Artist Name
The Velvelettes

(0 users)

Logo

Artist Image


Functions
Love Edit Import

Data Complete
40%

Album Releases view
None found, add some?

Members
3 Female

Origin
Detroit, USA

Genre
Soul

Style
Rock/Pop

Mood
---

Born

1961

Active
1961 to 1970

Cutout

Most Loved Tracks
No loved tracks found...

Music Video Links
No Music Videos Found...


Artist Biography
Available in:
The Velvelettes was founded in 1961 by Bertha Barbee McNeal and Mildred Gill Arbor, students at Western Michigan University. Mildred recruited her younger sister Carolyn (also known as Cal or Caldin), who was in 9th grade, and Cal's friend Betty Kelly, a junior in high school. Bertha recruited her cousin Norma Barbee, a freshman at Flint Junior College. Cal was chosen as the group's lead singer. A classmate at Western Michigan University, Robert Bullock, was Berry Gordy's nephew, and he encouraged the group to audition for Motown Records. The group signed to Motown in late 1962 and started recording in January 1963. They recorded at the Hitsville USA studio and "There He Goes" and "That's The Reason Why" produced by William Stevenson was released as a single via the IPG label (Independent Producers Group). The recordings included a young Stevie Wonder playing harmonica. While the group awaited their chance at stardom, they recorded for many producers, some of which were re-recorded by other artists including fellow labelmates the Vandellas and the Supremes. The Velvelettes were not used to provide backing vocals since Motown already had its in-house backing group, the Andantes. The Velvelettes got their first break into the charts in spring of 1964 thanks to young producer Norman Whitfield, who produced "Needle In A Haystack" as a single for the group, on Motown's VIP Records imprint. "Needle In A Haystack" peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid 1964. The group recorded its follow-up, "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'", with Whitfield again producing, and spent time on various Motown-sponsored tours as a support act. In September 1964, after recording "Dancing In The Street" earlier in June, Betty Kelly officially left the group to join Martha and the Vandellas, and the quintet became a quartet.


Wide Thumb


Clearart


Fanart



Banner


User Comments

Status
Unlocked
Last Edit by thedarer
26th Mar 2013

Socials


Streaming


External Links