Known for her distinctive alto voice,[3] Armstead first achieved success as one half of the duo Two Tons O' Fun, along with Martha Wash, as they sang backup for American disco singer Sylvester.
In 1991, she reformed The Weather Girls with her daughter Dynelle Rhodes, who had been one of the duo's background singers.
[4] Rhodes eventually became the lead vocalist and pianist of San Francisco Inspirational Choir.
According to the autobiography book The Fabulous Sylvester: The Legend, the Music, the Seventies in San Francisco written by Joshua Gamson, she had a total of eleven children (four of which are allegedly step-children) with then-new husband [Armstead].
Impressed with her vocal performance, Sylvester inquired if she had another large black friend who could sing, after which she introduced him to Izora Rhodes.
The album spawned two top-five dance singles: "Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven" and "I Got the Feeling".
Shortly after the release of the album, The Weather Girls were dropped from Columbia and soon disbanded to pursue solo careers.
After a three-year hiatus and Wash pursuing her solo career, Armstead reformed The Weather Girls with her daughter Dynelle Rhodes and relocated to Germany in 1991.
While touring the club circuit, the album's third single "We Shall All Be Free" peaked at number 80 on Germany's music chart.
The album also contained a cover version of Sylvester's 1979 disco hit "Stars", recorded as a duet with Scottish pop singer Jimmy Somerville.
In 1999, The Weather Girls released their eighth studio album Puttin' On The Hits which contained a collection of covered disco songs.
In August 2004, Armstead returned to the Bay Area to undergo treatment for heart-related problems.
[12] On September 16, 2004, Armstead died from heart failure at the age of 62 in 2004 in San Leandro, California.
[12][13] Her funeral was held at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in San Francisco, California.
Rhodes added a then-new member Ingrid Arthur to The Weather Girls and began performing as a tribute to Armstead.