Aside from her solo career, she was a member of an early line up of Faith, Hope and Charity and worked as a backing vocalist and songwriter with Aretha Franklin.

[1] Zulema and her school friend Brenda Hilliard joined a local group called The 5 Crystals, before the two formed the trio the Lovelles, together with fellow Tampa native Albert Bailey.

When they met producer Van McCoy and were signed by Maxwell Records, the group's name was changed to Faith, Hope and Charity.

Her self-titled solo album included the song "American Fruit, African Roots" and a cover of "If This World Were Mine."

She appeared on a bill with Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Earth, Wind and Fire and Sly Stone at the Push Expo in Chicago, a concert which became a motion picture called Save the Children.