Betty Kelly
Encyclopedia
Betty Kelly is a former American
singer, most famous for her tenure in the popular Motown singing group Martha and the Vandellas
.
, Kelly's family moved to Detroit, Michigan
when Kelly was a child. Like many children growing up in the city, Kelly found herself aspiring for a career in music. In 1961, she joined Motown singing group The Velvelettes
. Kelly was not part of the group when the band had a hit with "Needle in a Haystack
", which became a hit in 1965. A year before, Kelly was recruited by Motown president Berry Gordy
to replace departed Martha and the Vandellas
member Annette Beard
as a member of the group led by Martha Reeves
and featuring Rosalind Ashford
.
" and "Quicksand
". The group found bigger success with what became signature songs including "Dancing in the Street
", "Nowhere to Run" and "Jimmy Mack
". The lineup of Reeves, Ashford and Kelly helped the group becoming international stars gaining popularity from performances from The Ed Sullivan Show
, Shindig!
and American Bandstand
. Kelly was often mistaken for being an original member of the group despite the fact that Beard had sung on the group's earlier singles, often lip-synched by Kelly when the group performed on TV. Kelly's vocals contrasted from original member Beard's. During the group's later years, Kelly often had special lead singing spots during the group's performances alongside Reeves, which led to infighting between the duo instigated during performances on stage. By 1967, Kelly was kicked out of the group after being late to several performances and was quickly replaced by Martha's younger sister Lois Reeves
with the group's name changed to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.
. In recent years, Betty Kelly has helped to organize annual music festivals in California (where she now resides), most notably the late-summer event known as Sunset Junction.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, most famous for her tenure in the popular Motown singing group Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963–1967...
.
Early years
Born in Attalla, AlabamaAttalla, Alabama
Attalla is a city in Etowah County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 6,474. -2000 Census data:...
, Kelly's family moved to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
when Kelly was a child. Like many children growing up in the city, Kelly found herself aspiring for a career in music. In 1961, she joined Motown singing group The Velvelettes
The Velvelettes
The Velvelettes was an American singing girl group, signed to Motown in the 1960s.-Early years and establishment:The group was founded in 1961 by Bertha Barbee McNeal and Mildred Gill Arbor, students at Western Michigan University. Mildred recruited her younger sister Carolyn , who was in 9th...
. Kelly was not part of the group when the band had a hit with "Needle in a Haystack
Needle in a haystack
A Needle in a haystack is a figure of speech used to refer to something that is difficult to locate in a much larger space.Needle in a haystack may also refer to:*Needle in a Haystack , an episode of the TV series House...
", which became a hit in 1965. A year before, Kelly was recruited by Motown president Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
to replace departed Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963–1967...
member Annette Beard
Annette Beard
Annette Beard Sterling Helton is an American R&B and soul singer, most notable for being one of the original members of popular Motown singing group Martha and the Vandellas.-Early years:...
as a member of the group led by Martha Reeves
Martha Reeves
Martha Rose Reeves is an American R&B and Pop singer and former politician, and was the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. During her tenure with The Vandellas, they scored over a dozen hit singles, including "Jimmy Mack", "Dancing in the Street" and "Nowhere to Run"...
and featuring Rosalind Ashford
Rosalind Ashford
Rosalind "Roz" Ashford-Holmes is an American soprano R&B and soul singer, famed for her work as member of the popular Motown singing group Martha and the Vandellas.-Early years:...
.
Martha and the Vandellas
Betty Kelly joined what became the most famed lineup of the Vandellas, coming in quickly to record the single "Live Wire", which was similar to earlier Vandellas singles such as "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave(Love is Like a) Heat Wave
" Heat Wave" is a 1963 hit single penned by the Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team and made popular by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. It was originally released in July 1963, on the Motown subsidiary label Gordy, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Hot...
" and "Quicksand
Quicksand (song)
"Quicksand" is a 1963 dance single by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. Built under almost the same gospel-inspired delivery of their previous hit " Heat Wave", this time lead singer Martha Reeves explains how her loved one brings her "closer" to him explaining that his love was like...
". The group found bigger success with what became signature songs including "Dancing in the Street
Dancing in the Street
"Dancing in the Street" is a 1964 song first recorded by Martha and the Vandellas. It is one of Motown's signature songs and is the group's premier signature song.-Martha and the Vandellas original:...
", "Nowhere to Run" and "Jimmy Mack
Jimmy Mack
"Jimmy Mack" is a 1967 pop/soul single recorded by Martha and the Vandellas for Motown's Gordy imprint. Written and produced by Motown's main creative team, Holland–Dozier–Holland, "Jimmy Mack" was the final Top 10 hit for the Vandellas in the United States, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard...
". The lineup of Reeves, Ashford and Kelly helped the group becoming international stars gaining popularity from performances from The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
, Shindig!
Shindig!
Shindig! was an American musical variety series which aired on ABC from September 16, 1964 to January 8, 1966. The show was hosted by Jimmy O'Neill, a disc jockey in Los Angeles at the time who also created the show along with his wife Sharon Sheeley and production executive Art Stolnitz....
and American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
. Kelly was often mistaken for being an original member of the group despite the fact that Beard had sung on the group's earlier singles, often lip-synched by Kelly when the group performed on TV. Kelly's vocals contrasted from original member Beard's. During the group's later years, Kelly often had special lead singing spots during the group's performances alongside Reeves, which led to infighting between the duo instigated during performances on stage. By 1967, Kelly was kicked out of the group after being late to several performances and was quickly replaced by Martha's younger sister Lois Reeves
Lois Reeves
Sandra Delores Reeves , better known as Lois Reeves, is an American singer, most notable for being the younger sister of Motown legend Martha Reeves, for having replaced popular Martha and the Vandellas member Betty Kelly as member of her sister's group in 1967, and for later singing background...
with the group's name changed to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.
Later years
Little is known about Betty Kelly's life after the Vandellas, though it's said she rejoined the Velvelettes occasionally during reunion performances. Kelly is said to have fully retired from music after she became partially deaf in one ear. In 1995, Betty Kelly was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a Vandella alongside Martha and Lois Reeves, Annette Beard, Rosalind Ashford, and Sandra TilleySandra Tilley
Sandra Tilley was an American R&B and soul singer, known for being a member of Motown girl groups the Velvelettes and Martha and the Vandellas. She was also a brief member in the soul group the Orlons. She was a native of Cleveland, Ohio...
. In recent years, Betty Kelly has helped to organize annual music festivals in California (where she now resides), most notably the late-summer event known as Sunset Junction.