Most people today do not realize just how difficult it is to sing in four part harmonies, keeping time, rhythm, remembering all the words to all the verses - add to that dancing - it’s a lot to do!
One of the most underrated girl groups ever. While growing up in New York City (Harlem & Bronx) never missed a chance to see their performance at the Legendary APPOLO Theater. The MARVELETTES ARE LEGENDRY. I was in 10th grade when I saw this show.
@@thomassperduti4500 Absolutely! The Committee for The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame are White and they forget these Ladies and Chic hasn't been induced and neither has Chaka Khan. Here's another Sad Fact. A couple of Years Ago a UK Girl Group called The Saturdays were on a Tribute Special to The Carpenters and they sang their version of Please Mr. Postman, some forgot that it was done by them. I'm sure that the Phones were flooded with angry viewers. The Velvelettes were also overlooked but they were overlooked like The Contours. In Australia a Group called The Twilights die "their" version of "Needle In A Haystack" and in The UK Banarama who kicked the door open for every future UK Girl Band most notably The Spice Girls did their version of "He Was Really saying Something" and Shalamar the First Reality Show Group did a Motown Melody where they also sang HE Was Really Saying Something. Their downfall was one of the most devastating. In 1963 they were the Number One Girlband at Motown, and then One Year Later it's The Supremes.
Great Clip! They are probably Motowns most UNDER RATED GROUP, yet their Mr Postman put Motown on the map! Congrats to these ladies. Gladys Horton and Wanda Young will be forever missed!
They were NEVER UNSUNG OR UNDERRATED.....In Chicago, we heard a Marvelettes HIT EVERY YEAR....plus we had the records! From 1961 to 1969, we heard some Marvelettes on our black radio station WVON. Never unsung or underrated.
Two or three shows a day, sometimes for 10 day stretches in as many different cities without a break, no time for boyfriends, missing your family, and eating poorly on too little sleep. No wonder they never wore a pound they didn't need. This is when stardom was truly earned, and it's also the reason Marvelettes fans hold them in such tender regard to this day.
The Marvalettes were the BEST of ALL the girl groups. They had the best choreography...2 outstanding lead vocalists who didn't mind switching up. and SOUL !!
A friend of mine who went to all the Motortown Revues back in the day said that, in his opinion, The Marvelettes had the best stage show out of all the other acts. That's certainly evident by their energetic performance here.
Their stage act changed considerably in the mid 60's when they became a trio and they became more subtle and polished in their choreography. Check out their performance of Don't Mess With Bill.
SING IT GLADYS!!!!! I loved their "off the street" sound.....less polished than the Supremes, but so much more REAL!!! I saw this show and would LOVE to own the dvd!
These ladies stage performance was exciting. They had talent. They were the Temptations female counterparts when it comes to performing on stage that moves that choreography wow the Marvelettes you ladies Rock back then.
They really worked that last number "locking up my heart".They could show the Temptations some moves! Great group! They did not get the credit they deserved and were not even represented in the Motown special in 1983!
A RU-vidr that goes by @AshleySaysSo did a video about the Marvelettes and I just finished watching it. I was born in the 60s but only really remember “Mr. Postman“. This was fun and sad to watch. The showmanship is amazing! And that dude actually got up on the stage!😮 Wow! but to hear about what happened to them as a group is truly sad. As it is with most groups. Thank you for sharing this video clip. It’s too bad we don’t still have this type of class in showbiz anymore but… At least this type of video is proof that it once was and maybe it can be again someday🤷🏽♀️🥰
The Marvelettes had the voices and the moves. Homeboy looked like he didn't want to let go of Wanda. 😂 The Marvelettes and Martha and the Vandellas are my two favorite female Motown groups.
Yes. Give Cholly Atkins a former Tapdancer did the Choreography for all of the Motown Acts back in the day. His former Partner Honi Coles would later Manage The Apollo Theater when The Miracles did their disastrous debut in 1959. Then to think that One Year later The Supremes would supersede The Marvelettes as the Biggest Girlband in the world and survive The British Invasion.
When you look at the intricate dance moves and choreography and the professionalism you really have to appreciate them. Remember they were in dresses and heels. And everything was on point! Thanks for posting!
They helped epitomize The Girl Group Phenomenon that was at it's original peak from 1960-1964. The Supremes became the Label's Biggest Girl Group and they were pretty much to the wayside. This was done around 1962, two years before "Where Did Our Love Go".
You are so lucky.I was born at the end of Disco and wish that I was in the 60s because lucky people say the greatest things about the 60s despite of the "problems"
ha ha I cut class just to see this show and stayed all eight shows Marvin Gaye was fly with those alpaca sweaters he wore Mary Wells was gorgeous and Man Claudette you talking about pretty let me stop ha ha if any body knows that the Ruben Phillips band was the Apollo house band and they was so slow they drag the songs but we had a great time what memories
I ❤everything about The Marvelletes especially how they command the crowd and stage etiquette before Motown started charm school. And I'm loving how Gladys &Wanda shared that song!! The Supremes could have done something along those lines just to keep everyone happy,or@ the very least keep the solos they already had for christ's sake 🙄also love Gladys' dimples and Wanda's.
loveyouall66 Wanda gave the group a more sultry, 'adult' sound which helped as the girls got older, and Ann Bogan moved the group into slightly different territory before it all ended.
Years ago a group of my friends had our own little Motown fan club and a lot of us guys voted Georgeanna the one we wanted as a girlfriend...pretty impressive for a lady old enough to be our mom...
Loved it. I became a fan once I heard Beechwood 4-5789, one of their most delightful records, and bought everything they put out. My other fave is Too Many Fish in the Sea; these records were pure Motown heaven! It was The Marvelettes who put Motown on the map, and for that they should always be remembered. The Supremes had about 6 or 7 flop singles before they hit with Where Did Our Love Go, but I believe The Marvelettes came right out the gate with a smash hit ("Playboy", I think). They should never be underestimated.
Steven Kerry I cant believe how many False stories are on here. Please Mr Postman was their first debut hit that went to No.1. and Only No.1. Playboy did not go to No.1. no where near it.
I don't see anywhere in my post where I say "Playboy" went to #I. All I said was it was a smash hit, (at least where I was from)and a hit on American Bandstand. I just think The Marvelettes are kind of an overlooked group from the early years on Motown, whereas they actually helped put the label on the map. I loved ALL the Motown artists from the time I first discovered Motown as a kid. I was from a small town in the Midwest, and they packaged 3 Motown singles together and sold 'em at Woolworths five and dime for a buck or two; I was in hog heaven as many of those "non-hits" then are considered classic Motown now.
Mitchell Steven Playboy hit number seven on the pop charts! Spent five weeks in the top 10 as a matter of fact that.... And clearly inspired Lauryn Hill decades later with Drop That Thang!
I love this rare clip of the Marvelous Marveletts, their showmanship was awesome, the dancing was flawless, not missing a beat even when that gentleman jumped up on the stage. Thanks for posting this gem.
One of my all time favorite groups...and Gladys Catherine Horton...over fifty years later and I'm still in love with you even though you're no longer with us!!! I don't think we'll ever have another list of girl groups the likes of which Motown gave us in the '60'S...EVER!!!
If there is footage of that I wish someone would post that. There are no live performances (other than TV appearances which were lip synced) posted of the Marvelletes when they became a trio.
Sensational! Marvin Gaye Hitch Hiking all over the stage! Smoky Robinson Shopping Around! Exuberant performances giving it all they've got! The Contours doing synchronized splits in Do You Love Me!
GLADYS HORTON & The Marvelettes are the first group to deliver Berry Gordy/Motown Records their first # 1 HIT that put them on the map. They never got any recognition, NO GOLD RECORD ever given, NO RESPECT.
In 2004 RIAA certified gold (at last) "Don't Mess With Bill" and, of course, "Please Mr. Postman". I think Motown never paid the fees and that's the reason so many hits in this label remained without the award until recent times (seventeen gold and platinum just for The Temptations). It happened too with James Brown in the King label.
4 beautiful queens who can do it all dance and sing God gifted and talented black nubian queens who was all talented and original nothing like the old-school music they don't make them or do them like they use to love ur all marvelettes best that ever did it
Don't think comparing is fair with other groups as each group has it's style. The Marvelettes were just in a unique class of their own who excelled in all areas- credit due. And credit to their great performance in heels, as well!! Loved their hard work at the Apollo!!!
Wanda would go on to really sing the best songs for the group and for me as a kid 10 years younger than them I grew up loving her lead , (Don't mess with bill ) and the song by Carla Thomas (baby oh Baby) was the biggest songs in those years by females. And my condolences go out for Wanda and family losing her daughter Miracle today, I Grieve with you my love!
Seeing a live performance of them for the first time totally raised my already high admiration and respect for them. Wow! Long live the Girl Group era!!
jeff oliva if you search RU-vid for the Exciters live, you can see 2 live performances of them from a French Tv show that was their version of American Bandstand. If you like this, you should like the Exciters videos
someone needs to write a good book about the Marvelettes each one of them ladies how they came about and even do a movie about the Marvelettes and not just a move. The Marvelettes what about the Vandellas and also a movie about The Supremes the real true life story of The Supremes.
i love this clip! it really showcases what great entertainers they were! raw and forceful and fun! i was very sad that they failed to be one of the groups inducted into the ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME this year. i fear they will never get the credit they deserve...
This was once up and someone took it down, thank you SO MUCH for posting this back up... The ending number is so EPIC! Wanda really turned it out, she was my favorite, she was so charming!
I love the Marvelettes, awersome singers and performers, thanks for this post, brings back memories of all the great motown girl groups , Martha and the Vandella's and the Supremes.Loved this clip.
Omg every move was so meticulous....even when they came back out from the curtain they kinda blew a kiss in unison.....Motown was the best....wish i was there but i'd be pretty old now lol.
The Marvelettes, amazing girl group who don't get their credit. They could sing, dance, and entertain. They were the female Temptations. The Supremes were never my favorite. This clip proves how great the Marvelettes were. They didn't get enough exposure because Gordy wanted The Supremes to get it all, talk about Motown family. Wanda was a great entertainer, she could of been a great soloist. She was pretty, vivacious, sexy, way better then Diana Ross, Gordy should have paid attention to Wanda
RIP 12/26/21 Ms. Wanda Young. My condolesences to her Family....I was a Kindergartener when I first heard these songs on AM Radio decades ago in NYC. I will never forget the Girl Groups of the 1960s.
Definitely more fun and exciting to watch and listen to than the Supremes!! I guess the real problem was that the Marvelettes were too soulful. All Berry Gordy was interested in was crossing over. HIS LOSS.
Gordy was getting busy getting into Diana Ross , and knocking her up with son ( Rockwell ).. and interest in Gladys and the girls went away from being his priority .
