{{Short description|American singer (1948–2009)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} {{more citations needed|date=October 2009}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Fayette Pinkney | image = 1974 FSV New Vic Faye 02.jpg | caption = Pinkney in 1974 | image_size = 250px | birth_name = Fayette Regina Pinkney | birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1948|1|10}} | birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|2009|06|27|1948|01|10}} | death_place = Lansdale, Pennsylvania, U.S. | genre = Pop, soul | associated_acts = The Three Degrees | instrument = Vocals | occupation = Singer, psychologist, vocal coach | years_active = 1963–2009 | website = }}
'''Fayette Regina Pinkney''' (January 10, 1948 – June 27, 2009) was an American singer and an original member of the musical trio The Three Degrees.
==Early life and education== Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pinkney was one of three young teenagers brought together by manager Richard Barrett to form The Three Degrees in 1963.
Fayette subsequently earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Temple University and a master's degree in human services from Lincoln University in 1984.<ref>{{cite news |title=Obituary: Fayette Pinkney |work=The Guardian |location=London |first=Adam |last=Sweeting |date=July 7, 2009 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/jul/07/obituary-fayette-pinkney |access-date=2025-03-17}}</ref>
==Career== She was a part of The Three Degrees through their most prominent years with Roulette and Philadelphia International Records and sang on many of their greatest hits, including "When Will I See You Again" and "Take Good Care of Yourself", as well as reaching the top of the ''Billboard'' US Hot 100 when the group were the featured vocalists on the MFSB single "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" in 1974. She left the group in 1976. She traveled to London in January 1979 to record her only solo album, ''One Degree'', which she completed in just two weeks; it was met with critical and fan acclaim upon its release.
She later worked as a counselor and vocal coach and, in addition to singing with her church's Inspirational Choir of the Salem Baptist Church, Jenkintown, PA. She traveled with a group called the Intermezzo Choir Ministry, under the leadership of Ms. Verolga Nix.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soulmusic.com/fapitthde20.html |title=Tribute To Fayette Pinkney |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129212529/http://soulmusic.com/fapitthde20.html |archive-date=November 29, 2010 }}</ref>
==Personal life== In 1994, Pinkney gave birth to a daughter, Ayana Alexandria Medeiros, who died two days later due to sudden infant death syndrome.
==Death== On June 27, 2009, Pinkney died of acute respiratory failure following a short and sudden illness at the age of 61.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/fayette-pinkney-singer-with-the-three-degrees-1736180.html |title=Fayette Pinkney: Singer with the Three Degrees|last=Perrone|first=Pierre |date=July 8, 2009 |work=The Independent |access-date=October 27, 2009 |location=London}}</ref>
==Discography== *''One Degree'' (Chopper Records, 1979)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Biography}} *{{IMDb name}} *{{Find a Grave}}
{{The Three Degrees}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinkney, Fayette}} Category:1948 births Category:2009 deaths Category:20th-century African-American women singers Category:20th-century American women singers Category:20th-century American singers Category:21st-century African-American women Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:American soul musicians Category:Burials at Ivy Hill Cemetery (Philadelphia) Category:Deaths from respiratory failure in the United States Category:Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) alumni Category:Singers from Philadelphia Category:Temple University alumni
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