Sherlie Matthews

Sherlie Matthews (born 1934, Los Angeles, California, United States) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known as a backing vocalist for pop, R&B and rock groups from the mid-1960s to the present time.

Matthews started performing as a soloist in church at the age of two. Then at age four, she began harmonizing. She sang alto parts in vocal duets with her two-year-old sister. Her grandmother, who was an accomplished musician/composer, recognized her musical talents and was her first piano/voice teacher and mentor. She provided piano accompaniment for Sherlie and her sister for many years at various local venues, tea parties, weddings, church services, concerts, etc. From her early nurturing Sherlie continued to develop her natural abilities, which includes a five octave vocal range for all phases of the performing arts, through school, college, community and professional workshops. At the age of 10 years she began setting Bible verses to music to help children learn Bible texts. After earning a BA in Pre-Social Welfare from UCLA, she earned her living for several years as a medical social worker before embarking on a successful career in the music industry, reflected by her substantial resume.

Employing her as both a lyricist and composer, she created many of the 1960s and 1970s hits for Mirwood Records' artists, including Jackie Lee,The Olympics, Bobby Garrett, The Mirettes, The Belles and Bob & Earl.

Frank Wilson, a personal friend, who was a producer/writer with Motown Records, enhanced her professional career when he introduced her to that record company in December 1964. Soon thereafter, she was signed as a singer/songwriter/producer. She performed with Diana Ross and Lionel Richie and the Commodores on-stage and wrote and produced recordings for: The Jackson 5, The Supremes, Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye, Martha and the Vandellas, the Four Tops, The Celebration, Stacie Johnson, and The Blackberries, a trio that she formed with fellow backing vocalists, Venetta Fields and Clydie King. She also collaborated with the songwriter and producer, Deke Richards, on many of the above projects, which included the co-production of The Jackson Five singing two songs from the musical, Pippin: namely, "Corner of the Sky" and "Skywriter" and as a member of the group Celebration, which released an album on Motown's Mowest label.

...
Wikipedia