McLeod was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1939[1] into a musical family – her half-brother Ernie Farrow became a noted jazz performer, and her sister Alice married John Coltrane and recorded many albums as a jazz keyboard player and harpist.

[3] McLeod first worked at Motown as a keypunch operator, before attracting attention in the company as a songwriter.

[3] She co-wrote Junior Walker's 1972 hit "Walk in the Night" with Johnny Bristol, and two tracks on the album Diana & Marvin, written with Mel Bolton.

In 1978, they co-wrote the tribute to Berry Gordy's father, "Pops, We Love You", recorded by Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder.

[5] A musical tribute event for her took place in March 2020, featuring Lamont Dozier, Freda Payne and Michelle Coltrane among others.