Lynn Mabry

Born in Vallejo, California, Mabry's mother enjoyed playing piano and her father was a choir director and radio DJ. They divorced when she was 3.[1]

She got her start in Sly and the Family Stone, along with Dawn Silva. In 1977, she joined P-Funk. The following year, Mabry and Silva became the original Brides of Funkenstein,[2] releasing their first album Funk Or Walk. Mabry became pregnant and left the band in 1979. She gave birth to a daughter named Akasha Larain Morrison in December 1979 (father is Walter "Junie" Morrison). Silva continued The Brides with back-up singers Sheila Horne and Jeanette McGruder for another year.

In 1983, Mabry joined Talking Heads for their concert film Stop Making Sense. She also spent time as a background vocalist, continuing to tour with such acts as Rita Coolidge, Namie Amuro and Bette Midler. In 1990, she toured as a backing vocalist for Fleetwood Mac during their Behind the Mask Tour. In 1991, she toured as a backing vocalist for Stevie Nicks during her Time Space tour. In the same year, she performed a cover version Soul II Soul's "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" with George Michael for his Cover to Cover tour.

Mabry is also a business partner with Sheila E. In 2001, the two co-founded the nonprofit Elevate Hope Foundation, which uses music and the arts to help "abused and abandoned children."[3]