The Weather Girls

USA, 1976–now

American duo Martha Wash and Izora Armstead, first famous as Two Tons O' Fun backing Sylvester. With their gospel-trained, powerhouse voices they scored the enduring 1982 disco anthem 'It's Raining Men' — church you could dance to.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced The Weather Girls and 0 artists The Weather Girls influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced The Weather Girls?

• Sylvester — Martha Wash and Izora Armstead came up as Two Tons O' Fun, Sylvester's backing singers — his gospel-charged disco was the direct crucible of the Weather Girls' sound, their voices on his 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)'.
• Mahalia Jackson — Both singers honed their powerhouse voices in church — the gospel tradition of Mahalia Jackson is the foundation of the Weather Girls' 'church you could dance to'.