Kimberley 'Maxi' Wuletich

Kimberly "Maxi" Wuletich (born 17 May 1956) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Professionally known as Maxi B. or Maxi Bond, she is an American soul, rhythm and blues, and funk vocalist who attained prominence as an original member and background vocalist of the Motown vocal group the Mary Jane Girls.

Early Life

Wuletich spent her childhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she was raised in a home filled with the musical sounds of Motown. Her early childhood influences included vocalists such as Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, and Tina Turner. She developed an early musical foundation through this immersion in classic soul and popular music. Following a chance encounter with funk and rhythm and blues singer-producer Rick James, she moved into the professional entertainment industry. Under James's direction, she underwent professional development, learning choreographed dance routines and practising under a dedicated vocal coach alongside her group members.

Career

Wuletich transitioned into the commercial music industry in 1979 when she was recruited to join Rick James's live touring ensemble. Alongside Joanne "JoJo" McDuffie, Cheryl Bailey, and Candice Ghant, she performed as a background vocalist, informally using the moniker the Mary Jane Girls as a subgroup of James's backing ensemble, the Stone City Band. In 1983, Motown Records established a formal recording contract for the group under the Gordy Records imprint. While studio album vocals were primarily recorded by McDuffie and session singers Julia and Maxine Waters, Wuletich provided the visual identity, live vocals, and public branding for the group. Her image was intentionally styled as a dominatrix persona to match James's provocative aesthetic. She appeared on their self-titled debut album, Mary Jane Girls (1983), which produced the hit singles "Candy Man" and "All Night Long". She continued her role on their gold-certified second album, Only Four You (1985), featuring the top ten Billboard Hot 100 single "In My House". Following a label dispute that halted their third album in 1986, the group disbanded in 1987. Wuletich later reunited with McDuffie and Ghant as a trio between 1995 and 1997.

Personal Life

Wuletich has kept her immediate family life largely private, focusing her public visibility on her artistic legacy and community presence within the American music landscape. Throughout her career, her work challenged contemporary industry norms regarding the intersection of performance, image, and gender. Her contribution to the 1980s punk-funk movement remains influential, paving the way for future female ensembles by projecting confidence and sensory showmanship. As part of the original Mary Jane Girls lineup, her professional achievements were formally acknowledged with an honorary HAL Award in 2014, followed by an official induction into the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2019.

Current Activities

Wuletich remains highly active in the music industry, preserving the performance legacy of her original material through regular concert engagements and live tours. Following a complex legal dispute with the Rick James estate regarding group naming rights in 2013, she formalised a long-running touring partnership with original member Cheri Wells. Billed as MJG Starring Maxi and Cheri of the Original Mary Jane Girls, the current performing lineup features Wuletich, Wells, Kanika Conwright, and Makeda Francisco.