She said: “I am still called a councilwoman when I see people who voted for me. Our travel overseas to the UK has bonded us with so much love and it’s a joy to visit.”Īside from music, Reeves has a strong passion for politics and she served as a councillor in Detroit from 2005 to 2009. The applause is what sticks most in my mind because it would start slow, get faster and faster, then all of a sudden stop, and the cheers would follow. I think we played Wigan at least five times. The Wigan Casino was unlike any other place I’d ever performed. “I remember getting there about two in the morning and having a show start at four and people staying up all night dancing. I have a Wigan plaque that I cherish dearly. As a matter of fact, I have a wooden trophy of a fist which was dedicated to Martha And The Vandellas. She added: “I spent lots of times at the Wigan Casino.
Some of the star’s best memories of touring Britain are from the Northern Soul scene in the 1970s – a subculture now enjoying a revival in Scotland – and playing live at the legendary Wigan Casino. They knew our songs and that was a thrill.” “I remember singing Forget Me Not, which had a Scottish flavour to it, and people singing along. She added: “We were riding on a bus with several other artists and it was beautiful to see a parade with bagpipes and men in kilts and the wonderful excitement from the audience. The burning of the Wickerman is one of the highlights of the festival that Martha Reeves can look forward to Reeves, who has visited Scotland several times over the past 50 years, says she will never forget her first visit in 1965. It was a really good time in my life, to be part of that history.”
“The music united them and made us feel good too, to see everybody dancing without any prejudice and without any hatred, without any separatism. “So we saw changes with our music – there were places we were not allowed to come into or enter but we soon saw that change. At the finale, when we all joined Smokey on stage, people were hugging, kissing and embracing each other, people who hardly spoke to each other when they came into the arena. They did step back and that barrier between the white audience and the black was broken down. “Smokey declared it offensive and asked the guys if they would remove themselves and leave us alone. I remember once Smokey Robinson stood on stage and there were two guys standing there with sawed off baseball bats, eager to hit anyone who attempted to dance, no matter what race they were. “But a lot of our Motown artists had never experienced it. We would still visit where my grandparents live so I knew about racism and bigotry. She said: “I was born in the south but my parents moved to Detroit where I grew up. Reeves has fond memories of the 60s and says soul music brought people together in a racially divided America. She soon secured a recording contract to become one of Motown’s biggest acts. Reeves, 72, was born in Alabama in 1941 but her family moved to Detroit when she was a teenager and she has lived there for most of her life.Īs a young woman, she sang in jazz clubs and initially began her career at Motown as a secretary at their Detroit HQ, nicknamed Hitsville USA. Martha And The Vandellas were one of Motown’s earliest signings and Dancing In The Street became their unofficial anthem. Reeves spoke from her home in Detroit – aka Motor City – which was home to the famous Motown record label in the 60s.ĭuring that decade, Motown produced more than 100 top 10 hits with superstars such as Diana Ross and The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.”
“People embrace our music and it makes everybody happy and makes me happy. To be able to put on our finest dresses and go on stage is still so exciting. “I’ve already been to several parades and we’ve had all kinds of cakes and flowers and cards for the anniversary of that one song. Reeves said: “We’ll be performing in 72 cities to celebrate the fact that Dancing In The Street is 50 years old. Her gig is part of a world tour with backing group The Vandellas to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their greatest hit, Dancing In The Street. The singer spoke to the Sunday Mail ahead of a visit to Scotland to perform at the Wickerman Festival, which climaxes with a spectacular blaze. Martha and her Vandellas were behind hits such as Dancing In the Street, Nowhere To Run and Heatwave and she became a global star in the 60s.
SOUL legend Martha Reeves is dancing in the streets again – 50 years after the release of her most famous song.
0 kommentar(er)
