Born on July 4, 1943, in Detroit, Michigan to Ann and Roger El Wood Beard, Annette started singing in church choirs at an early age.

[1] Fourteen-year-old Annette impressed him with a single note and she joined friends Rosalind Ashford and Gloria Williams to form the original version of The Del-Phis in 1957.

Annette, who was a shy girl growing up, did not mind singing background behind Gloria Williams, then the original lead singer of the group.

Afterwards, Annette, Martha and Rosalind sang together on Marvin Gaye's hits "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", "Hitch Hike" and "Pride and Joy".

Beard was replaced by former Velvelettes member Betty Kelly when she "retired" to care for her family and work for St John's Hospital in her native Detroit.

Having remained in touch with her former bandmates, Beard soon found herself back in the public eye following a reunion with Reeves and Ashford during a benefit concert for actor Will Geer in Los Angeles.

As of 2011, Helton And Ashford separated from Reeves and Annette and Rosalind continue perform all over the world as "The Original Vandellas" with lead singer, Roschelle Laughhunn.