Born in Detroit, Michigan, he began his singing career as a gospel singer. He soon switched to the newly emerging R&B style and attained some measure of success, singing with Bootsy Collins's Pacesetters in 1968 with James Brown's JBs shortly thereafter. However, he gained stardom in his own right starting in the early 1970s when he became the lead vocalist for the Spinners. He sang with the group until 1977, leading them to a number of top-selling albums and singles.
He then launched a solo career, but it was not nearly as successful. His fortunes turned upwards again as he joined George Clinton's Funkadelic around 1980. He played with them on several recordings, as well as continuing his solo career, which was somewhat successful, though he never regained the superstardom he had enjoyed with the Spinners. He collapsed and died on stage in Oakland, California in 1984.