Katherine Anderson
Encyclopedia
Katherine Anderson Schaffner (born January 16, 1944) is an American
singer, famed for her tenure in the Motown
all-female singing group
The Marvelettes
. Though not known for any lead spots acquired by Gladys Horton
or Wanda Young
, Schaffner's role was as notable as she was the only member of the group to survive the group's several incarnations that occurred during the 1960s until breaking up for good in 1970.
, Katherine Anderson was raised in the Detroit
suburb of Inkster, Michigan
, where she grew a fondness for singing in her teens. In 1960, she helped to form a group with high schoolers Gladys Horton, Georgia Dobbins and her friends Juanita Cowart and Georgeanna Tillman
.
The group named themselves The Casinyets (can't sing yet) and began performing at local high-schools and basement parties before finally landing an important audition at Motown
where, already changing their name to The Marvels, they performed a rendition of a song member Dobbins had co-wrote called "Please Mr. Postman
". Dobbins left before signing with the label due to her father's strict rules against his daughter performing in nightclubs since all five were still underage. Fellow Inkster High class mate Wanda Young eventually replaced her and the group recorded "Please Mr. Postman" in 1961 signing to Motown as The Marvelettes.
Anderson would prominently be featured in the background throughout her tenure in the Marvelettes while Horton and Young each sung lead vocals on the Marvelettes songs. The first departure to occur after Dobbins occurred in 1962 when Cowart left due to bad nerves following a spoof on American Bandstand
where she had referred to Detroit as a suburb of Inkster. Two years later, due to an impending marriage and battles with sickle cell and lupus, Tillman also departed. In 1968, Horton left the group citing marriage as a reason and was replaced by Ann Bogan.
In 1970, the Marvelettes split up with Young trying a solo career that went unsuccessfully after Motown re-marketed the album as a Marvelettes release. According to reports, Motown's CEO Berry Gordy
had lost the Marvelettes name during a gambling game while in Las Vegas
. Anderson quit show business following the Marvelettes' departure. When Gladys Horton wanted to reform the group, Anderson, who has since married to Joe Schaffner, denied to join.
In 1995, the Marvelettes won a Pioneer Award at the R&B Foundation Awards. In 2004, they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
. And a year later, the Marvelettes classic singles "Please Mr. Postman
" and "Don't Mess With Bill
" each received million-selling Gold
certifications by the RIAA
.
Katherine Anderson
Of all the original Marvelettes, Katherine is the most active today. Katherine Elaine Anderson Schaffner retired from singing when the Marvelettes group disbanded in 1972 (the year Motown moved to Los Angeles). She has become very involved in helping troubled teenagers in the Detroit area.
She appeared in early 2006 to attend a play in her home town of Inkster, Michigan. Her last appearance was at Motown 50th Anniversary held at the Roostertail in Detroit (Nov. 21, 2009)
Katherine (Kat to her friends) is the mother of two adult children, Keisha and Kalaine Schaffner. She is also the grandmother of one grandson, Toure Schaffner.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, famed for her tenure in the Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
all-female singing group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
The Marvelettes
The Marvelettes
The Marvelettes were an American singing girl group on the Tamla label. Motown's first successful female vocal group, the Marvelettes are most notable for recording the company's first #1 Pop hit, "Please Mr...
. Though not known for any lead spots acquired by Gladys Horton
Gladys Horton
Gladys Catherine Horton was an American R&B and pop singer, famous for being the founder and lead singer of the popular Motown all-female vocal group The Marvelettes.-Biography:...
or Wanda Young
Wanda Young
Wanda Young is an American singer, famous for being the member and later lead singer of the popular Motown all-female singing group The Marvelettes.-Biography:Wanda was born in 1943 and raised in the western Detroit suburb of Inkster, Michigan...
, Schaffner's role was as notable as she was the only member of the group to survive the group's several incarnations that occurred during the 1960s until breaking up for good in 1970.
Biography
Although born in Ann Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, Katherine Anderson was raised in the Detroit
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...
suburb of Inkster, Michigan
Inkster, Michigan
Inkster is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2010 census, the city population was 25,369. It is one of several suburbs in Metro Detroit whose population is majority or plurality African American.- History :...
, where she grew a fondness for singing in her teens. In 1960, she helped to form a group with high schoolers Gladys Horton, Georgia Dobbins and her friends Juanita Cowart and Georgeanna Tillman
Georgeanna Tillman
Georgeanna Marie Tillman Gordon was an American R&B/Pop singer and an original member of the Motown girl group The Marvelettes....
.
The group named themselves The Casinyets (can't sing yet) and began performing at local high-schools and basement parties before finally landing an important audition at Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
where, already changing their name to The Marvels, they performed a rendition of a song member Dobbins had co-wrote called "Please Mr. Postman
Please Mr. Postman
"Please Mr. Postman" is the debut single by The Marvelettes for the Tamla label, notable as the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. The single achieved this position in late 1961; it hit number one on the R&B chart as well. "Please Mr...
". Dobbins left before signing with the label due to her father's strict rules against his daughter performing in nightclubs since all five were still underage. Fellow Inkster High class mate Wanda Young eventually replaced her and the group recorded "Please Mr. Postman" in 1961 signing to Motown as The Marvelettes.
Anderson would prominently be featured in the background throughout her tenure in the Marvelettes while Horton and Young each sung lead vocals on the Marvelettes songs. The first departure to occur after Dobbins occurred in 1962 when Cowart left due to bad nerves following a spoof on 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...
where she had referred to Detroit as a suburb of Inkster. Two years later, due to an impending marriage and battles with sickle cell and lupus, Tillman also departed. In 1968, Horton left the group citing marriage as a reason and was replaced by Ann Bogan.
In 1970, the Marvelettes split up with Young trying a solo career that went unsuccessfully after Motown re-marketed the album as a Marvelettes release. According to reports, Motown's CEO 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:...
had lost the Marvelettes name during a gambling game while in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Anderson quit show business following the Marvelettes' departure. When Gladys Horton wanted to reform the group, Anderson, who has since married to Joe Schaffner, denied to join.
In 1995, the Marvelettes won a Pioneer Award at the R&B Foundation Awards. In 2004, they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
Vocal Group Hall of Fame
The Vocal Group Hall of Fame was organized to honor outstanding vocal groups throughout the world. It is headquartered in Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States. It includes a theater and a museum....
. And a year later, the Marvelettes classic singles "Please Mr. Postman
Please Mr. Postman
"Please Mr. Postman" is the debut single by The Marvelettes for the Tamla label, notable as the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. The single achieved this position in late 1961; it hit number one on the R&B chart as well. "Please Mr...
" and "Don't Mess With Bill
Don't Mess with Bill
"Don't Mess with Bill" is a million-selling Gold certified 1966 single recorded by The Marvelettes for Motown Records' Tamla label. Written and produced by Smokey Robinson, "Don't Mess with Bill" features a lead vocal by Wanda Young. The single peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in...
" each received million-selling Gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
certifications by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
Katherine Anderson
Of all the original Marvelettes, Katherine is the most active today. Katherine Elaine Anderson Schaffner retired from singing when the Marvelettes group disbanded in 1972 (the year Motown moved to Los Angeles). She has become very involved in helping troubled teenagers in the Detroit area.
She appeared in early 2006 to attend a play in her home town of Inkster, Michigan. Her last appearance was at Motown 50th Anniversary held at the Roostertail in Detroit (Nov. 21, 2009)
Katherine (Kat to her friends) is the mother of two adult children, Keisha and Kalaine Schaffner. She is also the grandmother of one grandson, Toure Schaffner.