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Mowtown legend Wanda Young has died

"Please Mister Postman" reached #1 in 1961

One of the stars of Motown records has died. It was announced over the weekend that singer Wanda Young passed away. Her group The Marvelettes gave Motown its first number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

When Motown Records hit the big time, The Marvelettes were there, and so was Wanda Young. The all-female group of teenagers’ song “Please Mister Postman” reached number one in 1961, and was covered numerous times, by bands including the Beatles.

Young embarked on a brief solo career in the 1970’s, then left for a quiet life in the Detroit suburbs.

Her family says she died of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Quinn Klinefelter is a host and Senior News Editor for 101.9 WDET, anchoring midday newscasts and preparing reports for WDET, NPR and the BBC.