Dorothy Love Coates (née McGriff; January 30, 1928 – April 9, 2002)[1] was an American Gospel singer, composer and songwritter, and a civil rights activist.

"[7] On September 9, 1944, She married Willie Love of The Fairfield Four, one of the most popular quartets of the early years of Gospel, but divorced him shortly thereafter.

[2] With her "raggedy", "raspy" and "rough" voice and preacher's fire Coates could out sing the most powerful, hard male Gospel singers of the era.

Led by Evelyn Starks, a pianist whose style of playing was much imitated, and featuring Mildred Madison Miller, a mezzo-soprano who had a down-home sound that came to be a symbol of the group, singing as its lead singer.

Their first sides for Specialty Records—"I'm Sealed" and "Get Away Jordan"—recorded with Love in 1951 were far more successful, the group recorded a series of hits in the years that followed before disbanding in 1958.

While many other Gospel artists were slow to address political issues head-on, Coates spoke out against the War in Vietnam, Racism and other evils.

She appeared in the films "The Long Walk Home" and "Beloved", leading a chorus of formerly enslaved singers, at the end of her career.

[1] While Coates vigorously rejected all offers to cross over to pop or soul music, a number of artists, including Little Richard, imitated her sanctified singing style.