Johnnie Mae Matthews

In 1963, Matthews hired manager Ollie McLaughlin, who had previously launched the career of Barbara Lewis. McLaughlin brought Matthews to the attention of Mercury Records’ new Blue Rock subsidiary, where he eventually produced both of her singles for that label, "Baby, What's Wrong", and "My Man (The Sweetest Man in the World)". He also produced her lone Spokane label effort, "Worried About You". During the late 1960s Matthews also cut a series of singles for her Big Hit label, including "I Have No Choice", "My Momma Didn't Lie", and "Don't Be Discouraged". 1970s Black Nasty was later renamed the ADC Band, and the group resurfaced in 1978 with the R&B smash "Long Stroke" written by Michael Moneystone Judkins who greatly influenced the success of the ADC Band with help in writing from Audrey Matthews. Encouraged by their success, Matthews revived Northern Recording Company around this time, with the ADC Band supplying the musical backing on the disco-inspired tune "It's Good", which was later re-issued on the Cotillion label for national distribution. After one final Northern effort, 1980's "I Can Feel It," she closed the label for good, effectively ending her recording career. 1990s Johnnie Mae Matthews was portrayed by Vanessa Bell Calloway in the 1998 television miniseries The Temptations. ==Death==

Matthews died after a long battle with cancer on January 6, 2002. She was 79 years old. ==Discography==

BRAX (The Five Dapps) – Do Whop A Do / You're So Unfaithful – 1958 NORTHERN 3727 – Dreamer / Indian Joe – 1959 NORTHERN 3729 – Mr Fine / Someday – 1959 NORTHERN 3736 – Ooh Wee / Give Me True Love – 1960 NORTHERN 3742 – So Lonely / Help Me – 1960 REEL 3743 – Oh, Baby / You Worry Me – 1960 GLODIS 1004 – Oh, Baby / You Worry Me – 1960 REEL 3745 – No One Can Love Me / No More Tears – 1961 REEL 112 – The Headshrinker / My Little Angel – 1961 SUE 755 – The Headshrinker / My Little Angel – 1962 REEL 119 – Oh Mother / Come Home – 1962 REEL 120 – (With Timmy Shaw) I Don't Want Your Loving (Parts 1 & 2) – 1963 REEL 122 – Lonely Road / I Won't Cry Any More – 1963 NORTHERN 4736 – No Body Business (What I Do) / My Destination (It True Love) – 1963 SPOKANE 4008 – Worried About You / Itty Bitty Heart – 1964 BLUE ROCK 4001 – Baby What's Wrong / Here Comes My Baby – 1964 BLUE ROCK 4011 – My Man / Can't Live Without You – 1965 BIG D 855 – Don't Talk About My Man / He Really Loves Me – 1965 AUDREY 100 – Luck Walked Through My Door / Love Hides All Faults – 1966 AUDREY 112 – (With Joe L. Carter) My Life Story / Don't Cry Baby – 1966 JAM 103 – Lonely You'll Be / That's What My Man is For – 1967 ART 002 – (& The Wonderetts) Cut Me Loose / Lonely You'll Be – 1967 ATCO 6528 – (& The Wonderetts) Cut Me Loose / Lonely You'll Be – 1967 ART 003 – Got to be on (Your Case) / You're the One – 1967 BIG HIT 104 – Two-sided Thing / You Make Me Feel Good – 1968 BIG HIT 105 – I Have No Choice / That's When It Hurts – 1969 BIG HIT 108 – My Momma Didn't Lie / You're The One – 1970 BIG HIT 111 – Don't be Discouraged / Don't be Discouraged – 1971 COTILLION – ADC Band – Long Stroke – 1978 COTILLION – ADC Band – Talk that Stuff – 1979 COTILLION – ADC Band – Renaissance – 1980 COTILLION – ADC Band – Brother Luck −1981 COTILLION – ADC Band – Roll with The Punches – 1982 NORTHERN 10039 – It's Good / Come on Back – 1979 COTILLION 45010 – It's Good / Come on Back – 1979 NORTHERN 10040 – I Can Feel It / Crazy About You – 1980 ==Further reading==