Rhetta Hughes, born June 15, 1939 in Dallas, Texas, was an American soul singer and musical theatre actress. She began singing at a young age in her local Baptist church choir but initially pursued a career as a nurse. Her breakthrough came in 1963 when she performed impromptu at a local club, leading to her hiring as a top lounge act. Hughes made her recording debut with the album Introducing an Electrifying New Star (1965) and released several singles through Columbia Records. In 1968, she signed with Tetragrammaton Records and achieved chart success with "Light My Fire" (1969), which peaked at number 36 on the Billboard R&B chart. Hughes released music throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including the album Starpiece (1980). She died June 3, 2019.
