Image copyright AP Image caption Clarence Avant, center, played organ on her records
Jacqueline Avant, the wife of music legend Clarence Avant, has been fatally shot in their Beverly Hills home.
Investigators say she had spoken to a man in a car when he pulled up to her and shot her.
The LA County Sheriff’s Department said no gun was found at the scene. They have not been able to speak to the person who shot her.
Mr Avant, 71, is a member of the legendary Motown group The Temptations.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption He starred in Motown’s musical Spamalot and has released 20 solo albums
He performed on many of his wife’s hits in the 1960s and 1970s, including the 1962 hit titled You Are The Sunshine Of My Life.
He was a member of the Funk Brothers, a group of musicians who played alongside Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5 and The Temptations.
A tribute has been written on her website for Mrs Avant, now 74.
“Even though Jacqueline’s most recent album release went unnoticed, the world knows how talented and unique she was, as well as how devoted to family she was,” it said.