On July 18, 1941, Martha Rose Reeves, an American vocalist, was born. She performs pop and R&B. The third of the 11 children born to Elijah Joshua Reeves and Ruby Lee Gilmore Reeves in Eufaula, Alabama, was named Martha Rose.
Her grandpa was a priest at Detroit’s Metropolitan Church when the family relocated from Eufaula to Detroit when she was a baby.
The family took part in the church choir with enthusiasm. Ruby enjoyed singing, and Elijah adored playing the guitar; their parents instilled a love of music in them.
Abraham Silver, who also coached Bobby Rogers, Mary Wilson (of the Supremes), and Florence Ballard in singing, was her vocal teacher at Detroit’s Northeastern High School (of the Miracles).
After being influenced by artists like Lena Horne and Della Reese, Reeves subsequently found R&B and doo-wop. Reeves grew up listening to church music. In 1959, she became a member of the Fascinations, but she departed the band before any music was ever released.
Are Martha and the Vandellas still together?
Since 2010, the Vandellas have consisted of Martha, Lois, and their sister Delphine.
There is still another group named The Original Vandellas, which consists of Roschelle Laughhunn and previous members Holmes and Helton.
