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Hey Cousins!
We will visit with Motown Royalty this week. Our Special guest is Martha Reeves (Martha and the Vandellas).
The group was founded in 1960 as the Del-Phis – all school friends from Detroit.
Their big break came in 1962 – Martha was a secretary at Motown and was asked to do backing vocals for his next recording. The request was made by Marvin Gaye.
Martha told me that it took nearly one second to say yes to Marvin. Berry Gordy Jr. (the Motown boss) was so impressed with the Del-Phis backing track, that he hired them on the spot. Their new name became: Martha and the Vandellas – derived from a street in Detroit (Van Dyke) and Martha’s favorite singer Della Reese (Vandellas).
The ladies were given another major gift – the amazing production team of Holland Dozier Holland. And those Hits kept on coming! Come and Get These Memories” (1963), “(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave” (1963), “Nowhere to Run” (1965), “I’m Ready for Love” (1966), and “Jimmy Mack” (1967). Their biggest hit “Dancing in The Street”(co-written by Marvin Gaye).
Martha and the Vandellas were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
We happily welcome Martha Reeves to MUSICRADIO WABC this Saturday 8/26/23.
