CP33130533
In this Dec. 28, 1994 photo photo, Ortheia Barnes sings the closing song at the Kwanzaa ceremony at the Museum of African American History in Detroit. Barnes, who opened for Motown greats like Stevie Wonder and later entered the ministry, died Friday, May 15, 2015. She was 70. (Pat West/Detroit Free Press via AP) DETROIT NEWS OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT DETROIT FREE PRESS

Detroit R&B singer Ortheia Barnes-Kennerly, opener for Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, dead at 70

DETROIT – Detroit R&B and jazz singer Ortheia Barnes-Kennerly has died. She was 70.

Swanson Funeral Home in Detroit tells The Associated Press her funeral is May 26 at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church.

Friend and bass player Ralphe Armstrong tells the Detroit Free Press that Barnes-Kennerly died Friday in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she went for a performance. He says she had at least two strokes in recent years and died of heart failure.

Barnes-Kennerly recorded in the 1960s for independent Detroit music labels Mickay Records and Coral Records. She opened shows for Motown Records performers Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight.

Armstrong says if Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul, Barnes-Kennerly “was the empress.”

She later turned her career toward speaking and the ministry.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles