Wanda Young, a member of the Marvelettes, a Motown doo-wop female group, has died. Young's daughter, Meta Ventress, told the New York Times on Saturday, December 24, that her father died on December 15 at the age of 78 from complications related to chronic obstructive lung disease.
When Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, signed the band in 1961, he replaced another member of the Michigan group. The Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" became the first song on the new label to reach number one a month later.
Following up on the smash, the trio released songs like "My Baby Must Be A Magician" and "Don't Mess With Bill," both of which featured Young on lead vocals.
Three children, seven grandsons, a great-grandson, four sisters, and four brothers survive Smokey Robinson's frequent collaborator.
