THE MARVELETTES
The
Marvelettes occupy an esteemed place in the history of American
popular music as the group that caused Motown, and most notably
Berry Gordy to change the label's focus from single bluesy soul
artists (previously Barret Strong's "Money" had been
the label's biggest seller) to a smooth orchestrated harmonic
sound that transcended the prior racial limits of rhythm and
blues.
With their first record "Please Mr.
Postman" hitting the top spot on the charts and
selling 3 million records in a crossover market, Motown was to
concentrate on the Marvelettes, Supremes, Temptations, Four
Tops, and Martha and the Vandellas and create a new group pop
soul sound that totally dominated the music charts until the
advent of the Beatles four years later.
During their reign at the top of the charts the girls were to
turn out over a dozen hits, eight of which went Top Ten.
These unforgettable hit songs, including"Too
Many Fish In the Sea", "Playboy", "Beechwood
4-5789", "Don't Mess With Bill" and "My
Baby Must Be A Magician", continue to be popular to
this day.
Although the group at times had more than three members, the
originators were Wanda Rogers, Gladys Horton, and Katherine
Shaffner. In the early years of the group, family ties forced all
three to leave the act at various times (although Wanda and Gladys
continued to make frequent "guest appearances") but
carefully chosen and highly talented replacements kept the act at
the top of the charts even with changed personnel.
Once again this is a patented mark of Motown's success story --
the ability to change personnel in acts like the Supremes,
Temptations and The Marvelettes and still keep the act at the top
of the charts and in demand for personal appearances.
In fact it is in person where the current lineup really excels.
Offering an act that features their big hits, interspersed with
their versions of some great standards, the girls are still, in
the smooth Motown vein, a highly choreographed, polished, very
good looking and humorous night club act as well as a major draw.
