Martha Reeves Biography
Martha Reeves is an American R&B and pop singer and former politician. She is the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. The group scored over a dozen hit singles, including “Come and Get These Memories”, “Nowhere to Run”, “Heat Wave”, “Jimmy Mack”, and their signature “Dancing In The Street”. From 2005 until 2009, Reeves served as an elected councilwoman for the city of Detroit, Michigan.
10 Quick Facts About Martha Reeves
- Name: Martha Reeves
- Age: 81 years
- Birthday: July 18
- Zodiac Sign: Cancer
- Height: 5 feet 6 inches
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Singer and Former Politician
- Marital Status: Married
- Salary: Under Review
- Net worth: $5 Million
Martha Reeves Age
Reeves is 81 years old as of 2022, she was born on July 18, 1941, in Eufaula, Alabama, U.S. She celebrates her birthday on 18 July every year and her birth sign Cancer. Reeves will be turning 80 years old as of July 18, 2021.
Martha Reeves Height
Reeve stands at a height of 5 feet 6 inches (1.7 m).
Martha Reeves Weight
Reeves has a weight of 75kg (165.3lbs).
Martha Reeves Parents
Martha is the first daughter of Elijah Joshua Reeves and Ruby Lee Gilmore Reeves, and the third of the couple’s 11 children. She 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. The family was very active in the church and its choir. Elijah played guitar, and Ruby liked to sing; the children acquired their love of music from their parents.
Martha Reeves Husband
Reeves is married to Willie Dee. The couple is blessed with a son, Eric Reeves.
Martha Reeves Net Worth
Reeves has an estimated net worth of $5 million dollars as of 2020. This includes her assets, money, and income. Her primary source of income is her career as a Singer. Through her various sources of income, Reeves has been able to accumulate a good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Martha Reeves Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Martha Reeves.
Martha Reeves Wiki
- Full Names: Martha Rose Reeves
- Popular As: Martha Reeves
- Gender: Female
- Occupation / Profession: Pop Singer
- Nationality: American
- Race / Ethnicity: Not Available
- Religion: Not Known
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Martha Reeves Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 81 years as of (2022)
- Zodiac Sign: Cancer
- Date of Birth: July 18, 1941
- Place of Birth: Eufaula, Alabama, U.S.A.
- Birthday: 18 July
Martha Reeves Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Not Available
- Height / How Tall?: 5 feet 6 inches (1.7 m)
- Weight: 75kg (165.3lbs)
- Eye Color: Not Available
- Hair Color: Not Available
- Shoe Size: Not Available
- Dress Size: Not Available
- Breast Size: Not Available
- Waist Size: Not Available
- Hip Size: Not Available
Martha Reeves Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Elijah Joshua Reeves
- Mother: Ruby Lee Gilmore Reeves
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): 10
- Marital Status: Married
- Husband/Spouse: Married to Willie Dee
- Children: Sons (Eric Reeves)
Martha Reeves Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: $5 Million
- Salary: Under Review
- Source of Income: Pop Singer
Martha Reeves House and Cars
- Place of living: Not Available
- Cars: Car Brand to be Updated
Martha Reeves Career
1957 was her first association with Rosalind Ashford, Gloria Williams and Annette Beard in a group then known as The Del-Phis, formed after a man named Edward “Pops” Larkins was starting a sister singing group to complement a male vocal group of his.[citation needed] The Del-Phis were popular local performers. Reeves was reportedly an admirer of the group and was a friend of Gloria Williams, who hired Reeves to join the group in 1960.
Through 1960 and 1961, Reeves made ends meet working several jobs by day and worked as a singer in nighttime hours singing jazz and blues standards at some of Detroit’s respected nightclubs. Singing at the 20 Grand, Reeves was spotted by Motown A&R director Mickey Stevenson, who recognized her talent, gave her his business card and invited her to audition. 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.
Stevenson asked her to answer phones while he took care of other businesses. Using the skills she had learned in commercial courses in high school, Reeves answered phones, took notes, administered payroll for Motown’s famed Funk Brothers, and made herself invaluable. (Stevenson and Reeves give a different account of this in the 2019 documentary Hitsville: The Making of Motown. Directly quoting Stevenson: “She came to audition a few times. I would find nice ways of saying, ‘Martha, you know, come back later.’” Reeves added, “And I must have looked like I was gonna cry or something, cos he said, ‘Answer this phone. I’ll be right back.’ This “right back” was four hours.”
As for the missed session by Mary Wells referenced in the following paragraph, according to Berry Gordy, Motown routinely recorded without a singer present, in violation of union rules: “We were recording sometimes tracks without the singer, and according to the Union, you had to have a singer singing it live.
You couldn’t do tracks in those days.” A Union representative made a surprise visit, and Berry said, Everybody went crazy, saying, “Well, you’re doing a session in there and the Union guy is coming. We told Mickey, “Man, we’ve got to put somebody on the mic.’ His secretary overheard it….Then she grabbed the mic and started singing it, and she was Martha.”
Before long, Reeves was working several hours at Hitsville as Stevenson’s right hand. (She also did A&R work in addition to secretarial work for Motown. By 1961, the Del-Phis had changed their name to The Vels and recorded singles for Checker and Checkmate Records. One day, when Mary Wells could not attend a session, Reeves stepped up to the microphone and called in the Del-Phis. With “I’ll Have to Let Him Go”, Martha and the Vandellas were born. Then, when the Andantes could not make a session to back the Miracles’ drummer on songs he was recording, Martha called her groupmates.
The ladies (a trio after Williams’ departure) provided backup vocals for Marvin Gaye’s “Stubborn Kind of Fellow”. The single became a hit. Martha and the Vandellas backed Gaye on his first three singles, his first album, and on stage—even after they had their own hits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Martha Reeves
Reeves is an American R&B and pop singer and former politician. She is the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas which scored over a dozen hit singles, including “Come and Get These Memories”, “Nowhere to Run”, “Heat Wave”, “Jimmy Mack”, and their signature “Dancing In The Street”.
Reeves is 81 years old as of 2022, she was born on July 18, 1941, in Eufaula, Alabama, U.S. She celebrates her birthday on 18 July every year and her birth sign Cancer. Reeves will be turning 82 years old as of July 18, 2023.
Reeve stands at a height of 5 feet 6 inches (1.7 m).
Reeves is married to Willie Dee. The couple is blessed with a son, Eric Reeves.
Reeves has an estimated net worth of $5 million dollars as of 2020. This includes her assets, money, and income. Her primary source of income is her career as a Singer. Through her various sources of income, Reeves has been able to accumulate a good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Because of security reasons, Reeves has not shared her precise location of residence. We will update this information if we get the location and images of her house.
Reeves is alive and in good health. There have been no reports of her being sick or having any health-related issues.
Martha Reeves Contacts
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