Last week those of us with our nose in screens witnessed a spectacle no news feeder could resist: an old woman butchering the National Anthem before a baseball game. But it wasn’t just any baseball game, and the girl singer had won the hearts of boomers over 60 years ago. The game was the inaugural contest of the new Women’s Professional Baseball League. And the singer: Martha Reeves, was one of the greatest Motown divas of all time. The clips are still out everywhere, so anyone in search of a good snigger followed by tut-tuts have ample opportunity to indulge (1).
All the video shots begin with Martha, whose age (85), race, and wig might mistake her for Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Not a doppelganger any sane woman would choose to emulate. Several other younger women, both races, sang with her, but they sure weren’t the Vandellas! A professional vocal coach from the UK has pitched in, praising Martha’s still formidable pipes, while explaining her slip ups to some understandable quirks (2).
Those of you who saw the clip, did you learn anything about who that old woman was? Martha Reeves and the Vandellas was the name that Motown head Berry Gordy officially assigned to all the girl groups Martha had fronted since the late 50s. Through the 60s, they had more hits than you can imagine, always blaring from every car radio. The Supremes (who didn’t get Diana Ross’ name added till much later), were bigger and commanded Mr. Gordy’s attention, as they were the megastars. But Martha and her girlfriends pulled in their share of hits, gold records, and Grammys. There were rocky stretches for Martha, nicely detailed by one Mr. Melody (3). As a more mature singer, she remained successful. I had the great fortune to see her live in a small club at the Chase Hotel in St. Louis in 1982, 2 blocks from my South Kingshighway apartment. No Vandellas then, but a captivating performance, nonetheless. And a successful date, if you know what I mean. No slouch in her later years, she successfully sued Motown (twice!) for the royalties Berry Gordy owed her, testified before Congress about fairness in artist compensation, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (with the Vandellas), entered the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and ran successfully for a seat on the Detroit City Council.
Toward the end of her city council term, Michael Jackson (fellow Motown superstar) died and local Detroit renegade newsman Charlie LeDuff asked Martha to come on his show to sing a few Michael songs. Charlie recently shared a clip of her performance, and her pipes were still pretty good then (4). Charlie insists her performance killed her political career. Her term ended that year and she did not run for reelection. Hard to believe you could sing your way out of office.
But if you want to indulge your appreciation for Martha, just revisit some of her many hits, like these. Six of the group’s songs reached the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and thirteen of their songs reached the top twenty on the US Billboard R&B singles chart, including two number ones. Here for your listening pleasure are Heat Wave (5), Nowhere to Run (6), Jimmy Mack (7), Dancing in the Streets (8), My Baby Loves Me (9), Quicksand (10), In My Lonely Room (11), and Bless You (12). Even the hardcore Motown lovers among you may not remember the last few, but trust me, they’re choice.
You could upload whatever you use to feed your car radio, get yourself a ’65 Mustang convertible, and cruise Woodward. “Callin’ out around the world…”
If you listened to all those tunes, is there any reaction but “Whew!”? Should you have read to the end of this post and are looking for a little relaxation, check out the Allman Brothers. I don’t think their “Martha” referred to Ms Reeves, but it’s a very nice tune, nonetheless (13) .
I’m sure that all you boomers reading this will agree that our music was the best ever. We need to respect, honor, and remember those who made it. Rock on, Martha!
References
1. Joseph Fenity. WATCH: Martha Reeves | The Star-Spangled Banner | Women’s Pro Baseball League (national anthem 2026). YouTube 8/1/26. https://youtu.be/VgzHMBJa6Bc?si=7H1Wqb3RnvutuSK-
2. Vocal Nova Academy. Here’s Why The MARTHA REEVES National Anthem Ended Up Like This… | Vocal Coach Analysis #vocalcoach. YouTube https://youtu.be/ofrgA4t8MR0?si=6H9Qi-Tl6eqPYatw
3. Mr. Melody. The troubled life of Martha Reeves. YouTube https://youtu.be/BWnCt5_4QV4?si=JKzsqjbHb-9olbtn
4. MarthaandCharlieLeDuff2009. YouTube https://youtu.be/hIWbFK5-wS0
5. Joseph Fenity. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas sing ‘Heatwave’ live! YouTube https://youtu.be/2PQLwMCei_Q?si=bVPR7I6YtqZCEEJl
6. BigDave706. Nowhere to Run. YouTube https://youtu.be/RQRIOKvR2WM?si=Q7jKhVdAYof5zmy4
7. Super Canopus. Jimmy Mack YouTube https://youtu.be/Gi8EdYM0t3k?si=fCmknua5x7isxjEc
8. Namnoiz. Dancing In The Streets – Martha and the Vandellas – 1964 – Music Video. YouTube https://youtu.be/GuCBXTfoVq8?si=StA7Q-b9csOqBoq4
9. donnyvango. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas – MY BABY LOVES ME. YouTube https://youtu.be/degqZ3fpyuY?si=puA9w6WOBimY_Hdj
10. Mosogotam. Martha and the Vandellas “Quicksand” My Extended Version! YouTube b https://youtu.be/FrLaiVaIDw0?si=2eVLbRuB3AGFmaD-
11. wes170. Martha Reeves & The Vandellas “In My Lonely Room”. YouTube https://youtu.be/3mVrZmTj_rw?si=21rYp5u_qJeDrdkc
12. Martha Reeves – Topic. Bless You (Single Version / Mono). YouTube https://youtu.be/y0Eb_hZoCfk?si=lacKJzCz-dl2r2iD
13. Allman Brothers Band. Little Martha. YouTube https://youtu.be/typ2c8JPkLE?si=tZbOolq7GAvljJVp
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