Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas | |
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Background information | |
Also known as |
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Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 1957–1972 |
Labels | Gordy |
Past members |
Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves & The Vandellas) were an American vocal girl group formed in Detroit in 1957. The group achieved fame in the 1960s with Motown.
An act founded by friends Annette Beard, Rosalind Ashford and Gloria Williams, the group eventually included Martha Reeves, who moved up in ranks as lead vocalist of the group after Williams' departure in 1962. The group signed with and eventually recorded all of their singles for Motown's Gordy imprint.
The group's string of hits included "Come and Get These Memories", "Heat Wave", "Quicksand", "Nowhere to Run", "Jimmy Mack", "I'm Ready for Love", "Bless You" and "Dancing in the Street", the latter song becoming their signature single.
During their nine-year run on the charts from 1963 to 1972, Martha and the Vandellas charted over twenty-six hits and recorded in the styles of doo-wop, R&B, pop, blues, rock and roll and soul. Ten Vandellas songs reached the top ten of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including two R&B number ones, and six Top Ten Pop Hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Selected members of the group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2013.
History
Early years (1957–1962)
Teenagers Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard first became acquainted after a local music manager hired them to be members of a girl group he named the Del-Phis. Ashford, Beard, and lead vocalist Gloria Williams, performed at local clubs, private events, church benefits, YMCA events and school functions.[1][2][3] They were also being coached by Maxine Powell at Detroit's Ferris Center. One of the group's first professional engagements was singing background for singer Mike Hanks.[4]
The group originally had up to six members, subsequently reduced to four. When one of the four left the group, she was replaced by Alabama-born vocalist Martha Reeves, a former member of two groups, the Fascinations and the Sabre-Ettes. In 1960, the group signed their first recording contract with Checker Records, releasing the Reeves-led "I'll Let You Know", which flopped. The Del-Phis then went to Checkmate Records, a subsidiary of Chess Records, recording their "There He Is (At My Door)" featuring Williams on lead vocals, which also flopped.[citation needed]
Reeves reverted to a solo artist under the name Martha LaVaille in the hope of getting a contract with emerging Detroit label
Motown major hit years (1962–1968)
Following their signing to Motown's Gordy imprint in 1962, the Vandellas struck gold with their second release, the first composition and production from the famed writing team,
The group's success continued with their second Top Ten single and third Top 40 single, "Quicksand", which was another composition with Holland-Dozier-Holland[9] and reached number eight pop in the late fall of 1963. Around that time, Annette, who was pregnant with her first child and set to get married, chose to leave her singing career behind by 1964.[10] Betty Kelly, formerly of the Velvelettes, was brought in shortly afterward to continue the Vandellas' rise.
The next two singles, "
Between 1964 and 1967, singles like "Wild One" (US #34), "Nowhere to Run" (US #8; UK #26), "Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things)" (US #70; R&B #22), "You've Been in Love Too Long" (US #36), "My Baby Loves Me" (US #22; R&B #3), "I'm Ready for Love" (US #9; R&B #2; UK #29) and "Jimmy Mack" (US #10; R&B #1; UK #21) kept the Vandellas on the map as one of the label's top acts. The Vandellas' popularity helped the group get spots on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Mike Douglas Show, American Bandstand and Shindig!. Throughout this period, the Vandellas had also become one of the label's most popular performing acts. On June 28, 1965, the group appeared with several other popular acts of the period on CBS-TV's Murray The K-It's What's Happening, Baby. Martha, Rosalind and Betty performed "Nowhere to Run", as they skipped through a Ford auto plant and sat in a Ford Mustang convertible as it's being assembled.
Personnel changes
Motown struggled to find good material for many of their acts after the exit of Motown contributor and Reeves' mentor
That same year, label changes had started to take effect, and Gordy focused much of his attention on building the Supremes' as well as Diana Ross' burgeoning upcoming solo career that would follow in 1970. The Vandellas' chart performance (and the chart performance of many Motown acts with the exception of Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and Stevie Wonder) suffered as a result.[5][12]
However it was the infighting among the members of the Vandellas that led to their problems. Kelly was the first to be let go after reportedly missing shows, as well as getting into altercations with Reeves.[5] There were many instances where these "fights" happened on stage. Kelly was fired in 1967 and was replaced by Martha Reeves' sister Lois.[7] Simultaneously, the group's name was officially changed to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, to conform with the company's recent changes of The Supremes' and The Miracles' names to reflect their featured lead singers. During this time, Vandellas records including "(We've Got) Honey Love", "Sweet Darlin'" and "Taking My Love and Leaving Me" were issued as singles with diminishing success.
"Bless You" (1969–1972)
Reeves, out of the group temporarily due to illness, recovered and returned; Ashford was replaced by another former member of
In 1971, the group scored a top 11 hit in the UK with "Forget Me Not". later that year they scored an international hit with "Bless You" (produced by the Jackson 5's producers The Corporation). The song peaked at number fifty-three on the American pop singles chart (the biggest peak of Vandellas' seventies singles in the US), and number twenty-nine on the R&B singles chart. "Bless You" reached number thirty-three in the UK giving the group two big hits that year in England. . "Bless You" reached number 16 in Canada and went all the way to number 2 in Puerto Rico . It was to be the last Billboard Hot 100 hit single for the group. After two successive Top 40 R&B singles, the ballad "In and Out of My Life" (#22 US R&B) and the Marvin Gaye cover, "Tear It On Down" (#37 US R&B), the group disbanded following a farewell concert, held at Detroit's Cobo Hall on December 21, 1972, but Martha Reeves is still often billed as 'Martha Reeves & The Vandellas'.
The next year, Reeves announced plans of starting a solo career.
Epilogue
After the Vandellas' split, Reeves' sister Lois sang with the group Quiet Elegance and sang background for
Although they are no longer singing together full-time, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas have occasionally reunited for various concerts. Currently, Ashford, whose full name now is Rosalind Ashford-Holmes, and Beard, whose full name now is Annette Beard-Helton, continue to perform with other singers, most notably Roschelle Laughhunn, as "The Original Vandellas". Reeves, with her sisters Lois and Delphine Reeves, tour as "Martha Reeves and the Vandellas".
From 2005 to 2009, Reeves held the eighth seat of Detroit's city council. She has since lost her seat and told the press that she would continue performing.[17]
A remake of the song "Nowhere To Run", sung by Arnold McCuller, is heard in the film "The Warriors" during the scene in which the Gramercy Riffs call a hit on the Warriors.
In a Season One episode of the television show The Golden Girls, Blanche described her car as the "noisiest thing to come out of Detroit since Martha & The Vandellas"..[18]
Candice Bergen, who hosted the Saturday Night Live episode on which Martha Reeves appeared in its inaugural season, made sure that Martha Reeves and the Vandellas were a presence throughout her "Murphy Brown" series. The group's picture was displayed prominently in Murphy's office. When Aretha Franklin guest starred and Murphy tried to sing with her, Franklin stopped her, saying, "I'm not Martha, and you ain't no Vandella."
The group is briefly portrayed in the 2017 film Detroit, performing "Nowhere to Run" at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.[19]
Awards and accolades
Martha and the Vandellas' "Dancing in the Street" was inducted into the
Always concert favorites, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas were nominated for UK Festival Awards in 2010 and 2011 as "Best Headliner".
Martha and the Vandellas were inducted in the inaugural class of the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame on August 17, 2013.[24]
Lineups
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Discography
For a detailed listing of albums and singles, see Martha and the Vandellas discography
Albums
- Come and Get These Memories (1963)
- Heat Wave (1963)
- Dance Party (1965)
- Greatest Hits (1966)
- Watchout! (1966)
- Martha and the Vandellas Live! (1967)
- Ridin' High (1968)
- Sugar 'n' Spice (1969)
- Natural Resources (1970)
- Black Magic (1972)
Top 10 singles
The following singles reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 song chart in the U.S.[25]
- "Heat Wave" (1963)
- "Quicksand" (1963)
- "Dancing in the Street" (1964)
- "Nowhere to Run" (1965)
- "I'm Ready for Love" (1966)
- "Jimmy Mack" (1967)
Awards and recognition
- Martha Reeves and the Vandellas' "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
- They were inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Famein 1995 becoming just the second all-female group to be inducted and the fifth group in the Motown roster to be inducted.
- They were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003.
- They were nominated for a Grammy Award for Heat Wave"
- "Dancing in the Street" was included in the United States Library of Congress' National Recording Registry for its historical, artistic and cultural significance in 2006.
References
- ^ "The Original Vandellas". September 28, 2015. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015.[dead link]
- ^ "Martha and the Vandellas Biography". Britannica.com. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ "Martha Reeves". TheSoulGuy.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ "Martha". Soulfulkindamusic.net.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Martha and the Vandellas". HistoryofRock.com. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ "Martha Reeves". General Entertainment.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ a b Martha and the Vandellas. Ebony. February 1968. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ "Rosalind Ashford Holmes's Biography". Thehistorymakers.org. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ a b Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 26 – The Soul Reformation: Phase two, the Motown story. [Part 5]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
- ISBN 0-634-09978-7. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
martha reeves.
- ^ Martha Reeves Without the Vandellas. Ebony. February 1988. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ISBN 1-58005-078-6. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ Martha Reeves Quits Vandellas To Go Solo. Jet. February 15, 1973. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ Singer Martha Reeves Leaves Motown Records. Jet. March 29, 1973. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ "Martha Reeves". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ "Motown 25:Yesterday, Today, Forever". IMDB. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ a b Kroll, Vicki L. (August 31, 2010). "Motown Legend to sing at Music Fest". University of Toledo. Archived from the original on October 8, 2010. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ "Golden Girl's Quotes". Quotefully.com.
- ^ "Cast". imdb.com.
- ^ "The Immortals – The Greatest Artists of All Time: 96) Martha and the Vandellas: Martha and the Vandellas". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 12, 2006.
- ^ Al Green, Martha and the Vandellas Inducted Into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame During Gala Ceremonies in New York City. Jet. January 30, 1995. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ "The Immortals: The First Fifty". Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 16, 2006.
- ^ Advertising, OJ. "Michigan Rock and Roll Legends – MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS". Michiganrockandrolllegends.com.
- ^ "Inductees (2013 - 2021)". National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
- ^ "Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
External links
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame page on Martha and the Vandellas
- 'Martha and the Vandellas' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Page
- History of Rock page on Martha and the Vandellas
- The Original Vandellas (Rosalind Ashford-Holmes & Annette Beard-Helton) page
- Martha and the Vandellas History, Charts and Songs
- Martha & The Vandellas at Doo Wop Heaven
- Martha & The Vandellas bio on the Soulwalking U.K. website.