Don't Leave Me This Way

The Grammy Award-winning Motown artist behind the #1 hit “Don’t Leave Me This Way” shares her touching life story and remarkable music career.Thelma Houston – the first solo female artist at Motown to win a Grammy, for “Best R&B Female Vocal Performance” – is an indelible force whose #1 hit is considered among the best disco recordings of all time. But behind this artistry is a woman with a complex story and career. For the first time, Thelma dives deeply into details of her life and music cherished by countless listeners across generations. She was born in 1943 to a family of poor sharecroppers who picked cotton in Mississippi and was raised by a single mother. After working at local clubs for $25 a night, her career started to take off when she signed to Capitol Records, releasing 2 singles. Then, at Dunhill, she released her acclaimed debut album Sunshower (1969), produced by Jimmy Webb, and eventually, executive Suzanne de Passe wanted her for Motown.From performing at the official Human Rights Campaign inauguration dinner the day before Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony to her decades-long support of the LGBTQ+ community, Thelma has crossed paths with stars like Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Morrissey, Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, The Temptations, Jimmy Sommerville, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Danny Glover, and Shelly Duvall. Thelma reflects, “I’m really blessed because I never stopped working, and I truly love what I do. Sometimes, it feels like I’m just getting started.”