Stephanie Mills (born Stephanie Dorthea Mills on March 22, 1957 in Brooklyn, New York) is a female R&B singer who got her start in the '70s, but gained success on the R&B charts during the '80s & early '90s.
Stephanie started out singing gospel music in church as a child and when she was 9 years old, she appeared in the Broadway play, "Maggie Flynn." She won "Amateur Hour" at the Apollo Theater for six weeks in a row.
In 1974, Stephanie released her debut album, "Movin' in the Right Direction" on ABC Records, which failed to make much impact on the charts. A year later, she won the role of Dorothy in the Broadway version of "The Wiz," but Diana Ross ended up playing Dorothy in the film version.
Jermaine Jackson referred Stephanie to Motown Records head, Berry Gordy, who signed her to the record label. In 1976, Stephanie released her second album, "For the First Time" which was written & produced by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, but once it again, it did not make much impact on the charts.
In 1979, Stephanie was signed to 20th Century Records and released her third album, "
What Cha' Gonna Do with My Lovin'" which peaked at #22 on the Billboard 200 and #12 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. The album was produced by James Mtume & Reggie Lucas.
The title song became a hit, peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #8 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 24 weeks.
The follow-up single from the album "Put Your Body in It" peaked at #8 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
The last single from the album, "You Can Get Over" peaked at #55 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 8 weeks. It also peaked at #8 on Billboard's dance charts along with "Put Your Body in It."
In 1980, Stephanie released her fourth album, "Sweet Sensation" which peaked at #16 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. The album was certified Gold.
The title song peaked at #52 on the Billboard Hot 100, #5 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart, and #3 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 21 weeks.
Stephanie scored her biggest hit to date, "Never Knew Love Like This Before" which peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, #5 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart, and #12 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles, staying on the chart for 22 weeks. It also peaked at #4 on the UK Singles chart.
She was nominated for "Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist" at the 7th and 8th American Music Awards The song won "Best R&B Song" (which was presented to the songwriters, James Mtume & Reggie Lucas) and "Best Female R&B Vocal Performance" (to Stephanie).
In 1981, Stephanie released her fifth album, "Stephanie" which peaked at #30 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
Stephanie scored another hit with "Two Hearts" featuring the late Teddy Pendergrass. The song peaked at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100, #82 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, and #3 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 19 weeks.
The song also peaked at #49 on the UK Singles chart. The follow-up single, "Night Games" peaked at #33 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 11 weeks.
In 1982, Stephanie released the album, "Love Has Lifted Me" which was recorded in 1975 after the release of "For the First Time."
During that same year, Stephanie released her sixth studio album, "Tantalizingly Hot" which peaked at #48 on the Billboard 200 and #10 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
The first single, "Last Night" peaked at #14 on Billboard's Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 16 weeks.
The second single, "Keep Away Girls" peaked at #13 on Billboard's Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 17 weeks.
The last single, "You Can't Run From My Love" peaked at #15 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart and #59 on Billboard's Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for only 8 weeks.
In 1983, Stephanie released her seventh album, "Merciless" which peaked at #104 on the Billboard 200 and #12 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
The first single, "Pilot Error" peaked at #12 on Billboard's Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 15 weeks.
The follow-up single, a cover version of Prince's song "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?" peaked at #12 on Billboard's Black Singles chart.
In 1984, Stephanie released her eighth album, "I've Got the Cure" which peaked at #73 on the Billboard 200 and #10 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
Stephanie scored her first dance hit with the first single, "The Medicine Song" topping Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart for a week. The song also peaked at #65 on the Billboard Hot 100, #8 on Billboard's Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 17 weeks.
The follow-up single, "Edge of the Razor" peaked at #14 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart and #47 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 10 weeks.
The last single from the album, "In My Life" peaked at #92 on the UK Singles chart, but didn't chart in the United States.
In 1985, Stephanie was featured on the "Fletch" movie soundtrack with the song, "Bit By Bit" which peaked at #78 on the Billboard Hot 100, #15 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, #14 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart, and #52 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.
During that same year, Stephanie released her ninth self-titled album on MCA Records. The album peaked at #47 on the Billboard 200 and #4 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
The first single from the album, "Stand Back" peaked at #7 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart and #15 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 14 weeks.
Stephanie scored her first number-one R&B hit with the second single, "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love" topping the chart for a week in May of 1986. The song was written by Angela Winbush and René Moore.
The last single from the album, "Rising Desire" peaked at #11 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart staying on the chart for 14 weeks.
In 1987, Stephanie released her tenth album, "If I Were Your Woman" which peaked at #30 on the Billboard 200 and topped Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
The first single, "I Feel Good All Over" became Stephanie's second number-one R&B hit, topping the chart for 3 weeks, staying on the chart for 18 weeks.
In 1988, Patti LaBelle admitted that she was given a chance to record the song by the writers of the song, Gabriel and Annette Hardeman (who was a background singer for Patti at the time), but she passed on it because she believed it wasn't a "Patti" song.
The second single from the album, "(You're Puttin') A Rush on Me" became Stephanie's third number-one R&B hit, topping the chart for a week and staying on the chart for 16 weeks.
The third single, "Secret Lady" peaked at #7 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 17 weeks.
The last single from the album, the title song (which was a cover version of Gladys Knight and the Pips' song) peaked at #19 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 13 weeks.
Stephanie appeared in the NBC TV special, "Motown: Merry Christmas" performing the song, "Christmas Everyday" which was written by the late actor/comedian, Redd Foxx. She also appeared on the late Robert Brookins' song "Where is the Love" which was a moderate R&B hit.
In 1989, Stephanie released her eleventh album, "Home" which peaked at #82 on the Billboard 200 and #5 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
The first single from the album, "Something in the Way (You Make Me Feel)" became Stephanie's fourth number-one R&B hit, topping the chart for a week and staying on the charts for 18 weeks.
The title song (which was the song Stephanie sung in "The Wiz") became Stephanie's last number-one R&B hit to date, topping the chart for a week and staying on the chart for 18 weeks just like the previous single did.
The third single from the album, "Comfort of a Man" peaked at #8 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 16 weeks.
The last single from the album, "Real Love" peaked at #53 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 11 weeks.
In 1991, Stephanie released her first holiday album, "Christmas." During that same year, she was featured on J.T. Taylor's song, "Heart to Heart" which was moderately successful on the R&B charts.
A year later in 1992, Stephanie released her last studio album on MCA Records "Something Real" which peaked at #22 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
The first single, "All Day All Night" peaked at #20 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 19 weeks.
The follow-up single, "Never Do You Wrong" peaked at #30 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #33 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 17 weeks.
In 1994, Stephanie released her first gospel album, "Personal Inspirations" on
GospoCentric Records which peaked at #8 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart & #20 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Christian Albums chart.
In 1997, Stephanie returned to musical theater, starring in a production of Stephen Schwartz's "Children of Eden" in New Jersey. In 2000, she began making a comeback, recording singles with gospel singer BeBe Winans & rapper DMX.
In 2004, Stephanie independently released the album, "Born For This" which peaked at #25 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. She also toured and made appearances on gospel television shows.
In 2010, Stephanie released her newest single, "Yesterday" which is available on iTunes. Towards the end of 2012, she released the single, "So in Love This Christmas." Her new album has yet to be released.
In the '70s, Stephanie was married to Shalamar member, Jeffrey Daniel for a brief period, but it ended in less than 2 years. She married Dino Meminger in the mid-80s, but again, it lasted less than 2 years. Stephanie married radio program manager, Michael Saunders in 1993, but they later divorced.
In an interview in 2010, Stephanie stated that she resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with her son, Farad (who has Down's Syndrome).
To see the music video for "Never Knew Love Like This Before," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLbC0dRIjX0
To see the music video for "Two Hearts," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wDsOQwQetI
To see the music video for "Last Night," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eylurhSLJ-8
To see the music video for "The Medicine Song," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjRjYXno0UU
To see the music video for "Bit By Bit," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPlxWRZO7jY
To see the music video for "Stand Back," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuyc52C2Ju0
To see the music video for "(You're Puttin') A Rush on Me," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_ngGLzd6fI
To see the music video for "Where is the Love" with Robert Brookins, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA_iBoAqcSs
To see the music video for "Something in the Way You Make Me Feel," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGVkojCuWi8
To see the music video for "Home," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnKQN7TF4hQ
To see the music video for "Comfort of a Man," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8_11VTplb0
To see the music video for "All Day All Night," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWDPW8aka6E
To see the music video for "Never Do You Wrong," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H584JeQg4NY
[Updated on 04\30\2016]
