Martha Rose Reeves is an R&B and pop singer and former politician, born on 18th July 1941 in Eufaula, Alabama, USA. She is probably best known for being the lead singer of the girl group “Martha and the Vandellas”, who made numerous hit singles such as “Nowhere to Run”, “Come and Get These Memories”, “Jimmy Mack”, “Heat Wave” and “Dancing In The Street”. In the period from 2005 to 2009, she served as a council woman for the city of Detroit, Michigan.
Have you ever wondered how rich Martha Reeves is? According to sources, it has been estimated that in early 2017 Martha Reeves’ net worth is over $5 million, acquired mainly through a long and successful music career, which dates from the late ‘50s. Apart from her music career, Martha has made a notable career as a politician, which significantly increased her net worth. Since she is still active in the entertainment industry, her net worth continues to grow.
Martha Reeves Net Worth $5 Million
Although born in Alabama, Martha grew up in Detroit, the third of eleven children. As her family was very active in singing in the church choir, Reeves was raised on gospel music and looked up to singers such as Della Reese and Lena Horne. During her education in Northeastern High School, she had a vocal coach who worked with other talented musicians of the time too, such as Mary Wilson, Bobby Rogers and Florence Ballard. She soon became interested in doo-wop and R&B music, and joined a pop vocal group called “The Fascinations” in 1959, but left before they rose to fame. Martha’s friend, Gloria Williams of “The Del-Phis” group, hired Reeves to join the band in 1960, however, during this period, Reeves had to take up various jobs to make a living, and additionally sang jazz and blues standards in nighttime hours. This was how Motown A&R director Mickey Stevenson noticed her and invited her to an audition, so in the early ‘60s, Martha signed with Motown Records and her group was soon chosen to sing backup on Marvin Gaye’s song “Stubborn Kinda Fellow”, which became an instant hit single. Renamed to “Martha and the Vandellas”, they recorded their first own single in 1964 called “I’ll Have to Let Him Go”. Their second single “Come and Get These Memories” reached no.5 on the R&B chart and the third single, “(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave)”, climbed to no.4 on the Hot 100 chart and no.1 on the R&B singles chart, for which the band received a Grammy Award Nomination. Soon followed other hits including “Quicksand”, “Dancing in the Street”, “Nowhere to Run”, “My Baby Loves Me” and “Jimmy Mack”, which all achieved enormous success on the charts, and added to her net worth.
However, as the years went by and the pressure of fame rose, Reeves became addicted to prescription drugs, and by 1969 their collaboration with Motown Records started to come apart. The group disbanded in 1972, and Martha started building her solo career. Although she released seven solo albums, she never reached the level of former popularity enjoyed by the band. Reeves also wrote and released an autobiography “Dancing in The Street, (Confessions of a Motown Diva)”, in 1994 and a year later she was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Apart from her music career, Martha also served as an elected member of the City Council of the City of Detroit from 2005 to 2009. She is a board member of Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
When it comes to her personal life, Reeves has been married twice and has a son, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Grammy Hall of Fame, Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award, Heat Wave, Nowhere to Run, Jimmy Mack
Albums
Heat Wave 1963 Greatest Hits 1966 Sugar 'n' Spice 1969 Martha and the Vandella... 1967 The Rest of My Life (Expande... 2015
Music Groups
Martha and the Vandellas (1962 – 1972)
Movies
Fairy Tales, Standing in the Shadows of Motown, Motown: The Early Years, Martha Reeves: In Concert, R&B Jukebox: 20 Classic Hits, Cruisin' Hits of the 60's, Dancin' in the Street, R&B Classics
TV Shows
Brown Sugar
#
Quote
1
Nobody could sing like David Ruffin.
#
Fact
1
Her brother Benny Reeves was an original member of The Contours.
2
Still lives in Detroit. Is a candidate for the Detroit City Council. [May 2005]
3
Ran for a won a seat on the Detroit City Council. Began serving her four-year term in January 2006. [November 2005]
4
Recorded another album in 1975, after her 1974 debut for MCA. The album, which is titled "Rainbow," is extremely hard to find; both the original pressings, and the alternately-titled re-issue. The album was not promoted well, and it did not help that the label (which only a few who own the album know by name) folded shortly after its release. In 1982 Phonorama acquired the licensing for the tracks, and re-titled the album "Dancin' in the Street" based on the fact that Martha re-recorded her famous hit for the project. The 1982 re-issue copies go for anywhere as high as $600, while the rare original pressings go $1,000 or more. Those who are avid fans of Reeves have debated it to be her best album ever.
5
Her first solo endeavor, the self-tiled album "Martha Reeves" for MCA, is now considered a collectible classic by avid fans. The album took all of 1973 and part of 1974 to be completed, intending to be "the" piece that was to launch Reeves as a superstar;. It was produced by legendary songwriter/producer Richard Perry for a record (at the time) $250,000. However, it received insufficient promotion from the label sank into obscurity, despite good critical reviews. One song in particular, "I've Got to Use My Imagination," was to have been the first single pressed, but MCA executives pulled the song before its debut, leaving Gladys Knight & The Pips able to record their now famous cover. Another poignant song is Reeves' infamous cover of Van Morrison's "Wild Night" which, though peaking at a mere #74 when released, has become a classic. It was not only used as the theme to Thelma & Louise (1991) but but has since become the signature opener to Reeves' live performances. On Christmas Eve of 1997, See for Miles released the long-out-of-print record on CD, but soon pulled its distribution. As of July 22, 2005, reissue label Hip-O Select has released a limited edition of the album, with only 5,000 copies being printed. As a bonus, it was remastered and restored to its entirety, adding three songs which were to have been included on the original release.
6
Wrote a song called "Love Blind" about her abusive relationship with Gerard, the father of her son, Eric. The song is considered a collectors item and was released as a promotional single in 1975 to catapult her up-and-coming album "The Rest of My Life." The song--like the album--was not given the push it needed as a result of producer and label owner Clive Davis not liking the fact that Reeves sang in different keys that he had wanted. Nonetheless, "Love Blind" managed to chart in the Hot 100 on both the R&B Billboard and Cashbox charts. On Billboard it charted on May 31, 1975, peaking at #61 and staying on for six weeks. On Cashbox it peaked at #72, charting June 7, 1975; staying on for four weeks.
7
Aside from the recordings which were released by Martha & The Vandellas, 148 plus two of her own Motown solo recordings remained vaulted. In recent years, Reeves' two solo songs, plus 50 of the unreleased "Vandellas" tracks have surfaced. Only 95 remain in the vaults.
8
Has one son, Eric (b. 1970)
9
Shares a birthday with fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dion DiMucci.
10
In 1963k she began work on a song called "Spellbound", which was written specifically for her by legendary singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson, and was to be a follow-up to Martha & The Vandellas' #1 hit "Heatwave". Part of the backing track and full vocals were completed in mid-'63, then the rest of the music finished and mixed in late December of 1965. The song, however, was vaulted as a result of Motown founder Berry Gordy's fixation on new sensation, The Supremes, and his interest in fast-tracking their growing career. The song has been widely talked about for years, and has even bootlegged on various European CDs, but the quality is poor. When she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Reeves specifically requested this song be issued. As of March 2005 Hip-O Select released the song on a double-CD anthology called "Spellbound" that contains completely unreleased material.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of Martha & The Vandellas) in 1995.
13
Originally the A&R secretary at Hitsville USA, (Motown's offices/studio), Martha was called in to do "I'll Have To Let Him Go" when Mary Wells proved too ill to appear for the recording session.