Things "Have" Got To Get Better

Washington state native Genobia Jeter's roots in gospel music run even more deeply than most soul singers; she was the niece of the legendary Rev. Julius Cheeks, and started her singing career in his backing choir. Jeter signed with Savoy in 1980 and issued three gospel albums over the next two years: Heaven, Things Got to Get Better, and Genobia. Among the material on those albums was the Glenn Jones duet "Not Just for Today"; Jones would become a frequent duet partner over the next decade, and eventually Jeter's husband as well. Their first secular collaboration was 1983's "Keep On Doin'," recorded for a Jones release on RCA; Jeter subsequently signed with RCA as a secular urban contemporary artist herself, and debuted in 1986 with Genobia. Mixing quiet storm ballads and more up-tempo, danceable cuts, the album spun off singles in "All of My Love" (written and produced by the team of Meli'sa Morgan and Lesette Wilson) and "Together," another duet with Jones. Jeter and Jones later returned to the gospel scene, appearing together on the Canton Spirituals' 2002 release Walking by Faith. ~ Steve Huey