MARTHA REEVES

OFFICIAL WEB SITE

(MarthaReeves.MotownAlumni.com)

Martha Reeves Biography

Martha Reeves was born in Eufaula Alabama. Her parents Ruby and Elijah Reeves moved to Detroit, Michigan before her first birthday. Martha's mother has been her greatest inspiration and teacher. Ruby and Elijah (now deceased) both would sing and play the guitar solely for the family's delight and pleasure. Raised on the eastside, she attended Russell Elementary and was taught vocals by Mrs. Emily Wagstaff. Northeastern High School was where she studied voice under the direction of Abraham Silver, who also coached Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Bobby Rogers of the Miracles, who also became world renown at Motown Records. For her graduation Martha was presented at the HENRY FORD AUDITORIUM and performed BACH'S ARIA ALLELUJAH, before an audience of 4500 neighbors, parents, fellow students, and the general public.

Upon graduation from high school, Martha joined several girls groups and performed locally as an amateur where and whenever the opportunity arose. She did it for the experience and most of the time just for the fun of it for she loved literature, compositions, and music..

Being the first girl born to Ruby and Elijah of twelve children, Martha took a chance at several jobs, non-musical, to earn money. She won a talent contest and her prize was a three day engagement at a local nightclub under the guise of Martha LaVaille. The local group headed by Gloria Jean Williamson named The Del-Phi"s had a recording that didn't make the charts, and is a collectors item, entitled "MY BABY WON'T COME BACK", showed promise, and resulted in all of the girls, Annette Beard, Rosalind Holmes, Gloria, and Martha, seeking empoloyment. We kept a day job.

On her last night, Sunday at the TWENTY-GRAND night club (now defunct) William R. Stevenson approached Martha , after hearing her sing, and gave her a card to HITSVILLE U.S.A., and that she did. He was the A & R DIRECTOR at MOTOWN RECORDS, and BERRY GORDY'S right hand man. He scouted the city collecting the best of singers, musicians, and invited them to this now promising company that had made the charts with BARRET STRONG'S "MONEY", MARY WELL'S "BYE BYE BABY", MARV JOHNSON"S "YOU'VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES", AND THE MARVELETTES HAD JUST MADE AN ENTRANCE WITH "MR. POSTMAN", Martha had heard about all of the stars at MOTOWN RECORDS, like THE MIRACLE'S "SHOP AROUND, AND EDDIE HOLLAND'S "JAMIE", to name a few, and wanted to be a part of that company so badly that she quit her job at the local dry-cleaning plant, and showed up the next morning at secretary time. There was no women in that department, and MARTHA REEVES became the first secretary all to visit with her in the private chat room Martha Reeves Chat (AOL Members Only)

Here are some commonly asked guestions

Martha has answered through the years.

Click Here!

clicking here~~>  

Come to her GOODIES SHOP

 
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Also Visit 
THE MOTOWN MUSEUM IN DETROIT
2648 WEST GRAND BOULEVARD
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48208

 Directions from Downtown Detroit:

take Woodward north ... to West Grand Blvd (make a left {have to make a right and make a U Turn to get onto West Grand Blvd.} ...go down a few blocks, you'll see it on the left hand side!)
.......

Directions from Detroit Metro Airport:

Merriman Rd. (north) .....to I-94 east ....to West Grand Blvd. exit (make a left) ....travel about 3 miles ....(will past Grand River) ......to Motown Museum on the right hand side!)

.........

Directions from Southfield Freeway (north of  I-94):

Southfield (south) ... to I-94 (east) .... to West Grand Blvd. exit (make a left) ....travel about 3 miles ....(will past Grand River) ......to Motown Museum on the right hand side!)

.......

Directions from I-75 (north of  I-94):

I-75 (south) ....to I-94 (west) .....to Woodward exit (make a right)  ... to West Grand Blvd (make a left {have to make a right and make a U Turn to get onto West Grand Blvd.} ...go down a few blocks, you'll see it on the left hand side!)

Directions from 10 (Lodge expressway):

(If you're coming from Detroit take 10 (north), if you're coming from the Southfield area take 10 south) ......to West Grand Blvd. exit (turn east) ....Museum is a few blocks on the left hand side!

WRITE TO:

MARTHA REEVES ENTERPRISE INC.
ATTN: MARTHA REEVES
1300 E. Lafayette  #1211

DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48207

ITCH  RECORDS

We are always on the look out for New Artists , songs and talent.

You must inquire about submiting material before sending.

Send your email inquiry to:

ItchRecords@aol.com

WebMaster: Billy Wilson of the Motown Alumni Association