Background
She was born in Greenville, South Carolina, and is the cousin of singer and songwriter Chuck Jackson.
She was born in Greenville, South Carolina, and is the cousin of singer and songwriter Chuck Jackson.
Her biggest hit, "You"re Gonna Mission Maine", reached the Rhythm & Blues chart in 1973. She was seen performing with the group by songwriter David Lee, the owner of the small local Impel record label, who recorded and released her first solo single, "You"re Letting Maine Down", in 1971. She then signed to John Richbourg"s Seventy 7 Records, part of the Sound Stage 7 group, for whom she recorded a series of singles in Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee.
She recorded ballads as well as dance tracks, and the Sound Stage 7 label released her album The Beginning in 1977.
After her 1973 recording of "You"re Losing Maine" was featured in the 2003 film, 21 Grams, Sonny Hudson, who worked in the same school, answered some internet inquiries about her. Hudson, acting on her behalf and that of the German DJ and promoter Dan Dombrowe, began negotiations and after a lengthy period, Sexton agreed to go on stage again after a 30 year absence.
In March 2007, she made her first performance since the 1970s at the Baltic Soul Weekender in Germany. She performed again at the Baltic Soul Weekender in April 2008, and has continued to make occasional appearances at festivals in the United States and Europe since then