The Mary Jane Girls were an American girl group formed in 1983, best known for hits like “In My House,” “All Night Long,” “Candy Man,” and their cover of “Walk Like a Man.”
They were protégées of Rick James and disbanded in 1987. Joanne “Jojo” McDuffie was the lead singer, with session vocalists backing her on studio recordings. The group released two albums in the ’80s and a third album in 2014 as part of a Rick James retrospective. They were inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2019.
Rick James initially backed the group with McDuffie and the Waters sisters. For live performances, the group included Cheryl “Cheri” Wells, Candice “Candi” Ghant, and Kimberly “Maxi” Wuletich. The group’s image featured distinct personas: a street-wise girl, a supermodel, a cheerleader/valley girl, and a dominatrix. Their debut album yielded hits like “Candy Man” and “All Night Long,” while their second album, “Only Four You,” featured their biggest hit, “In My House.” A third album was shelved for decades but released in 2014. The Mary Jane Girls disbanded in 1987 due to lack of label support.
Despite disbanding, the group’s legacy continued, with members pursuing solo projects and occasional performances. They were featured on VH1’s “Where Are They Now?” in 2003. In 2010, trademark issues arose, and in 2013, the estate of Rick James sued to stop members from performing under the group’s name. In 2014, the group received an honorary HAL Award.
