She grew up in New York City before moving to Detroit and becoming involved in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
While performing with Harry Belafonte at a benefit show she was scouted by Berry Gordy.
Her song "May What He Lived for Live," was included in the memorial to Kennedy at the convention through the efforts of Joe Lieberman, then an administrative assistant to John Moran Bailey, chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
[1] Lands and the Voices of Salvation are featured on the side-B single of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous I Have a Dream speech, released on Gordy Records (G-7023), in 1968.
[citation needed] In the late 1980s/early 1990s, Lands re-emerged and Ian Levine recorded her for his Motorcity label.