Who is Wanda Young? Singer passes away at the age of 78.
Wanda LaFaye Young, also known as Wanda Rogers was born on August 9, 1943, in Inkster, Michigan, United States. We are sad to report that the singer passed away on 16th December 2021 at the age of 78 years.
She was an American singer, best known for being a member and co-lead singer of the famed Motown all-female singing group, The Marvelettes.
Biography
Wanda was born and raised in Michigan. In her early years, she wanted to be a nurse, in a way to satisfy her urge to help others.
Her career aspirations however took a turn when fellow Inkster High School classmate, Gladys Horton asked her to audition for a spot left by Georgia Dobbins. Dobbins was an original member of the group then called The Marvels.
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Wanda Young Cause of Death
Wanda passed away on 16th December 2021 at the age of 78 years. A cause of death has been revealed, though to only close personal friends and also family members.
Wanda Young Career
After her audition, Wanda joined The Marvelettes. The all-woman group first consisted of Inkster High schoolmates; Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart (now Cowart Motley), and Georgia Dobbins.
The group became one of the most influential groups of the Motown era. This was largely due to their No.1 hit Please Mr. Postman.
The song became Motown’s first No. 1 Pop single in late 1961. It also held the top slot for several weeks on Billboard’s R&B chart.
The Marvelettes era was about dead by the end of the 1960s and as a result, in the year 1970, the group was disbanded.
In 1970, Wanda Young went on to record her first solo album with Smokey Robinson serving as her producer.
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Motown released the album as “The Return of the Marvelettes’ but the other ladies failed to participate. The album flopped since none of the Marvelettes participate in the album cover.
Young eventually left the Motown label in 1972 when the label relocated from Detroit to Los Angeles, California.
The Marvelettes were nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013 and again in 2015.
Wanda Young Drug Abuse
Young was involved with many years of substance abuse and alcoholism. First and foremost, this problem was brought about by The Marvelettes’ departure.
Secondly, Wanda witnessed the shooting death of her sister at her family’s Inkster residence. This was a tipping point of her being involved in substance abuse.
Wanda Young Husband and Children.
After signing with the Motown Label, Young gave birth to her first child, Meta(Young) Ventress.
Young was married(On December 18, 1963) to her longtime boyfriend Bobby Rogers. Bobby was a member of the Miracles. The relationship gave birth to two children: son Robert III and daughter Bobbae.
Wanda and Bobby divorced in 1975 after 12 years of marriage.