She is a backing singer who grew up in Queens, New York where she attended dancing school and sang in the church choir. She performed with the All-City Junior High Schhol Band and Choir when she was 14 and went on to study at the Music and Art High School.
After graduation she knew Nat Adderley Jr.and was introduced to the singers Luther Vandross and Fonzi Thornton who formed a group known as Fonzi, later F360, that she successfully auditioned for.
She was the background singer for Loretta Long and performed with her on a national Sesame Street tour in the very early 1970s.
She continued working with the group Fonzi/F360 and performed with them in gigs throughout New York, which led to them being asked to sing backing vocals for many groups and artists based in and around New York.
She has worked, recorded and toured as a solo backing singer and/or as part of a group of backing singers with countless artists during her career. Some of these include Chic, who she was a member of from 1979 to 1982, Duran Duran, Sheena Easton, Fat Boys, Aretha Franklin, Gang of Four, J. Geils, Debbie Gibson, The Police, Diana Ross, Roxy Music, Paul Simon, Candi Staton, The Stylistics and Luther Vandross and many more. With Duran Duran she is the singer of the solo introduction of “The Reflex” on Seven and the Ragged Tiger.
The albums she has performed on are numerous but a select few include Good Stuff by The B-52s, Inside Out by Philip Bailey, Mange Tout by Blancmange, Sharing Your Love by Change, Risque, Real People and Take It Off by Chic, Move to This by Cathy Dennis, Glad to Be Here by Bernard Edwards, Boys and Girls by Bryan Ferry, Jump To It and Get It Right by Aretha Franklin, Monkey Island by J. Geils Band, L Is for Lover by Al Jarreau, Keeping Love New by Howard Johnson, I Love My Lady by Johnny Mathis, Read My Lips by Melba Moore, Contribution by Mica Paris, Love Language by Teddy Pendergrass, Live! by The Police, Chic & Beyond by Nile Rodgers, Diana by Diana Ross, The High Road by Roxy Music, Graceland by Paul Simon, Love Somebody Today by Sister Sledge, Chance by Candi Staton, Never Too Much and Power of Love by Luther Vandross, How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye by Dionne Warwick, Other Voices by Paul Young and many others along with countless compilation albums.
After her career in music she went back to college education where she studied social work and addiction, which she specialises in. She now works in a hospital in Long Island, New York.
Diana Ross recordings
Give Up (Bernard Edwards/Nile Rodgers)
Motown (M 1491F) (US 45)
Sources:
- https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/singer-michelle-cobbs-interview-chic-police-paul-simon-duran-duran-1140683/
- https://duranduran.fandom.com/wiki/Michelle_Cobbs
- https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/michelle_cobbs/credits/
- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8024349/
- https://www.imdb.com/news/ni63233318
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/michelle-cobbs-mn0000628881/credits?1640358259919
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/294777-Michelle-Cobbs