Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard were in the girl group the Del-Phis along with lead singer Gloria Williams. The group performed at school functions, local clubs and other events around the Detroit, Michigan area. The group originally had up to six members, then was cut to four. When another member left, Martha Reeves, who had been with the Fascinations and the Sabre-Ettes, joined the Del-Phis.
The group signed a recording contract with Checker Records and released the single "I'll Let You Know". When the song went nowhere, they then signed with Checkmate Records, but a single recorded for that label--"There He is (At My Door)", also flopped.
Reeves briefly began a solo career under the name of Martha LaVaille, hoping to land a deal with Motown. She mistakenly showed up for an audition on the wrong day, but eventually became Mickey Stevenson's secretary at Motown. Martha's job was to help acts audition for the label.
By 1961, her old group the Del-Phis had changed their name to the Vels and was singing backing vocals for Motown acts such as Marvin Gaye ("Stubborn Kind Of Fellow"). The Vels, with Martha singing lead vocals, recorded the demo "I'll Have to Let Him Go". The Motown brass was so impressed that they offered the group a contract.
At that time, Williams left the group, not wanting the pressure. The remaining trio of Ashford, Beard and Reeves renamed themselves the Vandellas. The famous songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland was assigned to them and the Vandellas recorded "Come and Get These Memories". It reached #29 overall and #6 on the R&B chart.
In 1968, the group performed at the Copacabana, but a live album was shelved. Meanwhile, Motown boss Berry Gordy, Jr. began focusing on the Supremes, and then the solo career of Diana Ross in 1970. Most of the other Motown acts, including the Vandellas, suffered as a result.
Infighting also contributed to the demise of the group. Kelley reportedly missed shows and she and Reeves quarreled often, even on stage. Kelley was fired in 1967, replaced by Lois Reeves, Martha's sister.
But the Vandellas never enjoyed another Top 10 hit. They did reunite in 1989 and issued another single, and have performed in concerts from time to time.
In 1995, Martha & the Vandellas were elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, becoming the second all-female group in the Hall. The single "Dancing In The Street" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and Martha & the Vandellas were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included both "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" and "Dancing In The Street" in their "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll".
The group's career included 24 hits, with six reaching the Top 10.
The group signed a recording contract with Checker Records and released the single "I'll Let You Know". When the song went nowhere, they then signed with Checkmate Records, but a single recorded for that label--"There He is (At My Door)", also flopped.
Reeves briefly began a solo career under the name of Martha LaVaille, hoping to land a deal with Motown. She mistakenly showed up for an audition on the wrong day, but eventually became Mickey Stevenson's secretary at Motown. Martha's job was to help acts audition for the label.
By 1961, her old group the Del-Phis had changed their name to the Vels and was singing backing vocals for Motown acts such as Marvin Gaye ("Stubborn Kind Of Fellow"). The Vels, with Martha singing lead vocals, recorded the demo "I'll Have to Let Him Go". The Motown brass was so impressed that they offered the group a contract.
At that time, Williams left the group, not wanting the pressure. The remaining trio of Ashford, Beard and Reeves renamed themselves the Vandellas. The famous songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland was assigned to them and the Vandellas recorded "Come and Get These Memories". It reached #29 overall and #6 on the R&B chart.
The group struck paydirt with their next record, hitting #4 and #1 on the R&B chart for five weeks. "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" sold over one million copies and earned the Vandellas a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
That smash was followed up by "Quicksand", a #8 song.
Annette, who was about to get married, decided to leave the group to focus on her family, and former Velvelette Betty Kelley replaced her. The Vandellas' next two singles received some R&B airplay, but it was the single, "Dancing In The Street", that catapulted them up the charts again. The song hit #2 and gave the group another Gold record.
The durable "Dancing In The Street" is now one of the most-played songs in history. "Wild One" reached #11 on the R&B chart, but their next big hit was "Nowhere To Run", which hit #8.
After three more mid-charters, Martha & the Vandellas found the Top 10 again in 1966 with "I'm Ready For Love", a #9 song and #2 on the R&B chart.
The group appeared on all the popular musical shows: American Bandstand, Shindig!, The Ed Sullivan Show and The Mike Douglas Show. The next single, "Jimmy Mack", was a #1 R&B smash and #10 overall.
Stevenson left Motown in 1967, and the label was dealt a huge blow when Holland-Dozier-Holland left the next year. But the group, now promoted as Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, managed to land another hit with "Honey Chile", #11.
In 1968, the group performed at the Copacabana, but a live album was shelved. Meanwhile, Motown boss Berry Gordy, Jr. began focusing on the Supremes, and then the solo career of Diana Ross in 1970. Most of the other Motown acts, including the Vandellas, suffered as a result.
Infighting also contributed to the demise of the group. Kelley reportedly missed shows and she and Reeves quarreled often, even on stage. Kelley was fired in 1967, replaced by Lois Reeves, Martha's sister.
But the Vandellas never enjoyed another Top 10 hit. They did reunite in 1989 and issued another single, and have performed in concerts from time to time.
In 1995, Martha & the Vandellas were elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, becoming the second all-female group in the Hall. The single "Dancing In The Street" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and Martha & the Vandellas were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included both "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" and "Dancing In The Street" in their "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll".
The group's career included 24 hits, with six reaching the Top 10.
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