[Vision2020] Motown Loses Another Voice

[Joe Campbell]

"Please Mr. Postman" was one of the many Motown and/or girl group songs that
the Beatles covered on their early records. Outstanding version, with John
on the vocals. But the original was outstanding, as well.

On Fri, Jan 28, 2011 at 5:56 AM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:

> The postman will not be making any more deliveries to the Marvelettes'
> Gladys Horton.
>
> Courtesy of The Rolling Stone at:
>
>
> http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/gladys-horton-of-the-marvelettes-dies-at-66-20110127
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------
>
> Horton sang lead on 'Please Mr. Postman' and 'Too Many Fish In The Sea'
>
> Gladys Horton, a founding member of the pioneering Motown girl group The
> Marvelettes who sang lead on their 1961 classic "Please Mr. Postman," died
> January 26th in Sherman Oaks, California from complications related a
> stroke. She was 66.
>
> Horton formed The Marvelettes (then known as the Casinyets) at Michigan's
> Inskter High School with members of her Glee Club when she was just 15. A
> 1961 talent show caught the attention of one of their teachers, who
> arranged an audition at Motown with Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson. The
> two-year old label had no experience with girl groups, but they signed the
> group — largely based on the powerful vocals of Horton and her group-mate
> Wanda Young.
>
> Motown's Lost Heroes Emerge
>
> In the summer of 1961 Motown released their debut single "Dear Mr.
> Postman," which featured Marvin Gaye on drums. (Watch Horton perform the
> song at a 2005 concert below.) It eventually shot to Number One and the
> Marvelettes were put on the road. "We went through hell on those tours,"
> Marvelette Wanda Young recalled in J. Randy Taraborrelli's 1986 book
> Motown. "It was so bad — the traveling, the food, the accommodations —
> that Juanita [Coward] went right into a nervous breakdown. We had to put
> her under medical care and she left the group in 1963." Despite the
> difficulties, the group's success helped transform Motown into a major
> record label and paved the way for The Ronettes, The Supremes and all girl
> groups that followed.
>
> Horton sang lead on many of the group's other early 1960s hits, including
> "Beechwood 4-5789," "Playboy" and "Too Many Fish In The Sea." By the
> mid-1960s Motown turned their attention towards The Supremes and Martha &
> The Vandellas, and the Marvelettes' winning streak slowed down. In 1965
> Wanda Young began singing lead on many songs (including "Don't Mess With
> Bill") and in 1967 Horton left the group — in part to care for her
> handicapped son.
>
> When Horton returned to the stage in later years she had to tour as
> "Gladys Horton of the Marvelettes" because she didn't own the name rights,
> a very common situation for artists of that era. She continued to
> regularly perform until she suffered a stroke last year.
>
> -----------------------
>
> The Marvelettes in 1963. Clockwise from top left: Gladys Horton, Katherine
> Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, and Wanda Young.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/Marvelettes
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------
>
> "Please Mr, Postman"
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nuEY6fQgzk
>
> "Beechwood 4-5789"
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri1PINN6MXQ
>
> Rest well, Gladys.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
> and the Realist adjusts his sails."
>
> - Unknown
>
>
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