Jump to content

Mary Jane Girls: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Citation bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
5,358,341 edits
Alter: url, template type. URLs might have been anonymized. Add: magazine. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by AManWithNoPlan | #UCB_webform 525/850
TagKnife (talk | contribs)
481 edits
Reverting edit(s) by NoSourGrapes (talk) to rev. 1229279737 by TheGreatestLuvofAll: NPOV issues (UV 0.1.5)
 
(47 intermediate revisions by 25 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American R&B, soul and funk group}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Mary Jane Girls
| name = Mary Jane Girls
| image =
| image =
Line 5: Line 8:
| image_size =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| background = group_or_band
| origin = [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]]
| origin = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| genre = [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[Soul music|soul]], [[funk]]
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
* [[Soul music|soul]]
* [[funk]]
* [[post-disco]]
⚫
| years_active = 1979–1987
}}
⚫
| years_active = 1983–1987
| label = [[Motown|Gordy]]
| label = [[Motown|Gordy]]
| past_members = * Joanne "JoJo" McDuffie
| associated_acts = [[Rick James]]
* Cheryl Ann "Cheri" Bailey

* Candice "Candi" Ghant
| past_members = Joanne "JoJo" McDuffie <br>Cheryl Ann "Cheri" Bailey aka Cheri Wells<br>Candice "Candi" Ghant<br>Kimberly "Maxi" Wuletich<br>Yvette "Corvette" Marine
* Kimberly "Maxi" Wuletich
* Yvette "Corvette" Marine
}}
}}


The '''Mary Jane Girls''' were an American [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[Soul music|soul]] and [[funk]] [[musical ensemble|group]] that gained popularity in the 1980s. They were protégées of musician [[Rick James]]. They are known for their songs "[[In My House]]", "[[All Night Long (Mary Jane Girls song)|All Night Long]]", "Candy Man", and their cover version of "[[Walk Like a Man (The Four Seasons song)|Walk Like a Man]]".
The '''Mary Jane Girls''' were an American [[girl group]] formed in 1983, best known for their songs "[[In My House]]", "[[All Night Long (Mary Jane Girls song)|All Night Long]]", "Candy Man", and their cover version of "[[Walk Like a Man (The Four Seasons song)|Walk Like a Man]]". They were protégées of musician [[Rick James]] and disbanded in 1987.


Joanne "Jojo" McDuffie was the lead singer, the others filling out the group's style and appearance. On the studio recordings, McDuffie was backed by session vocalists rather than the other Mary Jane Girls. The Mary Jane Girls released two albums in the 1980s and recorded a third which was shelved for decades but finally released in 2014 as part of a larger retrospective of Rick James' work.
Joanne "Jojo" McDuffie was the lead singer, the others filling out the group's style and appearance. On the studio recordings, McDuffie was backed by [[Backing vocalist|session vocalists]] rather than the other Mary Jane Girls. The group released two albums in the 1980s, and recorded a third – which was shelved for decades but finally released in 2014 as part of a larger Rick James retrospective.


They were inducted into the [[Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame|Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame]] in 2019.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbhalloffame.com/index.php/hall-of-fame/inductees|title=Inductees|website=National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020080929/https://www.rbhalloffame.com/index.php/hall-of-fame/inductees|archive-date=2019-10-20}}</ref>
The group was inducted into the [[Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame|Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame]] in 2019.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbhalloffame.com/index.php/hall-of-fame/inductees|title=Inductees|website=National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020080929/https://www.rbhalloffame.com/index.php/hall-of-fame/inductees|archive-date=2019-10-20}}</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
[[Rick James]] was frequently backed in his studio recordings by vocalists Joanne "Jojo" McDuffie and the sisters Maxine and Julia Waters. For live performances starting in 1979, James was backed by McDuffie along with Cheryl Bailey (who used the stage name Cheri Wells), Candice "Candi" Ghant and Kimberly "Maxi" Wuletich. Casually amongst the musicians, McDuffie, Wells, Ghant and Wuletich used the moniker Mary Jane Girls, a subgroup of James' backing band, the Stone City Band. The women learned choreographed dance routines and they practiced under a vocal coach.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sager |first=Mike |title=Scary Monsters and Super Freaks: Stories of Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll and Murder |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3QBuyvqIq9sC&pg=PA175 |page=175 |publisher=Da Capo Press |year=2003 |isbn=9781560255635}}</ref>
[[Rick James]] was frequently backed in his studio recordings by vocalists Joanne "Jojo" McDuffie and the sisters Maxine and Julia Waters. For live performances, starting in 1979, James was backed by McDuffie along with Cheryl Bailey (who used the stage name Cheri Wells), Candice "Candi" Ghant, and Kimberly "Maxi" Wuletich. Casually among the musicians, McDuffie, Wells, Ghant, and Wuletich used the moniker Mary Jane Girls, a subgroup of James's backing band, the Stone City Band. The women learned choreographed dance routines and practiced under a vocal coach.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sager |first=Mike|title=Scary Monsters and Super Freaks: Stories of Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll and Murder|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3QBuyvqIq9sC&pg=PA175|page=175|publisher=Da Capo Press|year=2003|isbn=9781560255635}}</ref>


== Career ==
==Career==
In 1983, James proposed to Motown that McDuffie be offered a solo career but miscommunication caused the label to sign an [[All-female band|all-female group]], which he determined would be the Mary Jane Girls.<ref>Blakcitrus (November 4, 2012). [http://www.kickmag.net/2012/11/04/throwback-the-mary-jane-girls-boys/ "The Mary Jane Girls-Boys"]. Kickmag.net.</ref> James filled the positions behind McDuffie with Wells, Ghant and Wuletich. He also wrote all the original songs and produced all the recordings. Often compared to the protégées of his rival [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[Vanity 6]], who debuted in 1982, James told [[Jet (magazine)|''Jet'']] in 1983 that he had come up with the concept six years prior but shelved the idea for a lack of time.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Collier|first=Aldore|date=Sep 26, 1983|title=Rick James Talks About Life with Fast Women and Hot Cars|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AbMDAAAAMBAJ&dq=vanity+6+jet+1982&pg=PA61|journal=Jet|pages=61}}</ref> "I wanted there to ba a Black female group in the industry that could express more reality with relationships to men. I wanted there to be Black girls who could really speak about love, the pain, money, power, hate and everything. Originally there were going to be three girls in negligees doing the punk thing."<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Collier|first=Aldore|date=Sep 26, 1983|title=Rick James Talks About Life with Fast Women and Hot Cars|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AbMDAAAAMBAJ&dq=vanity+6+jet+1982&pg=PA61|journal=Jet|pages=61}}</ref>
In 1983, James proposed to [[Motown]] that McDuffie be offered a solo career but miscommunication caused the label to sign an [[All-female band|all-female group]], which he determined would be the Mary Jane Girls.<ref>{{cite web|author=Blakcitrus|date=November 4, 2012|url=http://www.kickmag.net/2012/11/04/throwback-the-mary-jane-girls-boys/|title=The Mary Jane Girls-Boys|website=Kickmag.net}}</ref> James filled the positions behind McDuffie with Wells, Ghant, and Wuletich. He also wrote all the original songs and produced all the recordings. Often compared to the protégées of his rival [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[Vanity 6]], who debuted in 1982, James told [[Jet (magazine)|''Jet'']] that he had come up with the concept six years prior but shelved it for a lack of time.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Collier|first=Aldore|date=Sep 26, 1983|title=Rick James Talks About Life with Fast Women and Hot Cars|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AbMDAAAAMBAJ&dq=vanity+6+jet+1982&pg=PA61|journal=Jet|pages=61}}</ref> "I wanted there to be a Black female group in the industry that could express more reality with relationships to men. I wanted there to be Black girls who could really speak about love, the pain, money, power, hate and everything. Originally there were going to be three girls in negligees doing the punk thing."<ref name=":1"/>


The Waters sisters and McDuffie sang all the parts on the first Mary Jane Girls album: ''[[Mary Jane Girls (album)|Mary Jane Girls]]'' (1983). The album yielded their first R&B hits: "Candy Man", "[[All Night Long (Mary Jane Girls song)|All Night Long]]" (which was later included in the soundtrack of the 2002 video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]''), and "Boys". In live performances, the Mary Jane Girls were backed by the Stone City Band. The male band members also sang the background vocals to support McDuffie as lead vocalist. Cheri Wells left the group before the next album project was recorded. She was replaced by Yvette "Corvette" Marine.<ref name=TIOM>Tommyj (February 21, 2014). [http://imagecompaniesenterprises.com/flashback-fridays-rick-james-2/ "Flashback Fridays with Rick James"]. ''The Image of Magazine''.</ref>
The Waters sisters and McDuffie sang all the parts on the group's debut album, ''[[Mary Jane Girls (album)|Mary Jane Girls]]'', released in April 1983. The album yielded their first [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] hits: "Candy Man", "[[All Night Long (Mary Jane Girls song)|All Night Long]]" (which was later included in the soundtrack of the 2002 video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]''), and "Boys". In live performances, the Mary Jane Girls were backed by the Stone City Band. The male band members also sang the background vocals to support McDuffie as lead vocalist. Cheri Wells left the group before the next album project was recorded. She was replaced by Yvette "Corvette" Marine.<ref name=TIOM>{{cite web|author=Tommyj|date=February 21, 2014|url=http://imagecompaniesenterprises.com/flashback-fridays-rick-james-2/|title=Flashback Fridays with Rick James|work=The Image of Magazine}}</ref> Marine was the daughter of singer [[Pattie Brooks]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4_kbDQAAQBAJ&dq=pattie+brooks+yvette+marine&pg=PT221 | title=Super Freak: The Life of Rick James | isbn=978-1-61374-960-9 | last1=Benjaminson | first1=Peter | date=March 2017 | publisher=Chicago Review Press }}</ref>


The name of the group referenced ''mary jane'', slang for [[marijuana]]; a favored recreational drug of James. (James wrote a hit song titled "[[Mary Jane (Rick James song)|Mary Jane]]".) The group's image was styled as containing a street-wise girl (McDuffie), a supermodel (Ghant), a cheerleader/[[valley girl]] (Wells, then Marine), and a [[dominatrix]] (Wuletich).<ref name=RetroUniverse>Rhys Jones (September 5, 2008). [http://rqsretrouniverse.blogspot.com/2008/09/mary-jane-girls-set-up-house-on-charts.html "Mary Jane Girls Set Up House On The Charts "]. RetroUniverse.</ref>
The name of the group referenced ''mary jane'', slang for [[marijuana]]; a favored recreational drug of James. (James wrote a hit song titled "[[Mary Jane (Rick James song)|Mary Jane]]".) The group's image was styled as containing a street-wise girl (McDuffie), a supermodel (Ghant), a cheerleader/[[valley girl]] (Wells, then Marine), and a [[dominatrix]] (Wuletich).{{cn|date=February 2022}}


The group released their second album ''[[Only Four You]]'' in 1985. McDuffie was featured on most of the songs, and the Waters sisters were hired to provide background vocals, since the other members were vocally limited.<ref name=TIOM/> The lead single "[[In My House]]" became the group's biggest hit, reaching number 3 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] chart and then crossing over to the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart, where it reached number 7 and spent 12 weeks in the [[Top 40]]. It also charted on the [[Hot Dance Club Play]] chart, peaking at number 1 for two weeks in April 1985. "Wild and Crazy Love" was the second single from this album and it also fared well on the R&B (number 10) and dance charts (number 3). It barely missed the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 42. The last single, "Break It Up", only reached number 79 on the R&B chart and did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but it did hit number 39 on the [[Hot Dance Club Play]] chart.
The group released their second album, ''[[Only Four You]]'', in February 1985. McDuffie was featured on most of the songs, and the Waters sisters were hired to provide background vocals, since the other members were vocally limited.<ref name=TIOM/> The lead single "[[In My House]]" became the group's biggest hit, reaching number 3 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] chart and then crossing over to the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart, where it reached number 7 and spent 12 weeks in the [[Top 40]]. It also charted on the [[Hot Dance Club Play]] chart, peaking at number 1 for two weeks in April 1985. "Wild and Crazy Love" was the second single from this album and it also fared well on the R&B (number 10) and dance charts (number 3). It barely missed the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 42. The last single, "Break It Up", only reached number 79 on the R&B chart and did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but it did hit number 39 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.


A third album was recorded by the group, the project called ''Conversation'', but it was shelved for decades, finally released in 2014 as part of a larger retrospective of James' work.<ref>[http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140708005411/en/Rick-James-Catalog-Re-Released-Digital-Form-July Rick James' Catalog Re-Released in Digital Form on July 8, to Coincide with New Autobiography, 'Glow']. UME, Rhino. July 8, 2014.</ref> However, a single was released from the project in 1986, a cover of the [[Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons]] hit "[[Walk Like a Man (The Four Seasons song)|Walk Like a Man]]" which was heard in the film ''[[A Fine Mess (film)|A Fine Mess]]''. This single charted at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another single, "Shadow Lover", was also released in 1986, and the Mary Jane Girls appeared on ''[[Soul Train]]'' to lip-sync to it, but the single was not promoted by the label.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RG_LAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT372 |page=372 |title=Motown Encyclopedia |last=Betts |first=Graham |publisher=AC Publishing |year=2014 |isbn=9781311441546}}</ref> Ghant obtained other work in 1986 when James and Motown were in dispute, since the Mary Jane Girls had no label support.<ref name=RetroUniverse/> The Mary Jane Girls officially disbanded in 1987.<ref>Kyleigh (December 24, 2009). [http://musicrareobscure.blogspot.com/2009/12/mary-jane-girls.html The Mary Jane Girls]. Rare and Obscure Music.</ref>
A third album was recorded by the group, the project called ''Conversation'', but it was shelved for decades, finally released in 2014 as part of a larger retrospective of James's work.<ref>[http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140708005411/en/Rick-James-Catalog-Re-Released-Digital-Form-July Rick James' Catalog Re-Released in Digital Form on July 8, to Coincide with New Autobiography, 'Glow']. UME, Rhino. July 8, 2014.</ref> However, a single was released from the project in 1986, a cover of [[The Four Seasons (band)|The Four Seasons]] hit "[[Walk Like a Man (The Four Seasons song)|Walk Like a Man]]", which was heard in the film ''[[A Fine Mess (film)|A Fine Mess]]''. It charted at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another single, "Shadow Lover", was also released in 1986, and the Mary Jane Girls appeared on ''[[Soul Train]]'' to [[lip sync]] it, but the single was not promoted by the label.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RG_LAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT372|page=372|title=Motown Encyclopedia|last=Betts|first=Graham|publisher=AC Publishing |year=2014|isbn=9781311441546}}</ref> Ghant obtained other work in 1986 when James and Motown were in dispute, since the Mary Jane Girls had no label support. The Mary Jane Girls officially disbanded in 1987.{{cn|date=February 2022}}


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
Cheri Wells was recruited away from the Mary Jane Girls by [[Morris Day]] to be the lead singer for his all-female band the Day Zs, which released one album and one single on Reprise in 1990. These releases did not chart.
Cheri Wells was recruited away from the Mary Jane Girls by [[Morris Day]] to be the lead singer for his all-female band the Day Zs, which released one album and one single on Reprise in 1990. These releases did not chart.


In 1991, Marine sued [[Virgin Records]], claiming that she had shared the lead vocals on the songs "[[Opposites Attract]]", "[[Knocked Out]]", and "I Need You" on [[Paula Abdul]]'s debut album ''[[Forever Your Girl]].''<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE3D81531F933A25757C0A967958260 Singer Says Part of Voice on Hit Is Hers]. ''New York Times'', 1991-04-10. Accessed 2008-06-04.</ref> In 1993, a jury ruled against Marine.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=OMEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA61#v=onepage&q&f=false Paula Abdul did lead on 'Forever Your Girl': jury]. Jet, 1993-08-30. Accessed 2013-10-09.</ref>
In 1991, Marine sued [[Virgin Records]], claiming that she had shared lead vocals on the songs "[[Opposites Attract]]", "[[Knocked Out]]", and "I Need You", on [[Paula Abdul]]'s debut album ''[[Forever Your Girl]].''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE3D81531F933A25757C0A967958260|title=Singer Says Part of Voice on Hit Is Hers|work=[[New York Times]]|date=1991-04-10|accessdate=2008-06-04}}</ref> In 1993, a jury ruled against Marine.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OMEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA61|title=Paula Abdul did lead on 'Forever Your Girl': jury|magazine=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|date=1993-08-30|accessdate=2013-10-09}}</ref>

⚫
In 1995, the song "All Night Long" was remixed by Mike Gray and Jon Pearn subtitled "The Hustlers Convention Remixes", released on 12" vinyl and CD single. These remixes gained attention in dance clubs, and rose to number 51 in the UK. Also in 1995, McDuffie, Ghant and Wuletich performed on television on ''[[The Jenny Jones Show]]'', billing themselves as MJG. They continued performing occasionally for a year or two.<ref name=RetroUniverse/>

⚫
McDuffie recorded with James on his 1997 ''Urban Rhapsody'' album, on the [[torch song]] "Never Say You Love Me".


⚫
In 1995, the song "All Night Long" was remixed by Mike Gray and Jon Pearn, subtitled "The Hustlers Convention Remixes" and released on 12" vinyl and CD single. These remixes gained attention in dance clubs and rose to number 51 in the UK.<ref name="uk"/> Also in 1995, McDuffie, Ghant, and Wuletich performed on television on ''[[The Jenny Jones Show]]'', billing themselves as MJG. They continued performing occasionally for a year or two.
⚫
In 2001, [[Mary J. Blige]] reported that she had purchased the rights to the name "Mary Jane Girls" for the purpose of putting together a girl group composed of one Asian American, one African American, one Latina, and one white singer. Blige said she wanted the name because her own name was Mary Jane Blige.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/77566/backstage-at-the-my-vh1-awards-matthews-jewel-creed-blige-sting |title=Backstage At The My VH1 Awards: Matthews, Jewel, Creed, Blige, Sting |date=December 3, 2001 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref> Blige did not pursue the project.


⚫
McDuffie recorded with James on his 1997 ''[[Urban Rapsody]]'' album, on the [[torch song]] "Never Say You Love Me".
⚫
In 2003, the Mary Jane Girls were featured on [[VH1]] in a "[[Where Are They Now? (VH1 TV series)|Where Are They Now?]]" episode. Ghant, Wells, Wuletich and Marine were interviewed together. McDuffie, coming off of a concert tour backing [[Barry White]] in Europe, appeared in a separate interview.<ref name=RetroUniverse/>


⚫
In 2001, [[Mary J. Blige]] reported that she had purchased the rights to the name "Mary Jane Girls" for the purpose of putting together a girl group composed of one Asian American, one African American, one Latina, and one white singer. Blige said she wanted the name because her own name was Mary Jane Blige.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/77566/backstage-at-the-my-vh1-awards-matthews-jewel-creed-blige-sting|title=Backstage At The My VH1 Awards: Matthews, Jewel, Creed, Blige, Sting|date=December 3, 2001|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> Blige did not pursue the project.
⚫
In 2009, McDuffie's husband Robert Funderburg applied for control of the trademark "Mary Jane Girls", but the application was abandoned in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trademarkia.com/mary-jane-girls-77686882.html|title=Apply for a Trademark. Search a Trademark|website=trademarkia.com}}</ref> Later in 2010, Kimberly "Maxi" Wuletich applied for the trademark "MJB Starring Maxi and Cheri of the Original Mary Jane Girls", which she uses for performing with Cheri Wells.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trademarkia.com/mjg-starring-maxi-and-cheri-of-the-original-mary-jane-girls-85068904.html|title=Apply for a Trademark. Search a Trademark|website=trademarkia.com}}</ref> However, in 2013 the estate of Rick James sued Wuletich and Wells to stop them from performing under the name the Mary Jane Girls. The estate held that the group's name was owned by James, not the singers.<ref>Jonathan Hailey (November 20, 2013). [http://theurbandaily.com/2013/11/20/mary-jane-girls-sued-rick-james/ "’80s Girl Group Mary Jane Girls Sued By Rick James’ Estate"]. The Urban Daily.</ref> In 2014, the Mary Jane Girls (Candice Grant, [[Val Young]], and Farah Melanson) received an honorary [[HAL Awards|Hal Award]].<ref>[http://www.umusicpub.com/us/News/2016/05/Motown-Legend-Salute-Ethiopia-Habtemariam-at-HAL-Awards.aspx Motown Legend Salute Ethiopia Habtemariam at HAL Awards]. Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved on June 30, 2017</ref>


⚫
In 2003, the Mary Jane Girls were featured on [[VH1]] in a "[[Where Are They Now? (American TV series)|Where Are They Now?]]" episode. Ghant, Wells, Wuletich, and Marine were interviewed together. McDuffie, coming off a concert tour backing [[Barry White]] in Europe, appeared in a separate interview.
The role of Julia and Maxine Waters as session singers on the group's albums was discussed in the documentary film ''[[20 Feet from Stardom]]'' (2013).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/singer-maxine-waters-attends-a-q-a-session-at-a-screening-news-photo/450153723|title=2013 Movies For Grownups Film Festival Presented By AARP Screening Of "20 Feet From Stardom" Photos and Images - Getty Images|website=gettyimages.com|access-date=22 April 2017}}</ref> Maxine and Julia have performed with their brothers [[Oren Waters|Oren]] and Luther as "the Waters",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reverbnation.com/thewatersjuliamaxinelutherandoren|title=The Waters-Julia, Maxine, Oren & Luther - Pop from Altadena, CA|last=eMinor|website=reverbnation.com|access-date=22 April 2017}}</ref> and they supported [[Paul Simon]] in 1991 on the Born at the Right Time Tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paul-simon.info/PHP/musician.php?id_musician=25|title=The Waters playing Background Vocals in Paul Simons band|website=paul-simon.info|access-date=22 April 2017}}</ref> The Waters toured with [[Neil Diamond]] as backup singers starting in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://diamondville.com/NDRRT/Julia.html|title=Who she anyway?|website=diamondville.com|access-date=22 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://diamondville.com/NDRRT/Maxine.html|title=who she anyway?|website=diamondville.com|access-date=22 April 2017}}</ref> Maxine Waters Willard and Julia Waters-Tillman have appeared separately and together as singers in a dozen films including ''[[The Lion King]]'' and ''[[Little Shop of Horrors (film)|Little Shop of Horrors]]'.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0914027/ Maxine Waters Willard]. Internet Movie Database.</ref><ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0914026/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Julia Waters]. Internet Movie Database.</ref>


⚫
In 2009, McDuffie's husband Robert Funderburg applied for control of the trademark "Mary Jane Girls", but the application was abandoned in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trademarkia.com/mary-jane-girls-77686882.html|title=Apply for a Trademark. Search a Trademark|website=trademarkia.com}}</ref> Later in 2010, Kimberly "Maxi" Wuletich applied for the trademark "MJG Starring Maxi and Cheri of the Original Mary Jane Girls", which she uses for performing with Cheri Wells.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trademarkia.com/mjg-starring-maxi-and-cheri-of-the-original-mary-jane-girls-85068904.html|title=Apply for a Trademark. Search a Trademark|website=trademarkia.com}}</ref> However, in 2013 the estate of Rick James sued Wuletich and Wells to stop them from performing under the name Mary Jane Girls. The estate held that the group's name was owned by James, not the singers.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jonathan|last=Hailey|date=November 20, 2013|url=http://theurbandaily.com/2013/11/20/mary-jane-girls-sued-rick-james/|title=80s Girl Group Mary Jane Girls Sued By Rick James' Estate|work=The Urban Daily}}</ref> In 2014, the Mary Jane Girls (Candice Ghant, [[Val Young]], and Farah Melanson) received an honorary [[HAL Awards|HAL Award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.umusicpub.com/us/News/2016/05/Motown-Legend-Salute-Ethiopia-Habtemariam-at-HAL-Awards.aspx|title=Motown Legend Salute Ethiopia Habtemariam at HAL Awards|publisher=Universal Music Publishing Group|accessdate=June 30, 2017}}</ref>
The Mary Jane Girls were inducted into the [[Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame|Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame]] in 2019.<ref name=":0" />


==Discography==
==Discography==
Line 63: Line 69:
! rowspan="2"| Record label
! rowspan="2"| Record label
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref name="allmusic">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mary-jane-girls/chart-history/tlp/|title=Mary Jane Girls Chart History: ''Billboard'' 200|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=2020-08-28}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref name="allmusic">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mary-jane-girls/chart-history/tlp/|title=Mary Jane Girls Chart History: ''Billboard'' 200|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=2020-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225005034/https://www.billboard.com/artist/mary-jane-girls/chart-history/tlp/|archive-date=February 25, 2022}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US<br>R&B]]<br><ref name="allmusic"/>
! width="35"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US<br>R&B]]<br><ref name="allmusic"/>
! width="35"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]<br><ref name="can">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=uiur2rf8ho7gg991ndujt08sr6&q1=Mary+Jane+Girls&q2=&interval=20|title=CAN Charts > Mary Jane Girls|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=2012-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824222819/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=uiur2rf8ho7gg991ndujt08sr6&q1=Mary+Jane+Girls&q2=&interval=20|archive-date=2017-08-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]<br><ref name="can">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=uiur2rf8ho7gg991ndujt08sr6&q1=Mary+Jane+Girls&q2=&interval=20|title=CAN Charts > Mary Jane Girls|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=2012-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824222819/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=uiur2rf8ho7gg991ndujt08sr6&q1=Mary+Jane+Girls&q2=&interval=20|archive-date=2017-08-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Line 76: Line 82:
| —
| —
| 51
| 51
|
| RIAA: Gold
| rowspan="2"| [[Motown|Gordy]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Motown|Gordy]]
|-
|-
Line 87: Line 93:
| —
| —
|
|
* [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]: Gold<ref name="riaa">{{Cite certification|region=United States|artist=Mary Jane Girls|accessdate=August 13, 2021}}</ref>
* RIAA: Gold<ref name="riaa">{{Cite certification|region=United States|artist=Mary Jane Girls|accessdate=August 13, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|-
| colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
| colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Line 96: Line 102:
*''20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Mary Jane Girls'' (2001, Motown)
*''20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Mary Jane Girls'' (2001, Motown)


=== Singles ===
===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
|-
Line 108: Line 114:
! width="35"| [[Hot Dance Club Songs|US<br>Dan]]<br><ref name="allmusic"/>
! width="35"| [[Hot Dance Club Songs|US<br>Dan]]<br><ref name="allmusic"/>
! width="35"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br><ref name="kent">{{cite book|title=Australian Charts Book 1970—1992|author=David Kent|isbn=0-646-11917-6|year=1993|publisher=Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W.}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br><ref name="kent">{{cite book|title=Australian Charts Book 1970—1992|author=David Kent|isbn=0-646-11917-6|year=1993|publisher=Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W.}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[VRT Top 30|BEL]]<br><ref name="bel">{{cite web|url=http://top30-2.radio2.be/#/artist-info/2096 |title=BEL Charts > Mary Jane Girls |publisher=[[VRT Top 30]] |access-date=2012-09-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409063716/http://top30-2.radio2.be/ |archive-date=2012-04-09 }}</ref>
! width="35"| [[VRT Top 30|BEL]]<br><ref name="bel">{{cite web|url=http://top30-2.radio2.be/#/artist-info/2096|title=BEL Charts > Mary Jane Girls |publisher=[[VRT Top 30]]|access-date=2012-09-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409063716/http://top30-2.radio2.be/ |archive-date=2012-04-09}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]<br><ref name="can"/>
! width="35"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]<br><ref name="can"/>
! width="35"| [[Irish Singles Chart|IRE]]<br><ref name="ire">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement|title=IRE Charts Search > Mary Jane Girls|publisher=[[Irish Recorded Music Association]]|access-date=2012-09-28}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Irish Singles Chart|IRE]]<br><ref name="ire">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement|title=IRE Charts Search > Mary Jane Girls|publisher=[[Irish Recorded Music Association]]|access-date=2012-09-28}}</ref>
Line 188: Line 194:
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 101
|-
|-
| align="left"| "Break It Up"
| align="left"| "Break It Up"
Line 214: Line 220:
| 48
| 48
| —
| —
| align="left"| ''[[A Fine Mess (film)|A Fine Mess]]''
| align="left"| ''[[A Fine Mess (film)#Soundtrack|A Fine Mess]]''
|-
|-
| 1995
| 1995
Line 236: Line 242:
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


== External links ==
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090810130049/http://jojourbandiva.com/ Joanne "JoJo" McDuffie] official website of JoJo
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090810130049/http://jojourbandiva.com/ Joanne "JoJo" McDuffie] official website of JoJo
* {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4853}}
* {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4853}}
* {{discogs artist|Mary Jane Girls}}
* {{imdb name|3048741}}


{{Mary Jane Girls}}
{{Mary Jane Girls}}
Line 245: Line 253:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mary Jane Girls}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mary Jane Girls}}
[[Category:American dance girl groups]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Motown artists]]
[[Category:1987 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:Musical quartets]]
[[Category:American contemporary R&B musical groups]]
[[Category:American disco girl groups]]
[[Category:American funk musical groups]]
[[Category:American funk musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:American pop girl groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1983]]
[[Category:American post-disco music groups]]
[[Category:American soul musical groups]]
[[Category:Dance-pop groups]]
[[Category:Motown artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1987]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1987]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1983]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Musical hoaxes]]
[[Category:Vocal quartets]]

Latest revision as of 23:15, 21 June 2024

Mary Jane Girls
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1983–1987
LabelsGordy
Past members
  • Joanne "JoJo" McDuffie
  • Cheryl Ann "Cheri" Bailey
  • Candice "Candi" Ghant
  • Kimberly "Maxi" Wuletich
  • Yvette "Corvette" Marine

The Mary Jane Girls were an American girl group formed in 1983, best known for their songs "In My House", "All Night Long", "Candy Man", and their cover version of "Walk Like a Man". They were protégées of musician Rick James and disbanded in 1987.

Joanne "Jojo" McDuffie was the lead singer, the others filling out the group's style and appearance. On the studio recordings, McDuffie was backed by session vocalists rather than the other Mary Jane Girls. The group released two albums in the 1980s, and recorded a third – which was shelved for decades but finally released in 2014 as part of a larger Rick James retrospective.

The group was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2019.[1]

Background

[edit]

Rick James was frequently backed in his studio recordings by vocalists Joanne "Jojo" McDuffie and the sisters Maxine and Julia Waters. For live performances, starting in 1979, James was backed by McDuffie along with Cheryl Bailey (who used the stage name Cheri Wells), Candice "Candi" Ghant, and Kimberly "Maxi" Wuletich. Casually among the musicians, McDuffie, Wells, Ghant, and Wuletich used the moniker Mary Jane Girls, a subgroup of James's backing band, the Stone City Band. The women learned choreographed dance routines and practiced under a vocal coach.[2]

Career

[edit]

In 1983, James proposed to Motown that McDuffie be offered a solo career but miscommunication caused the label to sign an all-female group, which he determined would be the Mary Jane Girls.[3] James filled the positions behind McDuffie with Wells, Ghant, and Wuletich. He also wrote all the original songs and produced all the recordings. Often compared to the protégées of his rival Prince, Vanity 6, who debuted in 1982, James told Jet that he had come up with the concept six years prior but shelved it for a lack of time.[4] "I wanted there to be a Black female group in the industry that could express more reality with relationships to men. I wanted there to be Black girls who could really speak about love, the pain, money, power, hate and everything. Originally there were going to be three girls in negligees doing the punk thing."[4]

The Waters sisters and McDuffie sang all the parts on the group's debut album, Mary Jane Girls, released in April 1983. The album yielded their first R&B hits: "Candy Man", "All Night Long" (which was later included in the soundtrack of the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City), and "Boys". In live performances, the Mary Jane Girls were backed by the Stone City Band. The male band members also sang the background vocals to support McDuffie as lead vocalist. Cheri Wells left the group before the next album project was recorded. She was replaced by Yvette "Corvette" Marine.[5] Marine was the daughter of singer Pattie Brooks.[6]

The name of the group referenced mary jane, slang for marijuana; a favored recreational drug of James. (James wrote a hit song titled "Mary Jane".) The group's image was styled as containing a street-wise girl (McDuffie), a supermodel (Ghant), a cheerleader/valley girl (Wells, then Marine), and a dominatrix (Wuletich).[citation needed]

The group released their second album, Only Four You, in February 1985. McDuffie was featured on most of the songs, and the Waters sisters were hired to provide background vocals, since the other members were vocally limited.[5] The lead single "In My House" became the group's biggest hit, reaching number 3 on the R&B chart and then crossing over to the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it reached number 7 and spent 12 weeks in the Top 40. It also charted on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, peaking at number 1 for two weeks in April 1985. "Wild and Crazy Love" was the second single from this album and it also fared well on the R&B (number 10) and dance charts (number 3). It barely missed the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 42. The last single, "Break It Up", only reached number 79 on the R&B chart and did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but it did hit number 39 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

A third album was recorded by the group, the project called Conversation, but it was shelved for decades, finally released in 2014 as part of a larger retrospective of James's work.[7] However, a single was released from the project in 1986, a cover of The Four Seasons hit "Walk Like a Man", which was heard in the film A Fine Mess. It charted at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another single, "Shadow Lover", was also released in 1986, and the Mary Jane Girls appeared on Soul Train to lip sync it, but the single was not promoted by the label.[8] Ghant obtained other work in 1986 when James and Motown were in dispute, since the Mary Jane Girls had no label support. The Mary Jane Girls officially disbanded in 1987.[citation needed]

Legacy

[edit]

Cheri Wells was recruited away from the Mary Jane Girls by Morris Day to be the lead singer for his all-female band the Day Zs, which released one album and one single on Reprise in 1990. These releases did not chart.

In 1991, Marine sued Virgin Records, claiming that she had shared lead vocals on the songs "Opposites Attract", "Knocked Out", and "I Need You", on Paula Abdul's debut album Forever Your Girl.[9] In 1993, a jury ruled against Marine.[10]

In 1995, the song "All Night Long" was remixed by Mike Gray and Jon Pearn, subtitled "The Hustlers Convention Remixes" and released on 12" vinyl and CD single. These remixes gained attention in dance clubs and rose to number 51 in the UK.[11] Also in 1995, McDuffie, Ghant, and Wuletich performed on television on The Jenny Jones Show, billing themselves as MJG. They continued performing occasionally for a year or two.

McDuffie recorded with James on his 1997 Urban Rapsody album, on the torch song "Never Say You Love Me".

In 2001, Mary J. Blige reported that she had purchased the rights to the name "Mary Jane Girls" for the purpose of putting together a girl group composed of one Asian American, one African American, one Latina, and one white singer. Blige said she wanted the name because her own name was Mary Jane Blige.[12] Blige did not pursue the project.

In 2003, the Mary Jane Girls were featured on VH1 in a "Where Are They Now?" episode. Ghant, Wells, Wuletich, and Marine were interviewed together. McDuffie, coming off a concert tour backing Barry White in Europe, appeared in a separate interview.

In 2009, McDuffie's husband Robert Funderburg applied for control of the trademark "Mary Jane Girls", but the application was abandoned in 2010.[13] Later in 2010, Kimberly "Maxi" Wuletich applied for the trademark "MJG Starring Maxi and Cheri of the Original Mary Jane Girls", which she uses for performing with Cheri Wells.[14] However, in 2013 the estate of Rick James sued Wuletich and Wells to stop them from performing under the name Mary Jane Girls. The estate held that the group's name was owned by James, not the singers.[15] In 2014, the Mary Jane Girls (Candice Ghant, Val Young, and Farah Melanson) received an honorary HAL Award.[16]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Record label
US
[17] 		US
R&B
[17] 		CAN
[18] 		NZ
[19] 		UK
[11]
1983 Mary Jane Girls 56 6 — — 51 Gordy
1985 Only Four You 18 5 67 28 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

[edit]
  • In My House: The Very Best of the Mary Jane Girls (1994, Motown)
  • 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Mary Jane Girls (2001, Motown)

Singles

[edit]
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
US
[17] 		US
R&B
[17] 		US
Dan
[17] 		AUS
[21] 		BEL
[22] 		CAN
[18] 		IRE
[23] 		NLD
[24] 		NZ
[19] 		UK
[11]
1983 "Candy Man" 101 23 8 — — — — — — 60 Mary Jane Girls
"All Night Long" 101 11 — — — 18 — — 13
"Boys" 102 29 — — — — — — 74
1984 "Jealousy" 106 84 — — — — — — — —
1985 "In My House" 7 3 1 19 8 6 — 6 6 77 Only Four You
"Wild and Crazy Love" 42 10 3 — 26 — — — — 101
"Break It Up" — 79 33 — — — — — — —
1986 "Walk Like a Man" 41 91 — — 26 97 — — 48 — A Fine Mess
1995 "All Night Long" (The Hustlers Convention Remixes) — — — — — — — — — 51 Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Inductees". National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 20, 2019.
  2. ^ Sager, Mike (2003). Scary Monsters and Super Freaks: Stories of Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll and Murder. Da Capo Press. p. 175. ISBN 9781560255635.
  3. ^ Blakcitrus (November 4, 2012). "The Mary Jane Girls-Boys". Kickmag.net.
  4. ^ a b Collier, Aldore (September 26, 1983). "Rick James Talks About Life with Fast Women and Hot Cars". Jet: 61.
  5. ^ a b Tommyj (February 21, 2014). "Flashback Fridays with Rick James". The Image of Magazine.
  6. ^ Benjaminson, Peter (March 2017). Super Freak: The Life of Rick James. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1-61374-960-9.
  7. ^ Rick James' Catalog Re-Released in Digital Form on July 8, to Coincide with New Autobiography, 'Glow'. UME, Rhino. July 8, 2014.
  8. ^ Betts, Graham (2014). Motown Encyclopedia. AC Publishing. p. 372. ISBN 9781311441546.
  9. ^ "Singer Says Part of Voice on Hit Is Hers". New York Times. April 10, 1991. Retrieved June 4, 2008.
  10. ^ "Paula Abdul did lead on 'Forever Your Girl': jury". Jet. August 30, 1993. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  11. ^ a b c "UK Charts > Mary Jane Girls". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  12. ^ "Backstage At The My VH1 Awards: Matthews, Jewel, Creed, Blige, Sting". Billboard. December 3, 2001.
  13. ^ "Apply for a Trademark. Search a Trademark". trademarkia.com.
  14. ^ "Apply for a Trademark. Search a Trademark". trademarkia.com.
  15. ^ Hailey, Jonathan (November 20, 2013). "80s Girl Group Mary Jane Girls Sued By Rick James' Estate". The Urban Daily.
  16. ^ "Motown Legend Salute Ethiopia Habtemariam at HAL Awards". Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Mary Jane Girls Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  18. ^ a b "CAN Charts > Mary Jane Girls". RPM. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  19. ^ a b "NZ Charts > Rose Royce". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  20. ^ "American certifications – Mary Jane Girls". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  21. ^ David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  22. ^ "BEL Charts > Mary Jane Girls". VRT Top 30. Archived from the original on April 9, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  23. ^ "IRE Charts Search > Mary Jane Girls". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  24. ^ "NLD Charts > Mary Jane Girls". MegaCharts. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Mary_Jane_Girls&oldid=1230304232"