Detroit sang the lead vocals on their biggest hit, "Stay", which spent eight consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart in 1992.

While working with Clapton, she sang backing vocals on some of his most enduring songs, including "Lay Down Sally" (which she co-wrote), "Promises", and "Wonderful Tonight".

During this period, she began working on her debut solo studio album with producer David Foster in the mid-late 1970s signed to RSO Records.

Marcy later stopped working with Clapton to focus more on her own solo career, but rejoined him when they performed at Live Aid where she added backing vocals.

Whilst working on her debut studio album, she was singing and songwriting for numerous artists including Aretha Franklin, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Stanley Clarke, Chaka Khan, Belinda Carlisle, and Al Jarreau.

[5] Marcy duetted with Alice Cooper on his 1978 studio album From the Inside (producer David Foster) on the song "Millie and Billie".

[5] She wrote and provided backing vocals for "Tangled in Love" with Richard Feldman, which appeared on Eric Clapton's 1985 studio album Behind the Sun.

During this period, Fahey suggested to Detroit that she change her name to "give me a sort of new lease of life and to get me disassociated with my background vocal past/entity".

[12] In late 1991, Shakespears Sister released the first single from their second studio album Hormonally Yours, "Goodbye Cruel World", which was also a commercial failure, failing to peak within the UK top 50.

During this period, the fifth and final single from Hormonally Yours was released; "My 16th Apology", and due to both members being unable to promote it, it was a commercial failure, reaching number 63 on the UK charts.

[3][11] Jewel received mixed reviews from critics – Aaron Badgley from AllMusic commented "[Chris Thomas] seems to steer Marcella into mid-'90s dance grooves, which does not always fit her own distinctive sound".

[14] Three more singles followed; "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (a duet with Elton John), "I'm No Angel", and "Perfect World", which peaked at number 24, 33, and 134 respectively.

The Marcy Levy Band released their debut studio album The Upside of Being Down in July 2006 under Detroit's independent label Lofi Records.

[22] As of mid-2009[update], Detroit had been working on two separate solo studio albums; Skin I'm In, produced by Larry Klein, and The Vehicle, a more personal project, and is to coincide with the release of her autobiography of the same name.

[25] In November 2011, Detroit released her first Christmas EP Happy Holiday, consisting of classic covers and an original song of the same name.

[26] Five months after the release of the single, Detroit officially set up the not-for-profit charity organization "The Madison Morr Foundation" for children in need.

[27] Detroit was featured on the song "Yell Cut" among numerous artists including Anthony Costa, originally written by aspiring singer Natasha Anastasi, who was killed in a car accident in 2005.

In August 2012, Detroit announced James Gadson would be featuring on her "new album" (which one hasn't been specified) and would be performing on her tour with her, which opened on September 20, 2012 in Largo, Florida.

[27] In September 2012, she released a new single "Love, Faith, and Hope", which was intended to be the official anthem of the Belgrade Pride festival, which was cancelled by the Serbian government due to security reasons.

[36] In 2021, Detroit appeared on a cover version of Robbie Williams' "Angels", recorded for charity with Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet, Jools Holland, Clem Burke of Blondie and Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols.

In June 2021, she talked about her time working with Eric Clapton and Alice Cooper on an episode of Sounds of the 70s with Johnnie Walker on BBC Radio 2.

She most famously co-wrote "Lay Down Sally" for him, which was a #3 hit in the USA in 1978, and contributed other songs for his albums No Reason to Cry (1976), Slowhand (1977), and Backless (1978).

Detroit has written songs for Alex Parks, Charlotte Church, Billie Myers, Marti Pellow and Joe McElderry among others.