[1] Born in Detroit, Michigan, she sang in church as a child, and later entered and won local talent contests.
She studied at the Detroit Conservatory, and attracted the attention of music business agent John Levy, the manager of singer Nancy Wilson.
[2][1] DuShon then joined Cootie Williams' band as featured vocalist, before being spotted by Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records, who paired her with young producer Phil Spector.
It was followed by You Better Believe Me, with the Ramsey Lewis Trio, in 1965, and finally Feeling Good, again with Donaldson and arranged by Oliver Nelson, on the Cadet label in 1966.
The single was issued by Cadet in October 1966, became a local hit, and has been described as "a beauty, capped by soaring modulations that glimmer with the hopefulness of love".
[2][3] Encouraged by actor Dick Anthony Williams, she also began working in off-Broadway and, later, Broadway theater productions including What the Wine Sellers Buy, and with Cab Calloway in Bubbling Brown Sugar.