(April 6, 2025) It was a tough way to wake up on a Sunday morning when the word came to us of the passing of Southern Soul singer Ann Sexton. A belated notice was posted today on Sexton’s Facebook page:
I am deeply saddened to share that my mother Mary Ann Sexton/Burton passed away on March 13th. My Mother lived a remarkable life filled with love, laughter and adventure. She will be forever remembered for her kindness, humor, compassion and ability to heal hearts. She was a dedicated and devoted mother, she retired from the Board of Education and was known for her incredible voice. She bought so much light and love into our lives and will be deeply missed.
Ann Sexton may not be a household name, but to deep soul aficionados, she was a treasured voice. Born in South Carolina in 1950, Sexton began her professional musical journey working with her husband, saxman Melvin Burton and their band Ann Sexton and the Masters of Soul. Her gritty, emotive vocals quickly caught the attention of David Lee, owner of the regional label Impel, who helped her release her first single, “You’ve Been Gone Too Long,” in 1971. It became a regional smash and established Sexton as a rising star in Southern soul.
Her early singles—especially the heart-wrenching “You’re Letting Me Down” and the tough-as-nails “You’re Gonna Miss Me”—built Sexton’s reputation for combining raw emotional delivery with tight, funky arrangements. In 1973, she released her debut LP Loving You, Loving Me on the Sound Stage 7 imprint, a powerful set of deep soul that showcased both her vocal prowess and a savvy selection of material.
In 1977, Sexton released her second album The Beginning, a fitting title for what could’ve been a commercial breakout. Though it didn’t chart nationally, the LP featured the now-classic “I Had a Fight with Love,” which found renewed life decades later thanks to rare groove collectors and Northern Soul DJs.
Sexton stepped away from music for a career in education, but found her music found a second life when her 1973 recording of “You’re Losing Me” landed in the 2003 movie 21 Grams. A new generation of fans suddenly found her and she made a surprise return, appearing in shows around Europe (and, to a lesser extent, the US) over the late 00s and into the 10s. Her rediscovery by crate diggers and soul purists helped cement her status as a cult icon, with a re-found reverence that lasts to this day.
