Martha and the Vandellas

Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas in 1965. (L-to-R): Rosalind Ashford, Martha Reeves, and Betty Kelly.
Background information
Also known as	The Del-Phis (1957–1961) The Vels (1961–1962) Martha Reeves & the Vandellas (1967–1972)
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul pop
Years active	1957–1972
Labels	Gordy
Past members	Martha Reeves Rosalind Ashford-Holmes Annette Beard-Helton Gloria Williams Betty Kelly Lois Reeves Sandra Tilley

Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves & The Vandellas) were an American girl group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1957. The group achieved fame in the 1960s as a major act for Motown. Formed by friends Annette Beard, Rosalind Ashford and Gloria Williams, Martha Reeves eventually joined the group, and she became its lead vocalist after Williams' departure in 1962. The group signed with and eventually recorded all of their singles for Motown's Gordy imprint.

The group's string of hits included "Come and Get These Memories" (1963), "Heat Wave" (1963), "Quicksand" (1963), "Nowhere to Run" (1965), "Jimmy Mack" (1967), "I'm Ready for Love" (1968), "Bless You" (1971), and "Dancing in the Street" (1964), the last of which became known as their signature song. During their nine-year run on the charts from 1963 to 1972, Martha and the Vandellas charted over twenty-six hits and recorded in the styles of doo-wop, R&B, pop, blues, rock and roll and soul. Ten Vandellas songs reached the top ten of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including two R&B number ones, and six Top Ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Selected members of the group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2013.