Lillian Lilly

The longtime principal vocalist for the Mississippi Mass Choir, Lillian Lilly was born in Wesson, MS, where she began singing at age six; with twin sister Carolyn, as a teen she performed as one half of the Two Star Juniors, which later expanded its line-up and became the Traveling Stars. After the group disbanded in the early 1970s, Lilly returned to Mississippi to work in a local lawnmower factory; she continued singing gospel in her spare time, however, opening for the likes of the Mighty Clouds of Joy and the Jackson Southernaires. In 1988 she was tapped to join the Mississippi Mass Choir, appearing on hit LPs including 1991's God Gets the Glory and 1995's New Creation. Lilly's debut solo album, Gotta Have Faith, followed in 1997, and Other Part of Me appeared in 1999.