Ann Sexton
Ann Sexton (born Mary Ann Sexton; February 5, 1950 – March 13, 2025) was an American Southern soul singer prominent in the 1970s and a cult favorite on the UK’s Northern soul scene. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, she began singing in church choirs and was the cousin of soul artist Chuck Jackson. She started her secular career with Elijah & The Ebonies before forming Ann Sexton and the Masters of Soul with her husband, saxophonist Melvin Burton.
Songwriter David Lee discovered her in 1971, leading to her debut single, "You're Letting Me Down," on his local Impel label. She released two primary studio albums: Loving You, Loving Me (1973), and The Beginning (1977), which included the R&B hit "I'm His Wife (You're Just a Friend)". Her most successful single, "You're Gonna Miss Me," reached No. 47 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1973. Tracks like "You've Been Gone Too Long" and "You're Losing Me" became massive staples of the British Northern soul dance scene.
Following her recording career, she moved to New York City and worked as a paraprofessional for the Board of Education under her married name, Mary Burton.
Her music gained renewed interest after "You're Losing Me" was featured in the 2003 film 21 Grams. She returned to the stage in 2007 at the Baltic Soul Weekender in Germany and continued to perform at international soul festivals until her passing in March 2025 at the age of 75.
The Beginning
Written-By – F. Johnson 3:47
A2 I'm His Wife (You're Just A Friend)
Written-By – C. Curry, W. Doggett 2:56
A3 Who's Gonna Love You
Written-By – C. Ivey, T. Brasfield 3:01
A4 You Can't Lose With The Stuff I Use
Written-By – C. Curry, W. Doggett 4:40
B1 Color My World Blue
Written-By – F. Johnson 2:46
B2 Be Serious
Written-By – C. Curry, Randy Layne 3:58
B3 I Want To Be Loved
Written-By – F. Johnson 3:12
B4 Sugar Daddy
Written-By – C. Curry, W. Doggett 4:01
B5 You've Been Doing Me Wrong For So Long
Written-By – F. Johnson, T. Woodford 2:56
Label: Sound Stage 7 – SS 1500
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genre:
R&B Soul
Style: Southern Soul
Ann Sexton's 1977 album, The Beginning, is a sought-after Southern soul record appreciated for its raw emotion, powerful vocals, and a mix of upbeat dance tracks and smoother ballads that have gained a cult following in the Northern and Modern Soul scenes. It features her R&B chart hit "I'm His Wife (You're Just a Friend)".
The songs explore common soul music themes of love, relationships, and heartache. While her debut album Loving You, Loving Me was released in 1973, The Beginning followed several years later and featured production work by John Richbourg. Many tracks were co-written by Sexton and her husband, Melvin Burton.
Reviewers and fans consistently praise Sexton's powerful and emotional voice, often comparing her raw honesty and strength to artists like Aretha Franklin.
The album is highly regarded among Northern and Modern Soul enthusiasts for specific tracks. It's considered an "essential" collection for fans of rare and obscure soul.
Ann Sexton is often described as one of the most overlooked female Southern soul singers, making this album a valuable listen for genre aficionados.
The songs feature classic 70s soul musical stylings, including familiar bass lines and strong horn sections that evoke the era's classic sound.