Stephanie Mills
Biography
Stephanie Mills first came to fame as "the little girl with the big voice" as the star of the hit Broadway play, The Wiz, an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic book, The Wizard Of Oz. She had many R&B hits such as "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love," "I Feel Good All Over," "(You're Puttin') A Rush On Me," "Something in the Way (You Make Me Feel)" and "Home" along with one certified million selling single, "Never Knew Love Like This Before." In addition, she also had five gold albums: Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin', Sweet Sensation, Stephanie, If I Were Your Woman and Home.
Born on March 22, 1957 in Brooklyn, NY, Mills honed her rich vocals singing gospel music at Brooklyn's Cornerstone Baptist Church as a small child. At age 9, she began appearing in the Broadway play Maggie Flynn. She was presented with first prize after winning "The Amateur Hour" talent contest six weeks straight at New York's famed Apollo Theater when she was nine. That success led to her being chosen as the opening act for The Isley Brothers, eventually becoming good friends with lead singer Ronald Isley. Many years later, Isley would manage and later marry singer/songwriter Angela Winbush, who co-wrote one of her number one R&B hits. Mills' debut album, Movin' In The Right Direction was recorded for ABC Records in 1974. A year later, she won the role of Dorothy in The Wiz. Her rendition of the beautiful ballad "Home" was a showstopper, mesmerizing audiences nightly for a number of years. The original cast recording of The Wiz was produced by Jerry Wexler and issued by Atlantic Records in spring 1975. Curiously, when The Wiz was made into a full length feature film by Motown Records' film division and Universal Pictures, Diana Ross played the role of Dorothy instead of Mills. The film ended up being a major flop.
Singer Jermaine Jackson referred Mills to Motown head Berry Gordy, who signed her to the label. Her Motown debut was For the First Time, written and produced by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, being issued in October 1976. For the First Time is a sweet affair with Mills convincingly covering Bacharach/David standards, most of which were originally recorded by Dionne Warwick. In 1978, she signed to 20th Century Records and was teamed with the hit production duo of James Mtume -- later leader of Mtume, who had a gold single with "Juicy Fruit" -- and Reggie Lucas. Her first LP for the label, Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin', went gold, going to number 12 R&B and number 22 pop on Billboard's charts in summer 1979 and spawned the singles, "Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin'" and "You Can Get Over." Her next LP, Sweet Sensation (#3 R&B, #16 Pop, spring 1980) yielded "Sweet Sensation," "Never Knew Love Like This Before," and the radio-aired LP track, "Try My Love." Around this time, she briefly married former Soul Train dancer Jeffrey Daniels of the group Shalamar. Next came the LP titled Stephanie in spring 1981, which also was a huge hit, peaking at #3 R&B and #30 Pop. The album included notable songs such as "Two Hearts" -- a midtempo duet with Teddy Pendergrass -- "Night Games" and the radio-aired LP cut, "Don't Stop Doin' What Cha Do."
In 1981, Mills switched to Neil Bogart's Casablanca Records. Her LPs for the label included Tantalizingly Hot, Merciless and I've Got The Cure. During 1983, she had her own NBC-TV daytime talk show and reprised on role in a Broadway revival of The Wiz. She also signed with MCA Records, where she released her Stephanie Mills album.
The first single from the Stephanie Mills album was "Stand Back," in late 1985, which also included the passionate ballad "I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love." "I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love" was initially written by Rene Moore and Angela Winbush -- best known as the hit singing duo Rene & Angela -- as a gospel song and originally was recorded by Alton McClain and Destiny on their self-titled 1978 Polydor LP. The original version is available on Polygram's Power of Love: Best of Soul Essentials Ballads. Because of its massive radio play as an album track, Mills' version of "I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love, -- produced by Philly Soul keyboardist Ron Kersey -- was reissued as an A side holding the #1 R&B spot for two weeks in spring 1986. Its follow-up, "Rising Desire" reached #11 R&B in summer 1986.
Her next LP's title cut was the Clay McMurray/Gloria Jones/Pam Sawyer song, "If I Were Your Woman," originally a 1971 #1 R&B, #9 Pop smash for Gladys Knight and the Pips. Philly-based producer Nick Martinelli gave Mills her second #1 R&B hit with "I Feel Good All Over," written by husband and wife songwriting duo, Gabriel Hardeman and Annette Hardeman. The song held the #1 R&B spot for three weeks in spring 1987. Originally submitted to Mills' fellow MCA labelmate Patti Labelle by the Hardemans, the track was included on Mills' LP If I Were Your Woman, issued June 1987 and peaked at #30 Pop in summer 1987. Paul Laurence produced and co-wrote with Timmy Allen the chugging '"(You're Putting) a Rush On Me" giving the singer her third #1 R&B hit in fall 1987. The single made it to #85 Pop and was followed by "Secret Lady," which landed at #7 R&B in late 1987. Her covers of "If I Were Your Woman" and "Where Is The Love" followed. All were included on her If I Were Your Woman album, which peaked at #1 R&B, #30 Pop in summer 1987. Following these hits, Mills contacted Ronald Isley about working with singer/songwriter/producer Angela Winbush who had hits as half of Rene and Angela and was forging a hit-filled career as a recording artist and producer for the group Body among others. The collaboration between Mills and Winbush resulted in another #1 R&B single, "Something In The Way You Make Me Feel," in summer 1989.
Having starred for five years in the smash Broadway show The Wiz and recorded the song "Home for the play's 1975 original cast soundtrack album, she wanted to record the song again as a posthumous tribute to the play's producer, Ken Harper, and the song's composer, Charlie Smalls. On her new version of "Home," Take 6 sung the background vocals. The song went to #1 R&B in late 1989 and was followed by "Comfort Of A Man" and "Real Love." The Home LP ended up peaking at #5 R&B, #82 Pop in summer 1989. She then recorded a charting single with J.T. Taylor titled "Heart To Heart" in late 1991. Her final MCA album, Something Real included the hit "All Day All Night" and "Never Do Wrong." Following this album, she recorded a gospel album, Personal Inspirations, for Interscope Records and recorded several tracks at Philadelphia International Records with Bunny Sigler among others in the late '90s. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

Born For This!
2004

The Ultimate Collection
1999

The Best Of Stephanie Mills
1997

Home
1989

If I Were Your Women
1987
This small frame woman know she can SANG and give a hell of a concert. She make you feel like you were at a concert and also give you your money worth and some.
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ONE OF THE GREATS,SO MUCH SOUL, STEPHANIE MILLS CAN SINGGGGGGGGG G G G G G G G G , F R O M ONE OF YOUR MANY FANS .
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Be on the look out for some new materal from The Mills! She says when she realeases her lice cd, there will be a couple of new tracks on it as well. I'm looking forward to it!
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She's the BEST and She kissed me on the Jaw at the theather on the round in chicago to stop me from whistling, I love me some Stephanie
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For me, Stephanie Mills is simply the best. Her voice takes me to StarLight and then right back Home again! Love her, love her :)
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There is no one around that has the vocal integrity of Stephanie Mills. As far as "Home", there is no one who will ever be able to sing that song with as much range, pureness or emotion as her. That, for me, will always live in my heart as her signature song.
I thought she would have been much better in The Wiz the movie than Diana Ross did. Maybe then it wouldn't have been such a flop! |
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There is not even a new school artist today that has the depth yet vocal capability of Stephanie Mills!
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I love some Stephanie, her voice is just powerful to the soul. I need to hear from her soon (some r&b, gospel, rock etc...) something.
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I love her voice and when she sings the power of love no one can touch her
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ONE OF THE GREATEST SINGERS IN THE WORLD.I WISH SHE WOULD HAVE DONE THE MOVIE THE WIZ INSTEAD OF DIANA ROSS. THE ROLE WAS STEPHANIES FROM THE START.SHE HAS A VERY CLEAR AND POWERFUL VOICE.
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my sweetie was tryin to tell me something when he played this song
"never knew love like this before" guess i should go back to him he must miss me or something, never thought about it till i heard the song just now. |
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A beautiful wonderful artist. Great live performer, warm & genuine to her fans - love you Steph !!
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You know her when you hear her! Such soulful styling which is missing from a lot of music today. Just SANG!
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I feel that Stephanie Mills is one of the greatest artist of all time. I have a good friend that looks a lot like her and sings exactly like her. I love Stephanie Mills Beautiful voice and can't for a new album. I wish she would put out a Gospel Album, just Mills and the Lord worship Album. Chris From San Leandro,Ca
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Mills is VERY underrated as a singer...."P u t your Body in it" is a classic!
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I didn't know she made a gospel CD! I will certainly go look for it.I love her voice!
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I've been listening to her since I was a little girl , she has been a inspiration to me!!!!!
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SHES ALWAYS BEEN MY INSPIRATION, SHE KEEPS A SMILE ON A SAD FACE,ALWAYS A DEVA AND THAT VOICE OH WOW LIKE HOME KEEPS ME AFLOAT
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Stephanie Mills one of the most powerful yet sweet voices of the 21st century, her voice puts shivers up your spine, it echoes like speakers through your body
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The Sister's got it all togeather, The voice is Just Outstanding! And boy can babygirl Dress her a** off. Keep listening People...
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i like her music. i did'nt know she went out with michael jackson back in the day.
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