The Barrett Sisters

The three Barrett sisters—Delois, Billie, and Rodessa—first lifted their voices together during childhood services at Chicago's Morning Star Baptist Church throughout the 1940s. Their aunt Mattie Dacus guided the ensemble, which initially performed under the name Barrett and Hudson Singers prior to adopting the Barrett Sisters moniker. While still a senior at Englewood High, Delois received an invitation to sing with the Roberta Martin Singers; following her graduation she committed to the ensemble on a full-time basis and stayed for eighteen years. Meanwhile Rodessa assumed the role of choral director at Galilee Baptist Church, whereas Billie, after completing vocal studies at the American Music Conservatory, served as a soloist within her congregation. The sisters officially established the Barrett Sisters in 1962, issuing their first recording, Jesus Loves Me, on the Savoy label the subsequent year. Performances and additional recordings persisted until Delois Barrett's passing on August 2, 2011, coinciding with the release of their concluding album, He's So Wonderful. Billie Barrett's death followed on February 28, 2020, and Rodessa Barrett, the final surviving member, died on December 16, 2024.