Who Is Coko's Mom? Meet Lady Tibba Gamble

The mother of the SWV superstar has a 50+ year career as a gospel soloist and session singer in her own right. Here's a glimpse into her history.

Tim Dillinger

Mar 16, 2023

@iamcokogamble Episode 2 on The Queens of R&B you get to see a tiny peek of my family. I love messing with my mama. 🤣🤣 #thequeensofrb #swv

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There’s been a lot of conversation this past week about Lady Tibba Gamble, mother of Coko from SWV, after the most recent episode of The Queens of R&B. For gospel lovers from way back, Lady Tibba is no stranger!

Several years ago, I was honored to interview Lady Tibba for the book I’m currently writing on the New York Community Choir. Raised in the Bronx, Lady Elizabeth ‘Tibba’ (and sometimes ‘Clyde’) Gamble began her gospel career with The Calvin White Singers and, just a few years later, as an original member of the New York Community Choir. The video at the top of this post shares her first recorded solo with the choir, “Coming Again So Soon,” from 1972’s A Little Higher album, written by the late Timothy Wright, who then played for the choir.

When I interviewed gospel icon John P. Kee for the book, he told me, “Everybody knows John P. Kee for hitting high notes, but I got them from Coko’s mom singing ‘Draw Me Closer.’ That was my thing!”

From her illustrious career as a session singer, don’t miss her on background vocals with Luther Vandross on Revelation’s “Move On Up,” and with Bennie Diggs and Arthur Freeman behind Sylvester on 1980’s “I’ll Dance To That.” Don’t miss Sylvester & The Gospel Impulse, in which Lady Tibba is quoted!