Lee, Beverly (1941–)

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Lee, Beverly (1941–)

African-American singer. Name variations: The Shirelles. Born Aug 3, 1941, in Passaic, NJ.

Began singing at school functions with Shirley Owens, Addie "Micki" Harris, and Doris Coley; with them, formed the Shirelles in Passaic, NJ (1958), among the 1st girl groups of rock era, and wrote their 1st hit "I Met Him on a Sunday"; with group, had other hits, including "Tonight's the Night" (1960), "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" (1961), "Baby It's You" (1963), as well as "Mama Said," "Soldier Boy" and "Foolish Little Girl"; recorded and performed until group split up in late 1960s; sang with group's surviving members, Owens and Coley, at Rhythm and Blues Foundation awards ceremony (1994), and on Dionne Warwick album. Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1996).