Martha Reeves And The Vandellas

The group was started by Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard, after they were both hired by a local music manager to perform in the group the Del-Phis. After a couple of years spent performing everywhere they could, lead singer Gloria Williams left to pursue a solo career in 1960. The replacement was Alabama born singer Martha Williams, who had previously performed in the rival group The Fascinations and the very same year, the group signed their first record contract at Checker Records. Unfortunately, both their first two singles flopped, first on Checker, then on Checkmate Records.

The band briefly separated, disillusioned with the music industry. However, Reeves, returned to try and start a solo career, trying to court the emerging label Motown for a record contract. It seemed to be going according to plan, as Mickey Stevenson, one of the label’s songwriters and producers, spotted Reeves singing in a club and told her to come and formally audition. Unfortunately, in such a simple twist of fate, Reeves turned up to audition on a Tuesday, when Motown auditions were always held on Thursdays. However, Stevenson saw something in Reeves, and employed her as his secretary.

By 1961, the group were back together and now known as The Vels. Reeves had got them work singing backing vocals for Motown’s various acts, however this all changed in 1962. The group were scheduled to record backup harmonies for an artist called Mary Wells, who failed to make the recording session for a song called “I’ll Have To Let Him Go”. Stuck for any other options, The Vels recorded a version of the song themselves, initially to serve as a demo for Wells to record over at a later date. However, Motown CEO Berry Gordy was so impressed with their version of the song, Reeves’ lead vocals especially, that he offered the group a record contract shortly after he heard it.

The group renamed themselves The Vandellas and by February 1963, they had their first Top 40 hit in the form of “Come And Get These Memories” only their second single. However, with the momentum that they had gained from that single, their follow up “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave” was a monster hit in return. It sailed into the top five of the Billlboard Hot 100, and reached number one on the R&B charts for five weeks running, The group became one of the biggest names in the pop scene, reliably releasing top ten singles and relentless touring.

1964 saw the release of their most enduring single to date “Dancing In The Street”. This was a single that didn’t just reach number two on the Billboard Hot 100, but was also a bona-fide smash all over the world. Peaking at 21 on the Singles Chart on its original release and then then at number four during its 1969 re-release. For the rest of the mid—sixties, the group were one of the most succesful Motown Acts around, and considering that The Supremes, The Four Tops and The Jackson 5 were their competition, that’s saying a hell of a lot.

Personal problems plagued them for the rest of their career, with dwindling commercial clout and members coming and going at a rate of knots. When they finally scored another international hit in 1971 with “Bless You”, they decided to gracefully bow out with a farewell concert at Detroit’s Cobo hall in December 1972. However, after a critically acclaimed solo career, Reeves got the band back together in 2010, backed by her sisters Lois and Delphine Reeves, and are still performing live to this day. Ashford and Beard also take their Vandellas hits on the road with their incarnation, The Original Vandellas, and with either one, you get to experience some of the defining hits of the sixties the greatest way you can. Live and in concert. Both of them come highly recommended.