMotown) December 17, 2021
Young was born in a small town outside of Detroit in Inkster, Michigan, on August 9, 1943. She joined The Marvelettes in 1961 after she was recruited by her high school classmates Gladys Horton and Georgia Dobbins. However, due to personal reasons involving her family, Dobbins left the group, and Young became the lead singer. She sang lead on several of the group’s songs, including “Don’t Mess With Bill,” “My Baby Must Be a Magician,” and “The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game,” Rolling Stone reported.
The group’s most significant hit, “Please Mr. Postman,” reached the Billboard charts in December 1961, earning Motown their first number one hit and turning the label into a renowned powerhouse for soul music.
In the 2004 book “The Original Marvelettes: Motown’s Mystery Girl Group,” group member Katherine Anderson mentioned the song’s impact on soul music. “We were all surprised when ‘Postman’ hit so big,” she said. “The most surprised was Motown.” The group’s co-founder, Horton, died in 2011 at age 66, and Dobbins, a co-writer of the track, died in September 2020.
“Motown became even more known once we hit with Please Mr. Postman.’ In my opinion, where Motown wanted to go. The Marvelettes came in and kicked the door open,” Anderson said.
Young was married to The Miracles singer Bobby Rogers for 12 years and later left the group to focus on her family. During the early ’90s, the group briefly reunited for their album “The Marvelettes…Now!” and became Rhythm & Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame inductees in 1995 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.
