Difference between revisions of "Martha and the Vandellas" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
 
(37 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
{{Copyedited}}{{Images OK}}{{submitted}}{{approved}}
 
{{Infobox musical artist 2
 
{{Infobox musical artist 2
 
|Name = Martha and the Vandellas  
 
|Name = Martha and the Vandellas  
 +
| Img        = Mreeves.jpg
 +
| Img_capt      = Martha Reeves
 
|Background = group_or_band
 
|Background = group_or_band
 
|Alias = The Del-Phis, The Vels, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
 
|Alias = The Del-Phis, The Vels, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
Line 10: Line 13:
 
|Past_members = [[Martha Reeves]]<br />[[Rosalind Ashford|Rosalind Ashford-Holmes]]<br />[[Annette Beard|Annette Beard-Helton]]<br />[[Gloria Williams]]<br />[[Betty Kelly]]<br />[[Lois Reeves]]<br />[[Sandra Tilley]] (deceased)
 
|Past_members = [[Martha Reeves]]<br />[[Rosalind Ashford|Rosalind Ashford-Holmes]]<br />[[Annette Beard|Annette Beard-Helton]]<br />[[Gloria Williams]]<br />[[Betty Kelly]]<br />[[Lois Reeves]]<br />[[Sandra Tilley]] (deceased)
 
}}
 
}}
 +
'''Martha and the Vandellas''' (known from 1967 to 1972 as '''Martha Reeves and the Vandellas''') were among the most successful [[Motown]] recording groups in the period 1963-1967. In contrast to other Motown girl groups such as [[The Supremes]] and [[The Marvelettes]], Martha and the Vandellas were known for a harder [[R&B]] sound, typified in their songs "[[Heat Wave]]," "[[Nowhere to Run]]," "[[Jimmy Mack]]," and their signature hit, "[[Dancing in the Street]]."
  
'''Martha and the Vandellas''' (known from 1967 to 1972 as '''Martha Reeves and the Vandellas''') were among the most successful groups in the [[Motown]] roster during the period 1963-1967. In contrast to Motown girl groups such as [[The Supremes]] and [[The Marvelettes]], Martha and the Vandellas were known for a harder, R&B sound, typified in "[[(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave]]," "[[Nowhere to Run]]," "[[Jimmy Mack]]," and their signature song, "[[Dancing in the Street]]."
+
During their nine-year run on the charts from 1963 to 1972, Martha and the Vandellas charted over 26 hits and recorded in the styles of [[doo-wop]], [[R&B]], [[pop music|pop]], [[blues music|blues]], [[rock music|rock]], and [[soul music|soul]]. Ten of their songs reached the top ten of the ''[[Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B singles chart]], including two R&B number ones.
 
+
{{toc}}
During their nine-year run on the charts from 1963 to 1972, Martha and the Vandellas charted over 26 hits and recorded in the styles of [[doo-wop]], [[R&B]], [[pop music|pop]], [[blues music|blues]], [[rock music|rock]], and [[soul music|soul]]. Ten Vandellas songs reached the top ten of the ''[[Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B singles chart]], including two R&B number ones. Twelve of the Vandellas' songs charted within the Top 40 of the [[Billboard Hot 100]], with six songs charting within the Top Ten including "Dancing in the Street," "Heat Wave," "Nowhere to Run", and "Jimmy Mack" being their biggest pop chart-toppers.
+
In 2004, ''[[Rolling Stone Magazine]]'' ranked Martha and the Vandellas number 96 on their its of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
 
 
In 2004, [[Rolling Stone Magazine]] ranked on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
===Early years (1957-1962)===
 
===Early years (1957-1962)===
[[Martha Reeves]], an Alabama-born and Detroit-reared teenager, was brought up in the church by her grandfather. While going to school at Detroit's Northeastern High School, she was vocally coached by Abraham Silver, a man who also vocally coached future [[Supremes]] members [[Florence Ballard]] and [[Mary Wilson (singer)|Mary Wilson]] and [[The Miracles|Miracles]] member [[Bobby Rogers]]. In 1957, the sixteen-year-old Reeves joined fifteen-year-olds [[Gloria Williams]] and [[Rosalind Ashford]] and fourteen-year-old [[Annette Beard]] to form '''The Del-Phis'''. The group spent around four years performing in talent shows, high school parties and private events <ref>[http://www.thevandellas.com/bio.html The Original Vandellas<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> and being trained by future Motown groomer Maxine Powell at Detroit's dance hall, the Ferris Center <ref>[http://www.thevandellas.com/bio.html The Original Vandellas<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>. During group detours, Reeves formed the Sabre-Ettes and joined the Fascinations before returning back to the Del-Phis who were now recording backup for Detroit musician Mike Hanks<ref>[http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/mreeves.htm martha<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>.
+
Alabama-born and Detroit-reared [[Martha Reeves]] was brought up in the [[Christinity|Christian church]] by her grandfather. While going to school at Detroit's Northeastern High School, she received vocal coaching from Abraham Silver, who also coached future [[Supremes]] members [[Florence Ballard]] and [[Mary Wilson (singer)|Mary Wilson]] and [[The Miracles|Miracles]] member [[Bobby Rogers]]. In 1957, the 16-year-old Reeves joined 15-year-olds [[Gloria Williams]] and [[Rosalind Ashford]] and 14-year-old [[Annette Beard]] to form the Del-Phis.  
  
After performing at several talent shows, the group was signed to the Chess subsidiary, Checkmate Records, with the release of the record, the Reeves-led "I'll Let You Know," which was released in 1961. Gaining some attention from Motown after the label bought Checkmate, the group, now under the name '''The Vels''', recorded the Williams-led song "There He Is (At My Door)" while another Detroit singer, Saundra Mallett (future member of Motown group [[The Elgins]]), sung on "Camel Walk," the latter on the Tamla label. After those two singles failed to chart, Williams left the group and the group stopped recording while Reeves bided her time working at odd jobs and tended time singing solo at Detroit nightclubs trying to get noticed, usually under the pseudonym Martha LaVaille.
+
The group performed at various talent shows, dances, and clubs, and was ultimately signed to the Chess subsidiary, Checkmate Records, releasing its first record, the Reeves-led "I'll Let You Know," in 1961. The group gained some attention from Motown after the label bought Checkmate. Now called The Vels, it released two more unsuccessful singles, neither of which featured Reeves in the lead. The group then broke up, and Reeves found other work.
  
While performing solo at Detroit's Twenty Grand club, Reeves was asked by [[Motown]] executive and staff songwriter/producer [[William "Mickey" Stevenson]] to come to the label to audition. Reeves unexpectedly took the job of secretary at the label after showing up to audition on the wrong day. Around this time, Martha and her former Vells bandmates Ashford and Beard were recruited to perform background work for [[Marvin Gaye]] on his second album, ''[[That Stubborn Kinda Fellow]]''. Gaye's first hit records "[[Stubborn Kind of Fellow]]," "[[Hitch Hike (song)|Hitch Hike]]" and "[[Pride and Joy (Marvin Gaye song)|Pride and Joy]]," prominently featured the girls.
+
While performing solo at Detroit's Twenty Grand club, Reeves was asked by [[Motown]] executive [[William "Mickey" Stevenson]] to come to the label office to audition. The result was that she took the job of secretary at the label after showing up to audition on the wrong day. Around this time, she and her former Vels' bandmates Ashford and Beard were recruited to perform background singing for [[Marvin Gaye]]. Gaye's first hit records "[[Stubborn Kind of Fellow]]," "[[Hitch Hike (song)|Hitch Hike]]," and "[[Pride and Joy (Marvin Gaye song)|Pride and Joy]]," prominently featured the girls.
  
In 1962 when [[Mary Wells]] missed a recording session to record a song Stevenson had written, he recruited Reeves to sing the song as a demo. Bringing along Ashford and Beard, the trio recorded Stevenson's "I'll Have to Let Him Go." A strong response from the song convinced Motown founder [[Berry Gordy]] to sign the Vels to another Motown subsidiary, Gordy, as a professional recording act, on September 21, 1962 <ref>[http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/martha-and-the-vandellas Martha and the Vandellas<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> after which Martha changed the group's name.
+
In 1962, after singer [[Mary Wells]] missed a recording session to record a song Stevenson had written, he recruited Reeves to do the song as a demo. Bringing along Ashford and Beard, the trio recorded Stevenson's "I'll Have to Let Him Go." Their performance convinced Motown founder [[Berry Gordy]] to sign the Vels to another Motown subsidiary, Gordy Records, in September 1962.
  
The story about the name change (to Martha and the Vandellas) is a most colorful one. The ''Van'' part came from a street that neighbored Reeves' own - Van Dyke Street in Detroit <ref>[http://oldies.about.com/od/soulmotown/p/marthaandvandellas.htm Oldies Music, - Profiles<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> - and the ''Della'' part honored [[Della Reese]], Reeves' favorite singer and a Detroit native herself. A Musicologist [[J.D. Elder]] noted that "[[Vandella]]" is, coincidentally, the French bastardization of an Ethiopian name for a mythical tribe of ghost-walking demons, similar to a [[succubus]] <ref>J.D. Elder, <I>The Roots of Witchcraft in the Caribbean: A Culturo-Historical Overview</i>, (St. Augustine: University of the West Indies Press, 1969), Footnote.</ref>.
+
It was at this time that the group became known as Martha and the Vandellas. The syllable ''van'' was derived from a street in Reeves' neighborhood, Van Dyke Street, while ''dellas'' honored Reeves' favorite singer [[Della Reese]], a Detroit native herself.
  
 
===Motown success years (1962-1967)===
 
===Motown success years (1962-1967)===
Following their signing to Motown's Gordy imprint in 1962, Martha and the Vandellas struck gold with their second release, the first composition and production from the famed writing team, [[Holland-Dozier-Holland]], titled "[[Come and Get These Memories]]." It became the Vandellas' first Top 40 recording, reaching number twenty-nine on the [[Billboard]] Hot 100 and peaking at number six on the R&B chart. Their second hit, "[[(Love is Like a) Heat Wave]]," became a phenomenal record for the group, reaching number four on the Hot 100 and hitting number one on the R&B singles chart for five weeks. It became their first million-seller and eventually won the group their first and only [[Grammy Award]] nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
+
Martha and the Vandellas struck gold with their second release, the first composition and production from the famed writing team [[Holland-Dozier-Holland]], titled "[[Come and Get These Memories]]." It reached number 29 on the [[Billboard]] Hot 100 and peaked at number six on the [[R&B]] chart. Their second hit, "[[(Love is Like a) Heat Wave]]," became a huge hit, reaching number four on the Hot 100 and number one on the R&B singles chart for five weeks. "Heat Wave" was the group's first million-seller and earned a [[Grammy Award]] nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
 
 
The group's success continued with their second Top Ten single and third Top 40 single, "[[Quicksand (song)|Quicksand]]," which was another composition with Holland-Dozier-Holland and reached number eight pop in the late fall of 1963. Around that time, Beard, who was pregnant with her first child and set to get married, chose to leave her singing career behind by 1964. [[Betty Kelly]], formerly of [[The Velvelettes]], was brought in shortly afterward to continue the Vandellas' rise.
 
 
 
The next two singles, "Live Wire" and "In My Lonely Room" were fairly successful singles, although they failed to reach the Top 40. However, their next single, "[[Dancing in the Street]]," rose up to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also found global success, peaking at #21 on the UK pop singles chart in 1964. In 1969, "Dancing in the Street" was re-issued and it was plugged heavily on radio stations. It didn't take long for the song to peak at #4 in the UK, thus making the song one of the all time favourite Motown single releases ever. The song would also become a million-seller, and one of the most played singles in history.
 
 
 
Between 1964 and 1967, singles like "[[Wild One (song)|Wild One]]" (US #34), "[[Nowhere to Run]]" (US #8; UK #26), "[[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.
 
 
 
===Personnel changes and Martha Reeves' illness===
 
By 1967, [[Motown]] struggled to find good material for many of their acts after the exit of [[Holland-Dozier-Holland]] that year. Another important Motown contributor and Reeves' mentor [[William "Mickey" Stevenson]] had also left abruptly.  
 
  
After their former collaborators jumped ship, the Vandellas somehow continued to find success with the Richard Morris-produced singles "[[Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone]]" (US #25; R&B #14) and "[[Honey Chile]]" (US #11; UK #30; R&B #5) added to their already extended list of charted singles. In the summer of the year, the group joined [[The Supremes]], [[The Temptations]], [[The Four Tops]] and [[Marvin Gaye]] in performing at the [[Copacabana]] though much like albums from the Four Tops and Gaye, a live album of their performance there was shelved indefinitely.  
+
The group's success continued with "[[Quicksand (song)|Quicksand]]," another Holland-Dozier-Holland composition, which reached number eight on the pop charts in the late fall of 1963. Beard, who was pregnant with her first child and set to get married, chose to leave her singing career in 1964. She was replaced by [[Betty Kelly]], formerly of [[The Velvelettes]].  
  
That same year, label changes had started to take effect, and Motown CEO [[Berry Gordy]] focused much of his attention on building the Supremes' and Diana Ross' burgeoning upcoming solo career that would followed in 1970. The Vandellas' sound (and the sound of many Motown acts with the exceptions of [[Marvin Gaye]], [[The Temptations]] and [[Stevie Wonder]]) suffered as a result.
+
The group's next two singles, "Live Wire" and "In My Lonely Room" were fairly successful singles, although they failed to reach the Top 40. However, the Vandellas' next single, "[[Dancing in the Street]]," rose up to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and also found global success, peaking at number 21 on the UK pop singles chart in 1964. The song would become a million-seller, a perennial dance favorite, and is one of the most played singles in history.
  
However it was the infighting amongst the members of the Vandellas that led to their problems. Betty Kelly was the first to be let go after reportedly missing shows and as well as getting into altercations with Reeves. There were many instances where these "fights" happened on stage. Kelley was fired in 1967 and was replaced by Martha Reeves' sister [[Lois Reeves|Lois]]. 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]]'s names to reflect their featured lead singers. In 1969, an [[Lysergic acid diethylamide|acid]] trip caused Reeves to have a nervous breakdown and led to her to be briefly institutionalized in a mental hospital. As a result, the Vandellas temporarily disbanded. Longtime original member Rosalind Ashford refused to return to the group retiring from the business shortly there after working as a [[nurse]]. During this time, Vandellas records including "[[(We've Got) Honey Love]]," "Sweet Darlin'" and "Taking My Love and Leaving Me" were issued in Martha's absence.
+
Between 1964 and 1967, singles like "Wild One," "Nowhere to Run," "You've Been in Love Too Long," "My Baby Loves Me," "I'm Ready for Love," and "Jimmy Mack" retained the Vandellas' status as one of Motown's top recording and performing acts. The group performed on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'', ''[[American Bandstand]]'', and ''[[Shindig!]]'', among other popular television shows.
  
===Decline===
+
===Personnel changes and decline===
Reeves eventually recovered well enough to continue recording with the Vandellas. Upon the return of the group, Rosalind Ashford was replaced by another former member of [[The Velvelettes]], [[Sandra Tilley]], and the group continued to release albums and singles into the early '70s, although they couldn't reignite the luster that had made their records successful in the sixties. Among the closest during the group's late-sixties period to become a hit was "[[I Can't Dance to That Music You're Playing]]," which featured singer [[Syreeta Wright]] singing the chorus, and peaked at number forty-two. Reeves reportedly hated singing the song sensing it "close to home." In 1970, the group issued Motown's first [[protest]] single, "[[I Should Be Proud]]," which peaked at a modest forty-five on the R&B singles chart.
+
In 1967, after the exit of [[Holland-Dozier-Holland]], [[Motown]] struggled to find good material for many of its acts. Reeves' mentor [[William "Mickey" Stevenson]] had also left the label. Nevertheless, the Vandellas somehow continued to find moderate success with Top 40 singles such as "Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone," and "Honey Chile." In the summer of the 1967, the group joined [[The Supremes]], [[The Temptations]], [[The Four Tops]], and [[Marvin Gaye]] in performing at the famed [[Copacabana]]. However, with the notable exception of the Supremes, the success of most Motown acts including Martha and Vandellas, declined in the late 1960s.  
  
In 1971, the group scored a modest international hit with the [[Jackson 5]]-esque "[[Bless You]]" (produced by the Jackson 5's producers [[The Corporation (Motown)|The Corporation]]). The song peaked at number fifty-three on the American pop singles chart (the biggest peak of Vandellas' seventies singles), and number twenty-nine on the R&B singles chart. "Bless You" was their first UK Top 40 hit since "Forget Me Not," with the song reaching number thirty-three there. 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.  
+
Infighting among the members of the Vandellas also led to problems. Betty Kelly was let go in 1967 after missing shows and getting into altercations with Reeves on stage. She was replaced by Martha's sister Lois Reeves. Meanwhile, the group's name was officially changed to ''Martha Reeves and the Vandellas'', conforming with Motown's recent changes of [[The Supremes]] and [[The Miracles]]'s names to reflect their featured lead singers.
  
The next year, Reeves announced plans of starting her solo career. At the same time, Motown Records moved its operations to [[Los Angeles]]; when Reeves refused to move, she negotiated out of her deal with Motown, signing with [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] in 1974 and releasing the critically-acclaimed self-titled debut, ''Martha Reeves''. Despite critical rave reviews of her work, neither of Reeves' post-Vandellas/Motown recordings produce the same success as they had the decade before. After living what she called "a rock & roll lifestyle" of prescription pills and alcohol, Reeves sobered up in 1977, overcoming her addictions and becoming a born-again [[Baptist]].
+
In 1969, Reeves suffered a nervous breakdown and was briefly institutionalized in a mental hospital, reportedly after a "bad trip" on [[LSD]]. As a result, the Vandellas temporarily disbanded, and longtime member Rosalind Ashford retired from the music business. However, several Vandellas records, including "[[(We've Got) Honey Love]]," "Sweet Darlin'," and "Taking My Love and Leaving Me" were issued in Martha's absence.
  
==Epilogue==
+
Upon Reeves' return to the group, Rosalind Ashford was replaced by another former member of [[The Velvelettes]], [[Sandra Tilley]]. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas continued to release albums and singles into the early 1970s, but without notable success. The group disbanded following a farewell concert, held at [[Detroit]]'s Cobo Hall on December 21, 1972.  
After the Vandellas' split, Reeves' sister Lois sang with the group Quiet Elegance and also sung background for [[Al Green]], while Tilley retired from show business in the late-'70s, suddenly dying of a [[brain aneurysm]] in 1981 at the age of thirty-six. In 1978, Reeves and original Vandellas Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard-Sterling reunited at a Los Angeles benefit concert for actor Will Geer. In 1983, Reeves successfully sued for royalties from her Motown hits and the label agreed to have the songs credited as ''Martha Reeves and the Vandellas'' from then on. That year, Reeves performed solo at ''[[Motown 25]]'', which alongside some of their songs being placed on the ''[[Big Chill]]'' soundtrack, helped Reeves and the Vandellas gain a new audience. In 1989, original members Ashford and Sterling also sued Motown for royalties. During this, the original trio were inspired to reunite both as a recording act and in performances. They were offered a contract with Ian Levine's Motorcity Records and issued the group's first single since the Vandellas disbanded seventeen years before with "Step Into My Shoes." While 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, Martha sings with her sisters Lois and Delphine often performing as a solo artist under the bill, ''Martha Reeves of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas'' and still performs all over the world. Currently holding the eighth seat of [[Detroit]]'s city council, which she won during an election year in 2005, Reeves often bides time as both a live performer and as a city councilwoman.
 
  
==Awards and accolades==
+
The next year, Reeves announced plans of starting a solo career. However, when Motown Records moved its operations to [[Los Angeles]], Reeves refused to move. Signing with [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] in 1974 she released the critically acclaimed album ''Martha Reeves''. Despite rave reviews of her work, neither of her post-Vandellas/Motown recordings produced strong sales. After living what she called "a rock & roll lifestyle" of prescription pills and alcohol, Reeves achieved sobriety in 1977, overcoming her addictions and became a born-again [[Baptist]].
Though they didn't receive any [[Grammy]]s, (they were nominated for [[Grammy Awards|Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group]] for "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave," in 1964), Martha and the Vandellas' "Dancing in the Street" was inducted to the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]] in 1999. In 1993, the girls were awarded the Pioneer Award at the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. Except for pre-Vandellas member Gloria Williamson, all members of the group were inducted to the [[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1995 becoming just the second all-female group to be inducted and were presented with the induction by rock group [[The B-52's]], whose frothy dance music was inspired by the Vandellas <ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/marthaandthevandellas/articles/story/7250022/96_martha_and_the_vandellas The Immortals - The Greatest Artists of All Time: 96) Martha and the Vandellas: Martha and the Vandellas : Rolling Stone<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>. They were inducted to the [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]] in 2003. Two of their singles, "[[(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave]]" and "[[Dancing in the Street]]" were included in the list of ''[[The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll]]''. In 2004, [[Rolling Stone Magazine]] ranked the group #96 on their list of the [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty/ 100 Greatest Artists of All Time].<ref>{{cite web| title = The Immortals: The First Fifty| work = Rolling Stone Issue 946| publisher = Rolling Stone| url =http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty}}</ref>
 
  
 
==Legacy==
 
==Legacy==
Regarded for their early and mid-'60s work, some of the Vandellas' popular recordings have become part of American culture with their 1964 standard, "[[Dancing in the Street]]," being the obvious example. One of the most covered and popular songs in [[rock & roll]] history, the song was revamped several times including a 1982 live recording by rock band [[Van Halen]] and a famed 1985 duet by rockers [[David Bowie]] and [[Mick Jagger]]. Another song, 1965's "[[Nowhere to Run]]" has been featured during sports events while 1967's "[[Jimmy Mack]]" has been said to inspire what Reeves later called a "virtual legend" of the name of the song. Their smash 1963 hit, "[[(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave]]," has been said to have been the first song to signify the [[Motown sound]] or "Sound of Young America" with its doo-wop call and response vocals, gospel backbeat and jazz overtones. With their aforementioned singles and subsequent others including "[[I'm Ready for Love]]" and "[[Honey Chile]]," the Vandellas inspired the huge  number of black girl groups that followed them: [[The Emotions]], [[Honey Cone]], [[High Inergy]], [[The Pointer Sisters]], [[En Vogue]] and [[Destiny's Child]].
+
Though the group received only one [[Grammy]] nomination (and no award) for "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" in 1964, Martha and the Vandellas' "Dancing in the Street" was inducted to the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]] in 1999. In 1993, the Vandellas were awarded the Pioneer Award at the [[Rhythm & Blues Foundation]]. Its members were inducted to the [[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1995, becoming just the second all-female group to be so honored. They were inducted to the [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]] in 2003. Two of their singles, "[[Heat Wave]]" and "[[Dancing in the Street]]" were included in the list of [[The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll]]." In 2004, [[Rolling Stone Magazine]] ranked the group number 96 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
 
 
===Awards & recognition===
 
*Martha and the Vandellas were inducted to the [[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1995, becoming just the second all-female group and the fifth group in the Motown roster to be inducted.
 
 
 
*Martha and the Vandellas' "[[(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave]]" and "[[Dancing in the Street]]" were inducted to the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]] and were both included in the list of [[The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll]].
 
 
 
*Martha and the Vandellas were inducted to the [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]] in 2003.
 
  
*Martha and The Vandellas' "[[Dancing in the Street]]" was included in the [[National Recording Registry]] for its historical, artistic, and cultural significance in 2006.
+
"[[Dancing in the Street]]" is one of the most covered and popular songs in [[rock & roll]] history. The song was revamped several times, including a 1982 live recording by rock band [[Van Halen]] and a famed 1985 duet by [[David Bowie]] and [[Mick Jagger]]. Another Vandellas' song, "[[Nowhere to Run]]" has often been featured during sports events. Their smash 1963 hit, "[[(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave]]," is considered the first song to typify the [[Motown sound]] with its call-and-response vocals, gospel-inspired backbeat, and jazz overtones. The Vandellas inspired a large number of African-American
 +
"girl groups" that followed them: [[The Emotions]], [[Honey Cone]], [[High Inergy]], [[The Pointer Sisters]], [[En Vogue]], and [[Destiny's Child]]. The white group B-52's was also inspired by their style, and were present to induct Martha and the Vandellas into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
  
 
==Discography==
 
==Discography==
Line 115: Line 100:
 
*1968: ''[[Ridin' High]]'' (R&B #13)
 
*1968: ''[[Ridin' High]]'' (R&B #13)
 
*1972: ''[[Black Magic (album)|Black Magic]]'' (R&B #30)
 
*1972: ''[[Black Magic (album)|Black Magic]]'' (R&B #30)
 
==Notes==
 
<div class="references-small">
 
<references/>
 
</div>
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
*Brennan, Luann. ''Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music: Volume 27''. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research, Inc., 1999. OCLC 44418230
+
*Brennan, Luann. ''Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music: Volume 27''. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, Inc., 1999. OCLC 44418230
*Lucia, Alexander D., and Long, Donna. ''Rock Your Way to Happiness''. Kissimme, Fla.: Jukebox Publishing Group, 1999. ISBN 978-0966909937
+
*Lucia, Alexander D., and Donna Long. ''Rock Your Way to Happiness''. Kissimme, FL: Jukebox Publishing Group, 1999. ISBN 978-0966909937
*Reeves, Martha and the Vandellas, et al. ''Roots of Rhythm: Can't Forget the Motor City''. Montoursville, Penna.: International Masters Publishers, 2000. ISBN 978-1930560109
+
*Reeves, Martha, and the Vandellas, et al. ''Roots of Rhythm: Can't Forget the Motor City''. Montoursville, PA: International Masters Publishers, 2000. ISBN 978-1930560109
 
*Shapiro, Peter. ''Soul: 100 Essential CDs: The Rough Guide''. London: Rough Guides, 2000. ISBN 978-1858285627
 
*Shapiro, Peter. ''Soul: 100 Essential CDs: The Rough Guide''. London: Rough Guides, 2000. ISBN 978-1858285627
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
*[http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=203 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame page on Martha and the Vandellas]
+
All links retrieved November 6, 2022.
*[http://www.vocalgroup.org/inductees/martha_vandellas.html 'Martha and the Vandellas' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Page]
+
*[https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/martha-and-vandellas Rock & Roll Hall of Fame page on Martha and the Vandellas] ''www.rockhall.com''
*[http://www.history-of-rock.com/vandellas.htm History of Rock page on Martha and the Vandellas]
+
*[http://vocalgroup.org/inductees/martha-and-the-vandellas/ 'Martha and the Vandellas' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Page] ''www.vocalgroup.org''
*[http://www.thevandellas.com The Original Vandellas (Rosalind Ashford & Annette Sterling) page]
+
*[http://www.history-of-rock.com/vandellas.htm History of Rock page on Martha and the Vandellas] ''www.history-of-rock.com''
*[http://oldies.about.com/od/soulmotown/p/marthavandellas.htm Martha and the Vandellas History, Charts and Songs]
 
 
 
 
 
  
[[Category:art, music, literature, sports and leisure]]
 
 
[[Category:Music]]
 
[[Category:Music]]
 +
[[category:musicians]]
 
{{Credit|213094578}}
 
{{Credit|213094578}}

Latest revision as of 16:26, 6 November 2022

Martha and the Vandellas
Martha Reeves
Martha Reeves
Background information
Also known as The Del-Phis, The Vels, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
Origin Detroit, Michigan, USA
Genre(s) R&B/soul/pop
Years active 1957 - 1972
Label(s) Chess
Motown
Associated
acts
Marvin Gaye
Former members
Martha Reeves
Rosalind Ashford-Holmes
Annette Beard-Helton
Gloria Williams
Betty Kelly
Lois Reeves
Sandra Tilley (deceased)

Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas) were among the most successful Motown recording groups in the period 1963-1967. In contrast to other Motown girl groups such as The Supremes and The Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas were known for a harder R&B sound, typified in their songs "Heat Wave," "Nowhere to Run," "Jimmy Mack," and their signature hit, "Dancing in the Street."

During their nine-year run on the charts from 1963 to 1972, Martha and the Vandellas charted over 26 hits and recorded in the styles of doo-wop, R&B, pop, blues, rock, and soul. Ten of their songs reached the top ten of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including two R&B number ones.

In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Martha and the Vandellas number 96 on their its of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

History

Early years (1957-1962)

Alabama-born and Detroit-reared Martha Reeves was brought up in the Christian church by her grandfather. While going to school at Detroit's Northeastern High School, she received vocal coaching from Abraham Silver, who also coached future Supremes members Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson and Miracles member Bobby Rogers. In 1957, the 16-year-old Reeves joined 15-year-olds Gloria Williams and Rosalind Ashford and 14-year-old Annette Beard to form the Del-Phis.

The group performed at various talent shows, dances, and clubs, and was ultimately signed to the Chess subsidiary, Checkmate Records, releasing its first record, the Reeves-led "I'll Let You Know," in 1961. The group gained some attention from Motown after the label bought Checkmate. Now called The Vels, it released two more unsuccessful singles, neither of which featured Reeves in the lead. The group then broke up, and Reeves found other work.

While performing solo at Detroit's Twenty Grand club, Reeves was asked by Motown executive William "Mickey" Stevenson to come to the label office to audition. The result was that she took the job of secretary at the label after showing up to audition on the wrong day. Around this time, she and her former Vels' bandmates Ashford and Beard were recruited to perform background singing for Marvin Gaye. Gaye's first hit records "Stubborn Kind of Fellow," "Hitch Hike," and "Pride and Joy," prominently featured the girls.

In 1962, after singer Mary Wells missed a recording session to record a song Stevenson had written, he recruited Reeves to do the song as a demo. Bringing along Ashford and Beard, the trio recorded Stevenson's "I'll Have to Let Him Go." Their performance convinced Motown founder Berry Gordy to sign the Vels to another Motown subsidiary, Gordy Records, in September 1962.

It was at this time that the group became known as Martha and the Vandellas. The syllable van was derived from a street in Reeves' neighborhood, Van Dyke Street, while dellas honored Reeves' favorite singer Della Reese, a Detroit native herself.

Motown success years (1962-1967)

Martha and the Vandellas struck gold with their second release, the first composition and production from the famed writing team Holland-Dozier-Holland, titled "Come and Get These Memories." It reached number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number six on the R&B chart. Their second hit, "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave," became a huge hit, reaching number four on the Hot 100 and number one on the R&B singles chart for five weeks. "Heat Wave" was the group's first million-seller and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

The group's success continued with "Quicksand," another Holland-Dozier-Holland composition, which reached number eight on the pop charts in the late fall of 1963. Beard, who was pregnant with her first child and set to get married, chose to leave her singing career in 1964. She was replaced by Betty Kelly, formerly of The Velvelettes.

The group's next two singles, "Live Wire" and "In My Lonely Room" were fairly successful singles, although they failed to reach the Top 40. However, the Vandellas' next single, "Dancing in the Street," rose up to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and also found global success, peaking at number 21 on the UK pop singles chart in 1964. The song would become a million-seller, a perennial dance favorite, and is one of the most played singles in history.

Between 1964 and 1967, singles like "Wild One," "Nowhere to Run," "You've Been in Love Too Long," "My Baby Loves Me," "I'm Ready for Love," and "Jimmy Mack" retained the Vandellas' status as one of Motown's top recording and performing acts. The group performed on The Ed Sullivan Show, American Bandstand, and Shindig!, among other popular television shows.

Personnel changes and decline

In 1967, after the exit of Holland-Dozier-Holland, Motown struggled to find good material for many of its acts. Reeves' mentor William "Mickey" Stevenson had also left the label. Nevertheless, the Vandellas somehow continued to find moderate success with Top 40 singles such as "Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone," and "Honey Chile." In the summer of the 1967, the group joined The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and Marvin Gaye in performing at the famed Copacabana. However, with the notable exception of the Supremes, the success of most Motown acts including Martha and Vandellas, declined in the late 1960s.

Infighting among the members of the Vandellas also led to problems. Betty Kelly was let go in 1967 after missing shows and getting into altercations with Reeves on stage. She was replaced by Martha's sister Lois Reeves. Meanwhile, the group's name was officially changed to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, conforming with Motown's recent changes of The Supremes and The Miracles's names to reflect their featured lead singers.

In 1969, Reeves suffered a nervous breakdown and was briefly institutionalized in a mental hospital, reportedly after a "bad trip" on LSD. As a result, the Vandellas temporarily disbanded, and longtime member Rosalind Ashford retired from the music business. However, several Vandellas records, including "(We've Got) Honey Love," "Sweet Darlin'," and "Taking My Love and Leaving Me" were issued in Martha's absence.

Upon Reeves' return to the group, Rosalind Ashford was replaced by another former member of The Velvelettes, Sandra Tilley. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas continued to release albums and singles into the early 1970s, but without notable success. The group disbanded following a farewell concert, held at Detroit's Cobo Hall on December 21, 1972.

The next year, Reeves announced plans of starting a solo career. However, when Motown Records moved its operations to Los Angeles, Reeves refused to move. Signing with MCA in 1974 she released the critically acclaimed album Martha Reeves. Despite rave reviews of her work, neither of her post-Vandellas/Motown recordings produced strong sales. After living what she called "a rock & roll lifestyle" of prescription pills and alcohol, Reeves achieved sobriety in 1977, overcoming her addictions and became a born-again Baptist.

Legacy

Though the group received only one Grammy nomination (and no award) for "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" in 1964, Martha and the Vandellas' "Dancing in the Street" was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. In 1993, the Vandellas were awarded the Pioneer Award at the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. Its members were inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, becoming just the second all-female group to be so honored. They were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003. Two of their singles, "Heat Wave" and "Dancing in the Street" were included in the list of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll." In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked the group number 96 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

"Dancing in the Street" is one of the most covered and popular songs in rock & roll history. The song was revamped several times, including a 1982 live recording by rock band Van Halen and a famed 1985 duet by David Bowie and Mick Jagger. Another Vandellas' song, "Nowhere to Run" has often been featured during sports events. Their smash 1963 hit, "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave," is considered the first song to typify the Motown sound with its call-and-response vocals, gospel-inspired backbeat, and jazz overtones. The Vandellas inspired a large number of African-American "girl groups" that followed them: The Emotions, Honey Cone, High Inergy, The Pointer Sisters, En Vogue, and Destiny's Child. The white group B-52's was also inspired by their style, and were present to induct Martha and the Vandellas into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Discography

U.S. and UK Top 40 Singles

The following singles reached the Top 40 of either the United States pop singles chart or the United Kingdom pop singles chart.

Year Song title U.S. Hot 100 chart UK Top 40 chart
1963 "Come and Get These Memories" 29 -
1963 "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" 4 -
1963 "Quicksand" 8 -
1964 "Dancing in the Street" 2 4
1964 "Wild One" 34 -
1965 "Nowhere to Run" 8 26
1965 "You've Been in Love Too Long" 36 -
1966 "My Baby Loves Me" 22 -
1966 "I'm Ready for Love" 9 29
1967 "Jimmy Mack" 10 21
1967 "Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone" 25 -
1967 "Honey Chile" 11 30
1968 "Forget Me Not" - 11
1971 "Bless You" 53 33

US Top 40 Albums

  • 1966: Greatest Hits (R&B #6)
  • 1967: Watchout! (R&B #14)
  • 1968: Ridin' High (R&B #13)
  • 1972: Black Magic (R&B #30)

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Brennan, Luann. Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music: Volume 27. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, Inc., 1999. OCLC 44418230
  • Lucia, Alexander D., and Donna Long. Rock Your Way to Happiness. Kissimme, FL: Jukebox Publishing Group, 1999. ISBN 978-0966909937
  • Reeves, Martha, and the Vandellas, et al. Roots of Rhythm: Can't Forget the Motor City. Montoursville, PA: International Masters Publishers, 2000. ISBN 978-1930560109
  • Shapiro, Peter. Soul: 100 Essential CDs: The Rough Guide. London: Rough Guides, 2000. ISBN 978-1858285627

External links

All links retrieved November 6, 2022.

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.