She was born Bessie Grace Gupton in Alabama, the daughter of gospel singer Emma Washington.
She toured with the group for ten years, from the age of nine, before securing her first professional job, as a backing singer for B.
She was then recruited to play a lead role in the musical Hair in Toronto, and later set up the Armageddon Revue at the Blue Orchid club there.
[3] The record was released on the Mala label under the name "Tobi Legend", but it was unsuccessful until it was picked up in the early 1970s by followers of the Northern soul scene in the UK.
And then in zaps the chorus, a remonstration of sorts, or a call to arms: "Life is just a precious minute baby," it yells.
[2] The last of these was recorded live with a large choir at St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church in Toronto,[6] and peaked at No.