JumpinJack AJ Posted January 28, 2011 Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 I consider ANYONE on Motown during that time a legend. R.I.P. ---------------------------------------------- Gladys Horton of the Marvelettes Dead at 66 Gladys Horton, the powerful soul singer who co-founded the all-female Motown ensemble the Marvelettes, died late Wednesday in a nursing home outside of Los Angeles. The 66-year-old's cause of death is unknown, though she was recovering from complications due to a stroke she suffered last year, her son told the Associated Press. Horton was born in 1944 in a suburb of Detroit and raised by foster parents. She joined a glee club in high school and almost immediately recruited four club members, including Georgia Dobbins, to create the modestly named the Casinyets (as in, can't sing yet). The group's big break came in 1961 with an audition for Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson of the then-startup label Motown. They weren't originally given the opportunity -- they had placed fourth in their high school's talent show, with the top three receiving auditions -- but were granted an exception. The quartet wowed the label with a second audition, performing what would become their first hit single, 'Please Mr. Postman,' co-written with Dobbins' friend and songwriter William Garrett. They settled on a new band name, the Marvelettes, and recorded the song with the famous Funk Brothers backing them. The song and its eponymous album skyrocketed to the top of the charts. While the group released several records over the next six years, with successful singles such as 'Playboy' and 'Don't Mess With Bill,' they failed to reach the top of the charts again. During that time, one member, Juanita Cowart, had a nervous breakdown and quit. Another, Georgeanna Tillman, was diagnosed with lupus and left. At the same time, Motown began to shift its focus to newer artists better positioned to compete with suddenly popular English rock bands like the Beatles. Horton left the group in 1967 to get married, and never returned fully to music. She devoted herself to taking care of her handicapped son, and largely stayed out of the public eye, even during the controversy that surfaced when the Marvelettes chose to continue performing with no original members. She performed only occasionally in the ensuing decades with no apparent interest in launching a solo career, billing herself simply as "Gladys Horton from the Marvelettes." "My mother died peacefully," Horton's son, Vaughn Thornton, said Thursday morning in a statement released by the Motown Alumni Association. "She fought as long as she could." She is survived by Vaughn and another son. Funeral arrangements are pending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VIsqo Posted January 28, 2011 Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 R.I.P.. I will have to look her up though.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpinJack AJ Posted January 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 This is their biggest hit... THE MARVELETTES - Mr. Postman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nuEY6fQgzk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turntable Posted January 28, 2011 Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 Great group, great talent, R.I.P. Man I love the old Motown records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpinJack AJ Posted January 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 I think Motown music is pretty much perfect in every way. Without Motown, who knows what music would be like today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turntable Posted January 28, 2011 Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 Have you heard Lee Fields albums? he for example released one last year called "My World". It's pure Soul, just like the Motown records. Not Neo-Soul, but straight Soul. One of my favroite albums. You can listen to samples here: http://www.amazon.com/My-World/dp/B002A80QLI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296232600&sr=8-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VIsqo Posted January 29, 2011 Report Share Posted January 29, 2011 Im going to check it out, its been a while since I heard any new real soul music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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