RIP Mary Love

Mary Love, the Sacramento, California born singer who went on to some fame in the mid and late 60s, has died at age 69. Later known as Mary Love Comer when she re-emerged as a Gospel singer, Love, is an American soul and gospel singer, and Christian evangelist.

After being discovered by Sam Cooke's manager, J.W. Alexander, Love began singing on sessions in Los Angeles before recording “You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet” for the Modern record label in 1965. Later records for the label met with little success until "Move a Little Closer," which made the R&B chart in 1966. Her recordings for Modern, sone of which were issued in the UK, subsequently became popular on the English Northern soul scene. She revisited the lower reaches of the R&B chart with "The Hurt Is Just Beginning" for Roulette in 1968, but thereafter made few recordings for some years.

In the early 1980s Comer returned as a Gospel singer, working with husband Brad Comer. She released the single "Come Out Of The Sandbox" in 1987, and the couple ran their own church in Tennessee. She continued to record sporadically after that. She ultimately returned to California, where she communicated with many of her fans via her website:

Faith and belief comprise a very important part of our lives.  A person's beliefs in many ways define who they are -- how they see themselves, what they want out of life, and more. On this web site I'll offer a personal account of my own beliefs.  I'll describe how my beliefs have changed my life in profound and exciting ways, and how I think they might change the lives of others.  I will share the delivering power of our God and His restoration of our souls when we trust Him and His Word.

She will be missed.