Saturday, February 7, 2015

Black History Month: The Original Glee Girls

The Marvelettes in a 1963 promotional photo.Clockwise form top left, Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, and Wanda Young


These girls were in their high school glee club when they were signed by Motown. They were the first successful girl group for Motown. 

I like the integrated audience way back in 1961. BTW the Beatles did a cover of this song (what an amazing compliment for the girls from Detroit; the Beatles very much appreciated black artists--young women artists, too.)

So we celebrate Black History Month with encouragement to all teens everywhere to sing, sing, sing. 


The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KseUrBSRBDA

As an aside, music of all kinds provided impetus to the Civil Rights Movement, and I would like to give the Beatles some credit for appreciating all types of music as well as standing up for human rights at the beginning of their world fame when money and even their safety was at state. (The KKK threatened them and demonstrated at some of their concerts.)


Beatles Refused To Play For Segregated Audiences, Contract Reveal 


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/16/beatles-refused-to-play-segregated-audiences_n_966541.html 



1965 Pro Integration Beatles Contract Sells For $23K


http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/09/21/1965-pro-integration-beatles-contract-sells-for-23k/ 


And the Beatles gave homage to the Marvelltes, with John Lennon requesting to 'delivah da lettah, the sooner the bettah.' And a little British humor.

 Please Mr. Postman - The Beatles


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l94EriAqQXw

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