30 Facts About Martha Reeves

Martha Rose Reeves was born in Eufaula, Alabama, the first daughter of Elijah Joshua Reeves and Ruby Lee Gilmore Reeves, and the third of the couple's 11 children.

Martha Reeves was a baby when the family moved from Eufaula to Detroit, Michigan, where her grandfather, Reverend Elijah Reeves, was a minister at Detroit's Metropolitan Church.

Martha Reeves joined the Fascinations in 1959, but left the group before they became a recording act.

In 1957, Martha Reeves joined a group called the Del-Phis, with Rosalind Ashford, Gloria Williams and Annette Beard.

Reeves, who used the stage name Martha Lavaille showed up at Motown's Hitsville USA studios the next morning, not knowing that she was to call to schedule an audition.

One day, when Mary Wells could not attend a session, Martha Reeves stepped up to the microphone and called in the Del-Phis.

Martha Reeves was the one consistent member of the group staying throughout all the group's incarnations and lineups.

In 1972, after Motown moved from Detroit to Los Angeles, Martha Reeves negotiated out of her contract, ending her tenure with the label.

Martha Reeves reached a settlement with the women in 1991.

Martha Reeves appeared as a musical guest on the first season of Saturday Night Live in December 1975, performing the Christmas standard "Silver Bells" and a cover version of Jackie Wilson's " Higher and Higher".

In Los Angeles, Martha Reeves took acting classes at the Lee Strasberg Institute.

Martha Reeves appeared in the movie Fairy Tales and on the television series Quincy, ME.

Martha Reeves appeared on TV game shows such as Hollywood Squares.

In 1977, with the help of former Motown producer Frank Wilson, Martha Reeves became a born-again Christian, joining the Mt.

Martha Reeves released one album on Arista Records, working with Clive Davis, the Chairmen of the Board's General Johnson and others, and two albums on Fantasy Records, working with other former Motown colleagues Hank Cosby and Holland, Dozier and Holland.

Martha Reeves then performed in a Broadway production of Ain't Misbehavin' and reunited with original members of the Vandellas in 1989 both on record and on tour.

In 2004, Martha Reeves released her first album in 24 years, Home to You, with songs she wrote and produced herself except for a Billie Holiday cover and an updated version of "Jimmy Mack".

Between leaving the Vandellas and her solo career, Martha Reeves served as an early contributor to the music newspaper, Soul, for which she was honored for by the Black Women in Publishing organization.

Martha Reeves was honored for her best-selling 1995 autobiography, Dancing in the Street.

Martha Reeves has sometimes opened her live performances with this number.

In January 2012, Martha Reeves held court at London's Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club with a sold out six-show stand that drew celebrity guests like Phil Collins and Boy George.

Martha Reeves received an honorary PhD in Humanities on November 25,2012, in Detroit.

Martha Reeves was inducted as a solo artists into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame on October 4,2015.

Martha Reeves received the Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award at the Artists Music Guild's 2015 AMG Heritage Awards on November 14,2015, in Monroe, North Carolina.

Martha Reeves regularly appears at festivals in the UK during the summer, and for her performances was nominated for two UK Festival Awards, as "Best Headliner" and "Feel Good Act of the Summer".

Martha Reeves was honored for her hard work and courage in 2007 by delegates and members of AFTRA.

Martha Reeves is on the board of SoundExchange, a non-profit performance rights organization that collects royalties on behalf of sound recording copyright owners and featured artists for non-interactive digital transmissions, including satellite and internet radio.

Martha Reeves made a cameo appearance in the film Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, as a passer-by listening to the duo on the boardwalk.

In September 2019, Martha Reeves was one of the celebrity contestants taking part on the BBC One show Celebrity MasterChef in the UK.

In 2024, Martha Reeves received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, with Berry Gordy Jr.