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ARTIST INDEX
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Personnel:
Biography: C.P. Spencer and Walter Gaines were members of a group named Five Stars who has the distinction of being Berry Gordy's first production job in 1957, before he found his record company. Freddie Gorman is also the writer of some of Motown's early classics such as the Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" and the Supremes "I Want A Guy" Selected Songs:
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Oma Page (Heard) left Motown around 1965 after just one solitary single release on VIP "Mr Lonely Heart". Selected Songs: Other selections:
These are West Coast recordings - solo - by Oma. Most are by the Pipkins according to the Jobete Catalog (59-67). Oma also recorded the duets with Marvin that appear on his box set together along with an unreleased recording entitled 'Your Kiss, Kiss'.
WILSON PICKETT Back To The Top
BONNIE POINTER Back To The Top After breaking away from her sisters, Bonnie forged a new identity as a solo performer and found no trouble finding her way back to the charts, although it was short lived. Selected Songs:
THE POINTER SISTERS Back To The Top After scoring a few major hits, the Pointer Sisters decided to jump ship and do what their sister, Bonnie, did years before...join Motown. Unfortunately, they couldn't duplicate their success and they left the label after one album.
Both were established and respected artists before they joined forces in what was initially a one-shot deal. Billy Preston had recorded with the Beatles and had a few hits under his belts, most notably "Outaspace," before it was decided that he record a duet with Syretta for a basketball film. Syreeta was a writer and singer who was the former wife of Stevie Wonder. The song they recorded together, "With You I'm Born Again" was the most memorable part of the film and resulted in the two artist recording a couple of albums together. Selected Songs:
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BARBARA RANDALPH Back To The Top Selected Songs:
Selected Songs:
MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS Back To The Top Martha Reeves Birthday - July 18 They were formerly known as The Vells, a quartet with Gloria Williamson on lead. As Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, the group was one of Motown's biggest groups before the Supremes took the spotlight. Martha Reeves left the label for a solo career in the late 60's. Selected Songs:
LIONEL RITCHIE Back To The Top As the lead singer and drummer for the Commodores, Lionel Ritchie helped the group establish Motown as a label to be reckoned with in the 70's with hits such as "Machine Gun", "Three Times a Lady", and "Brickhouse". Selected Songs:
SMOKEY ROBINSON Back To The Top
SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES Back To The Top
Berry Gordy's son decided to record a song and came away with one of Motown's biggest hits with the help of Michael Jackson. It helped to have good friends. Selected Songs:
David Ruffin replaced original member Temptation member, Elbridge Bryant, originally a soloist, he joined the Temptations in 1964 and left to pursue his solo career again in 1968. In 1975, he scored his biggest hit in his solo career with the now classic recording of 'Walk Away From Love.' During this time, he also recorded duet albums with his brother Jimmy (1971) and Eddie Kendrick (1982). He also released a track on Motorcity Records (Hurt The One You Love). In the late 80's, he hooked up again with Eddie Kendrick for a successful cross-country tour along with Hall & Oates. Their legendary collaboration was memorialized in the RCA release '...At the Apollo Theatre.' David and Eddie were also guest vocalists in the anti-apartheid Sun City Recording headed by . He died in 1990.
Selected Songs:
Selected Songs:
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THE SATINTONES Back To The Top Brian Holland of the famed writing trio Holland-Dozier-Holland, at one time was the lead vocalist for the Satintones in the early 60's. The Satintones was the first group signed under Motown records, though the Miracles were the first group signed to Berry Gordy's first label Tamla. Amazingly, they've never had an album released on them. But, their records (45's) are amongst the rarest, and the most expensive of all the Motown recording artists.
As Motown experienced a lack of sales in the late 80's, they signed several new artist in hopes to re-establish themselves to a younger generation. One of their finds was Shanice who processed a 12-octave range. After an initial burst at the top of the charts, Shanice found herself the victim of Motown's narrow minded musical range, choosing to concentrate on BoysIIMen, who was a throw-back to Motown's distinctive male vocal groups. Selected Songs:
Motown found itself on the country charts briefly in the early 70's when they signed a young, unknown writer to their newly formed 'Melodylane' label. But Motown's initial excitement was short-lived as they decided to drop the label and concentrate on their more established acts. Selected Songs:
VALERIE SIMPSON Back To The Top As one-half of the legendary writing team, Ashford & Simpson, Valerie found herself on the charts in the early 70's with 'Silly Wasn't I.' But Motown wasn't interested in another performing artist for their label and insisted she and her husband, Nick, continue to do what they do best...write. Frustrated, they left Motown for a lucrative career as performers/writers for Warner Brothers. In the late 60's Valerie provided the vocals for 'The Onion Song' that was attributed to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Motown believed the song had a better chance of becoming of hit, as Marvin and Taimmi. . Marvin felt "guilty" about deceiving the public but he agreed to Motown's decision because it would provide extra cash for Tammi's family who were tending to her after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. The other hit record which features Simpson's voice but credited to Terrell is "What You Gave Me." Selected Songs:
Selected Non-Motown Songs:
The Spinners was one of the great lost soul group of Motown Records. After toiling under the shadows of the labels biggest hitmakers, the Spinners signed with Atlantic in 1972 (on the recommendation of Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick). But not before giving Motown a taste of what they were going to miss. Singing as if they were giving Berry Gordy a scolding for treating them like second-hand citizens, "It's A Shame," arranged, written and produced by Stevie Wonder was the springboard that the group needed. While at Motown, they worked as road managers and chaperones for the Supremes and the Marvelettes and the Vandellas; took inventory in the Motown shipping department, drove the Temptations around Detroit and even picked up the Jackson 5 at Metro Airport. In between, they would slip in a few recordings but the material they were given were hand-me-downs.
Members:
Original professional name: The Domingoes "Discovered" by Harvey Fuqua. Labels: Tri-Phi (sold to Motown in 1963), Motown, Atlantic Selected Songs:
Selected Non-Motown Songs:
He was born Charles Hatcher but under the moniker, Edwin Starr, he would record several hits for Motown before establishing himself on the dancefloor in the 70's Selected Songs:
Selected Non-Motown Songs:
Former wife of Stevie Wonder, she was a member of his back-up singers, Wonderlove. She was once considered as a replacement for the departing Diana Ross of the Supremes. Selected Songs:
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