Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Mills, born March 22, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York, is a Grammy-winning R&B, soul, and gospel singer renowned for her Broadway role as Dorothy in The Wiz. Raised Baptist in Bedford-Stuyvesant, she began singing gospel at Cornerstone Baptist Church as a child.
Mills started professionally at age nine in the Broadway musical Maggie Flynn. By 11, she won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater six times and opened for the Isley Brothers. Her debut album Movin' in the Right Direction arrived in 1974 on ABC Records, followed by her star-making role as Dorothy in The Wiz (1975-1979), where her performance of "Home" helped earn seven Tony Awards.
In 1979, "What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin'" peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling over a million copies and winning a Grammy for Best R&B Song. The 1980 track "Never Knew Love Like This Before" reached No. 4 in the UK and won her a second Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Other hits include "Sweet Sensation" (No. 3, 1980, third Grammy), her duet "Two Hearts" with Teddy Pendergrass (No. 1, 1980), and later singles like "I Feel Good All Over" (1987 NAACP Image Award).
Albums like What Cha Gonna Do with My Lovin', Sweet Sensation, and Stephanie achieved gold or platinum status. She released gospel album Personal Inspirations in the late 1990s and returned with Born For This in 2004, featuring "Can't Let Him Go". In 2025, Billboard ranked her among the 75 best R&B singers ever; she was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2022.
Mills married R&B singer/choreographer Jeffrey Daniel in 1981 but divorced in 1983.
Stephanie
Arranged By [Horns] – Greg Thomas
Arranged By [Strings] – Dunn Pearson
Written-By – James Mtume, Reggie Lucas
4:50
A2 Two Hearts
Arranged By [Strings, Horns] – Dunn Pearson
Featuring – Teddy Pendergrass
Written-By – James Mtume, Reggie Lucas, Tawatha
4:44
A3 Don't Stop Doin' What 'Cha Do
Arranged By [Strings, Horns] – Dunn Pearson
Written-By – James Mtume, Reggie Lucas
4:48
A4 Top Of My List
Arranged By [Strings, Horns] – Rodney Brown
Written-By – Rodney Brown & Willie Lester
3:42
B1 I Believe In Love Songs
Arranged By [Strings, Horns] – Wade Marcus
Written-By – James Mtume, Reggie Lucas
4:14
B2 Night Games
Acoustic Guitar – David Spinozza
Arranged By [Strings, Horns] – Jorge Calandrelli
Keyboards – Warren Bernhardt
Written-By – James Mtume, Reggie Lucas
5:47
B3 My Love's Been Good To You
Arranged By [Strings, Horns] – Dunn Pearson
Written-By – Howard King, Tawatha
4:12
B4 Magic
Acoustic Guitar – David Spinozza
Arranged By [Strings, Horns] – Wade Marcus
Keyboards – Warren Bernhardt
Written-By – Jeffrey Daniels, Stephanie Mills
5:07
Label: 20th Century Fox Records – T-700
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Eighties Soul, Disco, Funk
Stephanie Mills' 1981 album "Stephanie" is generally seen as a solid, sophisticated soul/R&B release, blending smooth quiet storm ballads with enjoyable post-disco tracks, featuring highlights like the hit duet with Teddy Pendergrass "Two Hearts," strong Mtume/Lucas productions ("Night Games," "Don't Stop Doin' What 'Cha Do"), and showcasing Mills' powerful vocals, though some found it less surprising or original than her earlier work.
Mostly produced by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, maintaining their successful formula but with improved ballads. A mix of sensual R&B, quiet storm, and post-disco pop, with strong soulful melodies and big vocals. Widely praised for Mills' commanding, powerhouse voice, drawing from her Broadway roots.
Standout Tracks:- "Two Hearts": A major hit duet with Teddy Pendergrass, noted for its solid melody; "Night Games": A chance for Mills to shine vocally, a classy ballad; "Don't Stop Doin' What 'Cha Do": Another strong ballad; "Top of My List": An enjoyable, playful uptempo track.
It Marked Mills' final album for 20th Century-Fox before moving to Casablanca Records and earned her another Grammy nomination. Some reviewers felt the album was somewhat uneven, a bit dated, or not as groundbreaking as her prior releases, but still a quality record for fans.
Overall, "Stephanie" is considered a strong entry in her catalog, emphasizing her vocal talent and delivering sophisticated soul, especially appreciated by fans of the era and Mills herself.