American singer Martha Rose Reeves was born on July 18, 1941. She sings R&B and pop. Martha Rose Reeves was born in Eufaula, Alabama, the third of Elijah Joshua Reeves and Ruby Lee Gilmore Reeves’ 11 children.
When the family moved from Eufaula to Detroit when she was a baby, her grandpa, Reverend Elijah Reeves, was a minister at Detroit’s Metropolitan Church.
The family was an enthusiastic member of the church choir. Elijah loved playing the guitar, and Ruby loved singing; their parents instilled a love of music in them.
Her voice teacher at Detroit’s Northeastern High School was Abraham Silver, who also trained Bobby Rogers, Mary Wilson (of the Supremes), and Florence Ballard (of the Miracles).
Reeves grew up listening to church music and later discovered R&B and doo-wop after being influenced by performers like Lena Horne and Della Reese. She joined the Fascinations in 1959, but she left the group before they began releasing music.
Is Martha and the Vandellas sisters?
The Vandellas and Martha are indeed sisters. Lois and Delphine Reeves are members of the Vandellas.
