Frances Nero

Willie Frances Nero (née Peak; March 13, 1943 – November 28, 2014) was an American soul and jazz singer. She recorded for Motown after winning their 1965 talent contest and had a UK hit single in 1991 with "Footsteps Following Me".

Life and career Peak was born in 1943 in Asheville, North Carolina,

In 1960, she married Detroit, Michigan native Johnny Nero and moved to the city. She almost joined The Marvelettes, but returned to Asheville for a time before going back to Detroit and settling into married life. She had two children, and sang jazz in nightclubs, before entering a talent contest on WCHB, the soul radio station in Detroit, sponsored by Motown. She became the first live performance winner in Motown Records's history, emerging the winner out of 5,000 contestants in June 1965. She was awarded $500, a dozen long stemmed red roses, a recording contract for one year and the honor of being the first female artist signed to Motown's subsidiary Soul label. Her first record release was "Keep On Lovin' Me", written by William Weatherspoon and James Dean, and originally intended for The Marvelettes. It was produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson, and released by Soul in early 1966. However, it was not a major hit. She made no further recordings with Motown, and left the company after three years. Her first recording for 23 years, the single reached No. 17 in the UK Singles Chart in 1991, and was dubbed by British disc jockeys "the soul anthem of the nineties". She appeared on Canada's television program, Swinging Time with host Robin Seymour, and on UK shows such as Top of the Pops, The Terry Wogan Show and The Hitman and Her.

Discography 1965 – Motown Records "Keep On Loving Me" "Fight Fire With Fire"

1968 – Shrine Records "Lady in Waiting" (duo with Gino Parks)

1991 – Motorcity Records "Footsteps Following Me" (licensed to Debut Records) - #17 UK Singles Chart Footsteps Following Me The Best Of Frances Nero MotorCity Various Artists Albums

1996 – AJA Records "Love Ride" "It Ain't The Same Without You" For My Very Special Fans – A compilation of Christmas carols

2007/8 Frances Nero Salutes Dinah Washington