Kim was born on December 20, 1939 in the Motor City.
She started singing at the tender age of 3 in her church choir. In
her teens, Kim developed her very special style as lead singer with the
“Wright Specials”, a touring gospel group.
After signing with the young Motown, she scored a minor R&B hit in 1963 with "Love Me All the Way."
The following year, she recorded her first duet with
Marvin Gaye, "What Good Am I Without You." 1965 saw the
release of "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)", which was followed
up in 1966 with the equally soulful "Helpless," both of which established
Kim's reputation among soul collectors.
Kim also
cut an entire album of duets with Marvin Gaye in 1966, "Take Two",
which produced the Top Five R&B classic "It Takes Two."
By the time it was peaking on the charts in early 1967, however, Weston had already left
Motown. She and her husband, producer William "Mickey" Stevenson, moved to MGM,
and Kim subsequently recorded for Volt (Kim Kim Kim), People (Big Brass Four Poster,
an album of jazz standards with the Hastings Street Jazz Experience), and Johnny Nash's Banyan
Tree.
In
1970, she charted again with her version of the anthem "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing"
and worked in the 1980s with British producer Ian Levine on the Motorcity label,
re-recording many of her old hits for the Northern soul market; her two albums for Motorcity,
1990's Investigate and 1992's Talking Loud, also featured some new material.
Kim has toured Great Britain with Brenda Holloway to fantastic reviews
and appreciation of her powerful voice and exciting stage
presence.
