Song of the Day: 'Don't Mess With Bill' by the Marvelettes

From left, Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson and Wanda Young of the Marvelettes.

This one's in remembrance of Wanda Young of the Marvelettes, who I was sad to read had died on Dec. 15 in her native Michigan. She was 78. While group leader Gladys Horton (1945-2011) sang lead on the Marvelettes' early hits like "Please Mr. Postman" (Motown's first No. 1!) and "Beechwood 4-5789," Young took center stage on later gems like "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game," "I'll Keep Holding On," "My Baby Must Be a Magician" and today's song of the day. 

Young's daughter Meta Ventress told the New York Times the cause was complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ventress said that her mother -- who lived off her royalties in the years after the Marvelettes broke up -- was sometimes surprised at the longevity of her music. 

“I told her constantly, ‘All these people love you,’” entress told the Times. “And she’d say, ‘Wow.’” She added, “She didn’t wake up every day thinking of the Marvelettes, but she never lost that glamour.”

RIP, Gladys Horton

From left: Gladys Horton, Wanda Young, Georgeanna Tilman and Katherine Anderson 

Sad to read that the Marvelettes lead singer died on Wednesday in Sherman Oaks, Calif., from complications of a stroke. I have "Please Mr. Postman," “Beechwood 4-5789,” "Too Many Fish in the Sea," “Don’t Mess With Bill” and “The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" on my iPod and they never fail to make me smile. Thanks for that, Ms. Horton.