The Marvelettes

Not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Eligible since: 1987

First Recording: 1961

Nominated: 2013   2015   

Previously Considered? Yes  what's this?

The Marvelettes
HALL OF FAME INDICATORS
🔲Rolling Stone 500 Albums
Rolling Stone 500 Songs
🔲Rolling Stone Cover
🔲Saturday Night Live
🔲Major Festival Headliner
🔲Songwriters Hall of Fame
🔲“Big Four” Grammys
R&B Hall of Fame

Inducted into Rock Hall Projected in 2020 (ranked #277) .

R.S. Top 500 Songs (?)RankVersion
Please Mr. Postman (1961)3312021

Essential Songs (?)WikipediaYouTube
Please Mr. Postman (1961)
Beechwood 4-5789 (1962)
Too Many Fish in the Sea (1964)
Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead (1965)
The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game (1966)
Don't Mess With Bill (1966)

The Marvelettes @ Wikipedia

Will The Marvelettes be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
"Musical excellence is the essential qualification for induction."
Yes: 
No :


Comments

68 comments so far (post your own)

Mary Wells and The Marvelettes on the same ballot, yes!! Chic and Donna Summer did it for so long.

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 02/6/2013 @ 19:29pm


http://www.telegram.com/article/20121123/COLUMN86/121129784/0

"There is NO GOOD REASON why THE MARVELETTES shouldn't be in the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME."

Posted by Bill G. on Saturday, 02/23/2013 @ 14:53pm


http://rockhall.com/inductees/nominees/the-marvelettes/

The MARVELETTES-ROCK HALL NOMINEES PAGE.

Posted by Bill G. on Saturday, 02/23/2013 @ 14:58pm


http://www.vocalhalloffame.com/inductees/the_marvelettes.html

*****The MARVELETTES*****

**VOCAL GROUP HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES**

Posted by Bill G. on Saturday, 02/23/2013 @ 15:01pm



***The Marvelettes***

They should have gotten in this year. One of the pioneer "Girl Groups",opened the doors for so many female artists and groups. I hope they get another chance....

Posted by Bill G. on Saturday, 04/13/2013 @ 19:50pm


http://ourrockandrollhalloffame71305.yuku.com/topic/1870/Motowns-Marvelous-MARVELETTES?page=1

****Motown's Marvelous MARVELETTES !!!****

A 14 page blog -written by Yours Truly -for Charles Crossley's "Top of The Charts" website

Posted by Bill G. on Saturday, 10/11/2014 @ 03:30am


******The MARVELETTES******

One of the ORIGINAL MARVELETTES is being SNUBBED by the "Hallowed Hall".

JUANITA COWART was the FIFTH original member of the group....and she has been on several important Marvelettes recordings...including the #1 hit PLEASE MR. POSTMAN,it's followup hit, TWISTIN' POSTMAN,the Top 10 smash,"PLAYBOY",the Top 10 R&B hit,"SOMEDAY, SOMEWAY", and the Top 20 Pop Hit,BEACHWOOD 4-5789.

Why is she being excluded ?

Is this just ANOTHER case of RRHOF elitism? picking and choosing just which members get in , and which don't ?

I could SEE it if Juanita had left the group before they began to chart...like Georgia Dobbins did, but she is on some really important records here.

With two of the original members already dead, lead singer,Gladys Horton and Georgeanna Tillman, can they REALLY afford to start leaving out other original members as if they had NEVER EXISTED ??

A possible Marvelettes induction SHOULD mean that ALL 5 ORIGINAL MEMBERS be inducted . ALL FIVE.

Surviving members Wanda Young, Kathy Schaffner, AND Juanita (Wynetta) Cowart should ALL be honored on induction day !!! The ladies need to SPEAK UP...

And the Hall of Fame needs to stop playing GAMES .

Posted by Bill G. on Saturday, 10/18/2014 @ 11:34am


The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees Who Will Be Voting For The Marvelettes

The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Miracles, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Jackson Five, The Staple Singers, The Moonglows, The Flamingos, The Dells, The O'Jays, The Ronettes, The Dave Clark Five, The Ventures, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, Blondie, Elton John, Billy Joel, Lloyd Price, Bobby Womack, Wanda Jackson, Bob Seger, Prince, Percy Sledge, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, The Pretenders, The Talking Heads, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Phil Collins, Tina Turner, Carole King, The E Street Band, Heart, Linda Ronstadt, Cat Stevens, Darlene Love, Neil Diamond

Posted by Roy on Tuesday, 10/28/2014 @ 09:13am


Roy's annual excercise in stereotyping.

Posted by Dezmond on Tuesday, 10/28/2014 @ 13:43pm


*****The MARVELETTES*****

The Marvelettes were Motown's very first successful female act . EVERY SINGLE female artist on Motown owes the Marvelettes a GREAT DEBT.

The Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas,Mary Wells, Diana Ross solo, and numerous others traveled in the path first set by the MARVELETTES.
The Marvelettes have also influenced many other NON-MOTOWN ACTS AS WELL.
According to Clarles Crossley, at the "Top of The Charts" website:

The Marvelettes have been cited as an influence by and have been covered or sampled by the Miracles, Dusty Springfield, Darlene Love, the Beatles, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Rascals, Martha & the Vandellas, Paul McCartney, the Jackson 5, Bonnie Raitt, Blondie, the New York Dolls, Massive Attack with Tracy Thorn of Everything But The Girl, the Carpenters, Carla Thomas, the Chi-Lites, Mitch Ryder, Labelle, the Pointer Sisters, Florence Ballard of the Supremes, Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, George Clinton, Phil Collins, Ella Fitzgerald, Jay-Z, Grace Jones, Dwight Yoakam, Betty Wright, Teena Marie, Lil Wayne, the Three Degrees, Sister Sledge, Melba Moore, the Crystals, the Cowsills, Candi Staton, Dee Dee Sharp, the Orlons, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Jeru The Damaja, Exile, Brenda & the Tabulations, the Tremeloes, Gwen Guthrie, Jazmine Sullivan, Harpers Bizarre, Bananarama, Taylor Dayne, Juelz Santana, J Dilla, the Elgins, the Action, the Flying Pickets, the Jets and Donnie and Marie Osmond, among many others.

BUT, as with SRV & Double Trouble, the RRHOF is ONCE AGAIN playing a CON GAME on us.

They are trying to EXCLUDE Original Marvelette JUANITA COWART from consideration for induction.

******
WON'T THEY EVER STOP ?? THIS IS GETTING OLD .

Juanita was on several important hit recordings with the group" PLEASE MR. POSTMAN (#1 POP & R&B) . PLAYBOY (Top 10 POP & R&B), TWISTIN'POSTMAN (TOP 40 POP, TOP 20 R&B) , BEACHWOOD 4-5789 (TOP 20 POP, TOP 10 R&B), SOMEDAY,SOMEWAY (TOP 10 R&B), STRANGE I KNOW (TOP 10 R&B).

If inducted, Juanita SHOULD BE THERE to share with the rest of the group.

This is not the FIRST time that original or important members have been unceremoniously CUT OUT OF Induction.

REMEMBER Deletion from the R&R HOF pretty much means DELETION FROM HISTORY ...an insult that these artists DON'T DESERVE:

BOB WELCH was not inducted with FLEETWOOD MAC

ALONZO TUCKER , an original member and GROUP FOUNDER was cut from induction with The MIDNIGHTERS.

BILL ISLES, original member of THE O'JAYS, wasn't included in the induction.

Original Drifters ANDREW THRASHER, WILLIE FERBEE, and WALTER ADAMS were left out, too.(And numerous other Drifters, as well.

JOE LONG who replaced original 4 SEASONS member NICK MASSI, was on many important recordings, and deserved induction...but was snubbed by the "Hallowed Hall"

and CINDY BIRDSONG was snubbed from induction with THE SUPREMES .

JERRY BUTLER and BEN E. KING deserve second inductions as solo artists already inducted with their groups ...as should BOBBY BYRD .

In addition to giving retroactive inductions of GROUPS...the HoF should ALSO consider giving retroactive inductions of important individuals WITHIN ALREADY-INDUCTED GROUPS.

....and stop leaving OTHER important members OUT.

Reporting and celebrating Rock and Roll History is
ONE THING.

REWRITING it ...and leaving out IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTORS to IT , is ANOTHER MATTER.

JUANITA (Wynetta) COWART should be INCLUDED with THE MARVELETTES !!!

And, in the future, The Hall of Fame should STOP leaving IMPORTANT ARTISTS OUT !!!

....and FINISH the inductions of ENTIRE GROUPS snubbed when their original LEAD SINGERS were inducted:

* THE BELMONTS

* THE WAILERS

* THE SILVER BULLET BAND


Posted by Bill G. on Friday, 12/5/2014 @ 20:31pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2f345Dz6SY

The Marvelettes...LIVE at The APOLLO !!!

GLADYS and WANDA are doing the leads . GEORGEANNA and KATHY the back up...

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 21:43pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0eoi0yucJs

The MARVELETTES -"Too Many Fish In The Sea"

# 25 Pop #15 R&B

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 21:49pm


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

The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman

Motown's first #1 Pop Hit. In this 1964 clip, original members GLADYS HORTON, KATHY SCHAFFNER, and WANDA YOUNG-ROGERS are present, the other two original members , JUANITA COWART and GEORGEANNA TILLMAN had left the group...

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 21:53pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVsW_6AomOQ

The MARVELETTES- "DON'T MESS WITH BILL"

TOP 10 POP & R&B - AN R.I.A.A. CERTIFIED MILLION-SELLER...Written and Produced by SMOKEY.

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 21:57pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB0xKnFGCSY

****THE MARVELETTES****

"MY BABY MUST BE A MAGICIAN"

TOP 20 POP (#17) TOP 10 R&B (#8)

Written and Produced by SMOKEY

Features spoken word intro by MELVIN FRANKLIN of THE TEMPTATIONS ...and guitar by MARV TARPLIN of THE MIRACLES

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 22:03pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtC5xK6cpVg

****THE MARVELETTES*****

"PLAYBOY" - TOP 10 POP & R&B

"BEECHWOOD 4-5789"- TOP 20 POP, TOP 10 R&B

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 22:07pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBa746RVNHA

*****THE MARVELETTES*****

"THE HUNTER GETS CAPTURED BY THE GAME"

#13 POP #2 R&B

Written and Produced by SMOKEY

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 22:11pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AKh53aC7XY

*****The MARVELETTES****

"FOREVER"

# 44 POP # 24 R&B

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 22:14pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDz-Lo_H8f0

****The MARVELETTES****

"I'LL KEEP HOLDING ON"

# 34 POP , # 11 R&B

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 22:17pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC7B75IP1Fo


*****THE MARVELETTES*****

"Danger! Heartbreak Dead Ahead"

# 61 POP # 11 R&B

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 22:22pm


http://ourrockandrollhalloffame71305.yuku.com/topic/1870/Motowns-Marvelous-MARVELETTES?page=1

*****Motown's Marvelous MARVELETTES****

A 15 Page blog on Charles Crossley's "TOP OF THE CHARTS" website.

Hosted by Yours Truly.

Find out just WHY Motown's FIRST successful Girl Group deserves induction.

Posted by Bill G. on Friday, 12/12/2014 @ 03:33am


Joan Jett & The Blackharts:

10 U.S. Hot 100 Hits-including 4 Top 20's, 3 Top 10's, 1 of which reached # 1 (INDUCTED)

Grammy Hall of Fame-inducted songs-0


The Ronettes: 8 U.S. Hot 100 Hits,1 Top 20, 1 Top 10, No # 1 hits (INDUCTED)

Grammy Hall of Fame-inducted songs- 1


THE MARVELETTES:

23 Hot 100 Hits,3 Top 10's,6 Top 20's, 1 # 1 Hit

Grammy Hall of Fame-inducted songs-1

(NOT INDUCTED)

...What's wrong with this picture ??

Posted by Bill G. on Wednesday, 04/29/2015 @ 15:28pm


Should've been inducted YEARS AGO.

Opened up the doors for every subsequent female artist on Motown...covered by numerous artists, and had the label's very first #1 Pop Hit !!!!

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 08/13/2015 @ 03:38am


Joan Jett & The Blackharts:

10 U.S. Hot 100 Hits-including 4 Top 20's, 3 Top 10's, 1 of which reached # 1 (INDUCTED)

Grammy Hall of Fame-inducted songs-0


The Ronettes: 8 U.S. Hot 100 Hits,1 Top 20, 1 Top 10, No # 1 hits (INDUCTED)

Grammy Hall of Fame-inducted songs- 1


THE MARVELETTES:

23 Hot 100 Hits,3 Top 10's,6 Top 20's, 1 # 1 Hit

Grammy Hall of Fame-inducted songs-1

(NOT INDUCTED)

...What's wrong with this picture ??

Posted by Bill G. on Friday, 08/21/2015 @ 13:45pm


*****The MARVELETTES*****

The Marvelettes were Motown's very first successful female act . EVERY SINGLE female artist on Motown owes the Marvelettes a GREAT DEBT.

The Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas,Mary Wells, Diana Ross solo, and numerous others traveled in the path first set by the MARVELETTES.
The Marvelettes have also influenced many other NON-MOTOWN ACTS AS WELL.

According to Charles Crossley, at the "Top of The Charts" website:

The Marvelettes have been cited as an influence by and have been covered or sampled by the Miracles, Dusty Springfield, Darlene Love, the Beatles, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Rascals, Martha & the Vandellas, Paul McCartney, the Jackson 5, Bonnie Raitt, Blondie, the New York Dolls, Massive Attack with Tracy Thorn of Everything But The Girl, the Carpenters, Carla Thomas, the Chi-Lites, Mitch Ryder, Labelle, the Pointer Sisters, Florence Ballard of the Supremes, Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, George Clinton, Phil Collins, Ella Fitzgerald, Jay-Z, Grace Jones, Dwight Yoakam, Betty Wright, Teena Marie, Lil Wayne, the Three Degrees, Sister Sledge, Melba Moore, the Crystals, the Cowsills, Candi Staton, Dee Dee Sharp, the Orlons, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Jeru The Damaja, Exile, Brenda & the Tabulations, the Tremeloes, Gwen Guthrie, Jazmine Sullivan, Harpers Bizarre, Bananarama, Taylor Dayne, Juelz Santana, J Dilla, the Elgins, the Action, the Flying Pickets, the Jets and Donnie and Marie Osmond, among many others.

BUT, as with SRV & Double Trouble, the RRHOF is ONCE AGAIN playing a CON GAME on us.

They are trying to EXCLUDE Original Marvelette JUANITA COWART from consideration for induction.

******
WON'T THEY EVER STOP ?? THIS IS GETTING OLD .

Juanita was on several important hit recordings with the group" PLEASE MR. POSTMAN (#1 POP & R&B) . PLAYBOY (Top 10 POP & R&B), TWISTIN'POSTMAN (TOP 40 POP, TOP 20 R&B) , BEACHWOOD 4-5789 (TOP 20 POP, TOP 10 R&B), SOMEDAY,SOMEWAY (TOP 10 R&B), STRANGE I KNOW (TOP 10 R&B).

If inducted, Juanita SHOULD BE THERE to share with the rest of the group.

This is not the FIRST time that original or important members have been unceremoniously CUT OUT OF Induction.

REMEMBER Deletion from the R&R HOF pretty much means DELETION FROM HISTORY ...an insult that these artists DON'T DESERVE:

BOB WELCH was not inducted with FLEETWOOD MAC

ALONZO TUCKER , an original member and GROUP FOUNDER was cut from induction with The MIDNIGHTERS.

BILL ISLES, original member of THE O'JAYS, wasn't included in the induction.

Original Drifters ANDREW THRASHER, WILLIE FERBEE, and WALTER ADAMS were left out, too.(And numerous other Drifters, as well.

JOE LONG who replaced original 4 SEASONS member NICK MASSI, was on many important recordings, and deserved induction...but was snubbed by the "Hallowed Hall"

and CINDY BIRDSONG was snubbed from induction with THE SUPREMES .

JERRY BUTLER and BEN E. KING deserve second inductions as solo artists already inducted with their groups ...as should BOBBY BYRD .

In addition to giving retroactive inductions of GROUPS...the HoF should ALSO consider giving retroactive inductions of important individuals WITHIN ALREADY-INDUCTED GROUPS.

....and stop leaving OTHER important members OUT.

Reporting and celebrating Rock and Roll History is
ONE THING.

REWRITING it ...and leaving out IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTORS to IT , is ANOTHER MATTER.

JUANITA (Wynetta) COWART should be INCLUDED with THE MARVELETTES !!!

And, in the future, The Hall of Fame should STOP leaving IMPORTANT ARTISTS OUT !!!

....and FINISH the inductions of ENTIRE GROUPS snubbed when their original LEAD SINGERS were inducted:

* THE BELMONTS

* THE WAILERS

* THE SILVER BULLET BAND

Posted by Bill G. on Friday, 08/21/2015 @ 13:54pm


https://www.facebook.com/groups/325810814259904/

The Official Facebook Page:

WE WANT THE MARVELETTES INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

Posted by Bill G. on Saturday, 08/22/2015 @ 05:46am


here are some real early innovators,, Along with a great production team.. Now you're talking. influence for years to come . ,,,,Talent, production ,stag and... They had something really going on.. Even the Beatles knew it ,,,!
A should be YES

Posted by RBFAN on Saturday, 08/22/2015 @ 13:56pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2f345Dz6SY

*****The MARVELETTES*****

GLADYS, WANDA, KATHY, and GEORGANNA...LIVE AT THE APOLLO (Hits Medley -1962)

AWESOME SHOWMANSHIP !!! WATCH THE WHOLE CLIP !!!

Posted by Bill G. on Wednesday, 08/26/2015 @ 16:57pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0eoi0yucJs

*****The Marvelettes*****

"TWO MANY FISH IN THE SEA"

(#25 POP, # 5 R&B)

(Performed after Juanita and Georganna's departure)

Posted by Bill G. on Wednesday, 08/26/2015 @ 17:02pm


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

****The MARVELETTES****

"Please Mr. Poostman"

(# 1 POP & R&B)

Covered by The Beatles, The Carpenters,Pat Boone, and a host of others

Posted by Bill G. on Wednesday, 08/26/2015 @ 22:22pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC7B75IP1Fo

*****The MARVELETTES*****

"Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead"

(#61 Pop, # 11 R&B)

Covered by Bonnie Raitt and Bettye LaVette

Posted by Bill G. on Wednesday, 08/26/2015 @ 22:28pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC7B75IP1Fo

*****The MARVELETTES*****

"Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead"

(#61 Pop, # 11 R&B)

Covered by Bonnie Raitt and Bettye LaVette

Posted by Bill G. on Wednesday, 08/26/2015 @ 22:28pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV3scXzaEGI

*****The MARVELETTES*****

"My Baby Must Be A Magician"

(# 17 Pop, #8 R&B)

Featuring spoken word intro by Temptation Melvin Franklin and Guitar by Miracle Marv Tarplin.
Written by SMOKEY

Posted by Bill G. on Wednesday, 08/26/2015 @ 22:34pm


"TERRIBLE. Nobody knows who the hell these people are."-Posted by Neckbeard

"No one knows who the hell YOU are EITHER !! So , why should we listen to YOUR opinion ?" - Posted by Bill

I have nothing against The Ronettes, but they should have NEVER been inducted before The Marvelettes. The Marvelettes have 3 TIMES the Chart Hits of The Ronettes and were MUCH MORE influential to boot !!! Their success opened the doors for every female act on Motown...including The Supremes ,Mary Wells, and The Vandellas

And you say you don't know who they are ? How about that great song "Please Mr Postman". You know , the one that The Beatles and The Carpenters recorded ? WHO DO YOU THINK MADE IT FIRST ? And took it all the way to #1 ?? The very FIRST # 1 HIT THAT MOTOWN EVER HAD ?

Maybe YOU don't know "who the hell" they are...but don't speak for the rest of us.

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 09/24/2015 @ 12:22pm


"The Marvelettes are not equal to The Ronettes. The Ronettes got inducted right away because Phil Spector kept them off the ballot. When Spector went to jail - people were finally able to vote for them. Same with The Righteous Brothers and Darlene Love."

The Marvelettes are FAR BEYOND the Ronettes....in chart hit records as well as influence !!

They have had THREE TIMES the chart hits of the Ronettes....and have had far more artists cover tunes , as well.

The ONLY reason that The Ronettes got in was because Spector has friends on the Nominating Committee. That's the SAME reason why Darlene Love got in instead of Mary Wells ...and artist, again , with FAR MORE HITS AND INFLUENCE.

If Smokey Robinson was on the Nom Com....I guarantee you...it would have been a FAR DIFFERENT STORY.
This proves the famous old saying...."It's not WHAT you know...it's WHO you know !!!

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 09/24/2015 @ 12:28pm


http://ourrockandrollhalloffame71305.yuku.com/topic/1870/Motowns-Marvelous-MARVELETTES?page=1

****Motown's Marvelous MARVELETTES !!!****

A 14 page blog -written by Yours Truly -for Charles Crossley's "Top of The Charts" website

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 09/24/2015 @ 12:32pm


Bill G - I don't dispute your arguments for why The Marvelettes and Mary Wells should be in the HOF; I do however dispute your pointing the finger at the make up of the Nominating Committee for their exclusion. The Nominating committee has put Mary Wells and the Marvelettes on the ballot twice each. It is the general voting block that has snubbed those nominations and passed them over in favor of alternate choices.

Posted by shrek on Thursday, 09/24/2015 @ 12:36pm


https://www.facebook.com/groups/325810814259904/

****The MARVELETTES' FACEBOOK PAGE****

"We Want THE MARVELETTES Inducted into the ROCK and ROLL HALL of FAME"

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 09/24/2015 @ 12:45pm


http://www.amazon.com/The-Original-Marvelettes-Motowns-Mystery/dp/0965232859
"The Original Marvelettes: Motown's Mystery Girl Group"

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 09/24/2015 @ 12:54pm


****The Original MARVELETTES-Motown's Mystery Girl Group****
At a time when most girl groups merely swayed back and forth on the stage, the Marvelettes came out of nowhere to take on the music world and give Motown its first #1 pop record, "Please Mr. Postman." During the next decade the Marvelettes evolved to the sexy, sultry sound of "Don't Mess with Bill" and other Billboard top-40 hits. What happened in between and why their meteoric rise to the top was followed by their sudden demise after 10 years and numerous hits is the brutally honest story behind The Original Marvelettes: Motown's Mystery Girl Group.Find out first-hand from Katherine Anderson Schaffner, "the tall one," what really happened on stage...and behind closed doors. Includes interviews with other giants of Motown.

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 09/24/2015 @ 12:56pm


******The MARVELETTES******

One of the ORIGINAL MARVELETTES is being SNUBBED by the "Hallowed Hall".

JUANITA COWART was the FIFTH original member of the group....and she has been on several important Marvelettes recordings...including the #1 hit PLEASE MR. POSTMAN,it's followup hit, TWISTIN' POSTMAN,the Top 10 smash,"PLAYBOY",the Top 10 R&B hit,"SOMEDAY, SOMEWAY", and the Top 20 Pop Hit,BEACHWOOD 4-5789.

Why is she being excluded ?

Is this just ANOTHER case of RRHOF elitism? picking and choosing just which members get in , and which don't ?

I could SEE it if Juanita had left the group before they began to chart...like Georgia Dobbins did, but she is on some really important records here.

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 09/24/2015 @ 13:03pm


The Marvelettes' contribution to the musical landscape is much more prolific. Part of the problem is the Marvelettes were girl-group pioneers and didn't have the same opportunity for media exposure the Ronettes had. Ronnie and the girls were all over TV thanks to their connection to mogul Phil Spector and also, in my opinion, because of their racial ambiguity which mattered in 1963. For the longest many people didn't know if they were Black, Latino, White or what. This worked in their favor. The Marvelettes on the other hand didn't get the same exposure.

The Ronettes' records weren't even as big as their "sisters" The Crystals yet Lala Brooks and those girls haven't been considered. It's really a joke. I stopped taking the R&R Hall of Fame seriously a while ago.

Posted by Frank on Saturday, 08.22.09

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 09/24/2015 @ 13:04pm


JOAN JETT & The BLACKHEARTS:

10 U.S. Hot 100 Hits-including 4 Top 20's, 3 Top 10's, 1 of which reached # 1 (INDUCTED)

Grammy Hall of Fame-inducted songs-0


The RONETTES: 8 U.S. Hot 100 Hits,1 Top 20, 1 Top 10, No # 1 hits (INDUCTED)

Grammy Hall of Fame-inducted songs- 1


THE MARVELETTES:

23 Hot 100 Hits,3 Top 10's,6 Top 20's, 1 # 1 Hit

Grammy Hall of Fame-inducted songs-1

(NOT INDUCTED)

...What's wrong with this picture ??

Posted by Bill G. on Thursday, 09/24/2015 @ 13:09pm


Those are some horrible numbers (total of 7 top 10 hits between the 3 of them). None of them belong in the hall. The Marvelettes will get in soon though, I have little doubt.

BTW, these are nice acts, some good songs for sure. If there was a hall of good, they should be in.

Posted by Classic Rock on Thursday, 09/24/2015 @ 14:17pm


******The MARVELETTES******

One of the ORIGINAL MARVELETTES is being SNUBBED by the "Hallowed Hall".

JUANITA COWART was the FIFTH original member of the group....and she has been on several important Marvelettes recordings...including the #1 hit PLEASE MR. POSTMAN,it's followup hit, TWISTIN' POSTMAN,the Top 10 smash,"PLAYBOY",the Top 10 R&B hit,"SOMEDAY, SOMEWAY", and the Top 20 Pop Hit,BEACHWOOD 4-5789.

Why is she being excluded ?

Is this just ANOTHER case of RRHOF elitism? picking and choosing just which members get in , and which don't ?

I could SEE it if Juanita had left the group before they began to chart...like Georgia Dobbins did, but she is on some really important records here.


NOMINATE and INDUCT ALL 5 ORIGINAL MEMBERS !!!

Posted by Bill G. on Tuesday, 09/29/2015 @ 12:20pm


As with SRV & Double Trouble, the RRHOF is ONCE AGAIN playing a CON GAME on us.

They are trying to EXCLUDE Original Marvelette JUANITA COWART from consideration for induction.

******
WON'T THEY EVER STOP ?? THIS IS GETTING OLD .

Juanita was on several important hit recordings with the group...such as PLEASE MR. POSTMAN (#1 POP & R&B) . PLAYBOY (Top 10 POP & R&B), TWISTIN'POSTMAN (TOP 40 POP, TOP 20 R&B) , BEACHWOOD 4-5789 (TOP 20 POP, TOP 10 R&B), SOMEDAY,SOMEWAY (TOP 10 R&B), STRANGE I KNOW (TOP 10 R&B).

If inducted, Juanita SHOULD BE THERE to share with the rest of the group.

This is not the FIRST time that original or important members have been unceremoniously CUT OUT OF Induction.

REMEMBER Deletion from the R&R HOF pretty much means DELETION FROM HISTORY ...an insult that these artists DON'T DESERVE:

BOB WELCH was not inducted with FLEETWOOD MAC.

ALONZO TUCKER , an original member and GROUP FOUNDER was cut from induction with The MIDNIGHTERS.

BILL ISLES, original member of THE O'JAYS, wasn't included in the induction.

Original Drifters ANDREW THRASHER, WILLIE FERBEE, and WALTER ADAMS were left out, too.(And numerous other Drifters, as well).

JOE LONG ,who replaced original 4 SEASONS member NICK MASSI, was on many important recordings, and deserved induction...but was snubbed by the "Hallowed Hall"

...and CINDY BIRDSONG was snubbed from induction with THE SUPREMES .

JERRY BUTLER and BEN E. KING deserve second inductions as solo artists already inducted with their groups ...as should BOBBY BYRD .

In addition to giving retroactive inductions of GROUPS...the HoF should ALSO consider giving retroactive inductions of important individuals WITHIN ALREADY-INDUCTED GROUPS.

....and stop leaving OTHER important members OUT.

Reporting and celebrating Rock and Roll History is
ONE THING.

REWRITING it ...and leaving out IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTORS to IT , is ANOTHER MATTER.

JUANITA (Wynetta) COWART should be INCLUDED with THE MARVELETTES !!!

And, in the future, The Hall of Fame should STOP leaving IMPORTANT ARTISTS OUT !!!

....and FINISH the inductions of ENTIRE GROUPS snubbed when their original LEAD SINGERS were inducted:

* THE BELMONTS

* THE WAILERS

* THE SILVER BULLET BAND

Posted by Bill G. on Tuesday, 09/29/2015 @ 12:31pm


This oversight needs to be discussed by the committee.

They should been inducted since the Hall been created back in the 80's. They were hit makers at Motown and competed with Hall of Famers The Vandellas. The Supremes where the scrubs at Hitsville USA that couldn't get the song that would put them on top until the Marvelettes turn down a song they didn't like they believe it was not R&B enough with "baby, baby" singing in the background.

That song was "Where Did Our Love Go" that the Supremes took and blew away the competition of the Vandellas,Marvelettes, and Mary Wells at Motown.

Posted by Erayman64 on Tuesday, 05/3/2016 @ 01:11am


I can't think of a 60s band that has been more overlooked. Barry Gordy burried this act once he found his muse in Ross & Co, but before Motown was printing money, The Marvelettes were keeping the doors open when Hitsville USA was just starting to gather steam. Criminally neglected.

Posted by Diamond Dave on Thursday, 06/23/2016 @ 21:23pm


The Marvelettes have waited long enough to be inducted. There numbers of hits and putting Motown on the maps. The Hunter gets Capture by the Game is still one of my all-time favorite song. Sing this to a guy who is pursuing you and they just melt. They really deserve it.

Posted by Amy H. Moreland on Tuesday, 10/25/2016 @ 01:50am



http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Wells-Tumultuous-Motowns-Superstar/dp/1569762481/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360187474&sr=1-1&keywords=mary+wells

(Reuters) - Mary Wells, Motown Records' first female star who paved the way for the success of Diana Ross and The Supremes, shot to fame in the early 1960s only to fade away as a footnote of the longtime Detroit record label.

Now, some two decades after Wells' death in 1992 at age 49, the singer who scored a No. 1 hit with "My Guy," is receiving a push for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Peter Benjaminson, the author of the first Wells biography, "Mary Wells: The Tumultuous Story of Motown's First Superstar," has spearheaded the campaign for the singer, who he said has not received the recognition afforded to the likes of The Supremes or Martha and the Vandellas.

Benjaminson, 67, believes that aside from Wells' merits as an R&B singer and as Motown's first big female star, she deserves consideration as a pioneer who crossed the black-and-white racial divide in the United States.

"I think it's unfair to have Mary, who set the path for so many superstars today, be excluded from an honor like this, which she should've gotten a long time ago," Benjaminson told Reuters by phone from his home in New York's Harlem neighborhood.

Wells was born into a broken household in Detroit in 1943 and contracted spinal meningitis and tuberculosis at a young age, which left her partially blind and deaf.

After graduating high school Wells set her sights on Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, with a song she wrote herself, "Bye Bye Baby."

"Gordy kept refusing (a meeting), but she kept persisting," Benjaminson said. "Finally, he got so annoyed that he asked her to sing it right there ... He was so impressed he signed her up the next day as a Motown singer."

"Bye Bye Baby," rose to No. 45 on the Billboard Top 100 chart in 1960, a rare feat for a black, female singer, Benjaminson said.

"She really paved the way for the other women who came after, including Diana Ross," Benjaminson said. "She showed how quickly a woman could rise on the charts with Motown."

Wells was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and 1987, but never made the cut for induction.

"I don't know what happened in 1986 and 1987, but she's certainly due the honor this late in the game," he said.

Benjaminson is hoping first to get Wells inducted into the Legends Hall of Fame at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, a prominent historical venue for African-American musicians.

"I think that would help in getting her into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," said Benjaminson, who hopes his book may play a role in resurrecting Wells' reputation.

Benjaminson has set up a Facebook page called "Induct Mary Wells into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," that urges fans to send letters to the foundation that runs the Cleveland, Ohio-based Hall of Fame (www.rockhall.com/).

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1983 and has inducted some 700 performers, songwriters and record producers, chosen by some 600 artists, music historians and industry members.

After scoring other hits such as "You Beat Me to the Punch," in 1962, Wells landed atop the chart for two weeks in 1964 with "My Guy," her final Motown hit.

Wells left Motown at the height of her popularity over compensation issues and never found the same success again. She died in 1992 after a battle with throat cancer.

Benjaminson's biography of Wells, published in November 2012, is his third book on Motown.

Posted by Bill G. on Sunday, 07/8/2018 @ 02:27am


Both MARY WELLS and THE MARVELETTES should have been INDUCTED....DECADES AGO !!

Posted by Bill G. on Sunday, 07/8/2018 @ 02:29am


https://www.redmolotov.com/the-marvelettes-line-up-tshirt

Maybe The Rock Hall "forgot" to nominate ALL FIVE Original Members of The Marvelettes...but ALL of their LAST NAMES are for SURE on this T-SHIRT !! (Including JUANITA COWART, the Founding member that they SNUBBED !!)

*********GET IT RIGHT, PEOPLE !!*********

You SNUBBED the FIFTH ORIGINAL MEMBER of THE O'JAYS....BILL ISLES, and he just DIED TWO MONTHS AGO !!! He sang with the group for the first SEVEN YEARS !! How do you think HIS family feels ??

(Or do you even CARE ??)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK90_cWyyco

THE O'JAYS -LIPSTICK TRACES (1965)
(All 5 Original Members...BILL ISLES, 2nd from Left)


http://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/notable-deaths/article/bill-isles-1941-2019-co-founder-of-legendary-rb-group

Posted by Bill G on Friday, 06/14/2019 @ 03:45am


******** THE MARVELETTES ESSENTIAL SONGS********

How could THESE important Marvelettes Hits be
LEFT OUT of their list of ESSENTIAL SONGS ??

* PLAYBOY ( # 7 Pop # 4 R&B)

* BEACHWOOD 4-5789 (# 17 Pop, # 7 R&B )

* MY BABY MUST BE A MAGICIAN (# 17 Pop, # 8 R&B)

* THE HUNTER GETS CAPTURED BY THE GAME (# 13 Pop, # 2 R&B)

* TOO MANY FISH IN THE SEA (# 25 Pop,# 5 R&B)

* I'LL KEEP HOLDING ON (# 34 Pop, # 11 R&B)

* LOCKING UP MY HEART ( # 44 Pop, # 25 R&B)

Posted by Bill G on Friday, 06/14/2019 @ 04:05am



R.I.P. Marvelettes co-founder, "Please Mr. Postman" writer Georgia Dobbins Davis

When the Marvelettes were nominated I don't think she was not included as one of the nominated members.

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 09/23/2020 @ 12:20pm


R.I.P. To Georgia Dobbins Davis

To be fair, I don't think she should be included as one of the nominated members for the Marvelettes. She wrote Please Mr. Postman, but doesn't appear on the recording, as she left the band and was replaced by Wanda Young before the group signed their first deal. Still, Please Mr. Postman is an iconic song and wouldn't exist without her.

Posted by Steve Z on Wednesday, 09/23/2020 @ 13:02pm


********************* THE MARVELETTES *********************

Here is an example of one of the many things wrong with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

THE GO-GOS : Only EIGHT CHARTING SINGLES- INDUCTED

THE RONETTES : Only EIGHT CHARTING SINGLES- INDUCTED

THE MARVELETTES: Some **26 CHARTING SINGLES**...INCLUDING MOTOWN RECORDS'
Very FIRST # 1 CHART HIT, the Grammy Hall of Fame-inducted
"Please Mr. Postman...NOT INDUCTED.

***** WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE ?? *****

Posted by Bill G on Thursday, 05/13/2021 @ 04:56am


https://images.app.goo.gl/e4VhxBjL6ynPdzWG8

They were even the subject of a bio book: the Marvelettes: Motown's's mystery girl group. Are they good enough to have a biography book written about them, but not good enough to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? with OVER THREE TIMES THE CHART HITS OF THE OTHERS ??
Or Are they just being deliberately ignored?

********************** YOU FIGURE IT OUT !! ***********************^

Posted by Bill G on Thursday, 05/13/2021 @ 05:09am


********************* THE MARVELETTES *********************
The MARVELETTES we're Motown Records' VERY FIRST successful female group. Their success opened the doors, for Martha and the Vandellas, and the Supremes. They also opened the doors for numerous other female groups that were NOT on the Motown label... and have had their songs covered by numerous other artists.
They DESERVE to be INDUCTED !!

Posted by Bill G on Thursday, 05/13/2021 @ 05:34am


https://youtu.be/LFqOmNcH3DI

See the UNSUNG telecast on THE MARVELETTES at 5he ABOVE LINK.

Posted by Bill G on Thursday, 05/13/2021 @ 06:56am


****************** The Marvelous MARVELETTES ******************

Let's see now: the Go-Go's, and the Ronettes, with only eight chart hits apiece, get inducted into the Hall of Fame, while Motown's Marvelettes, with almost 3 times the chart hit records of either of the others, get snubbed twice , and have never been nominated since. The Marvelettes Influence is off the charts: motown's Records first successful female Group, who had the labels first ever number one pop hit, songs covered by everyone from the carpenters to the Beatles, good not good enough to be inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. MARVELETTES, Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Juanita Cowart, Wanda Young-Rogers,and Georgeanna Tillman, have now qualified for induction for over 30 years. They still aren't in. Why? And the Hall of Fame keeps talking about inclusion, and diversity. Really? The shower lights are scheduled to get a star on the Hollywood walk of fame this summer. They've never even been nominated! The Commodores, despite their incredible career, I've never even gotten so much as a nod! The Spinners have been nominated, and shut down three times, with no explanation as to why!! Dionne Warwick has garnered her very first ever nomination after over 50 years in show business, and guess what? She got shot down too !!! Junior Walker in the All-Stars, Motown Records' ultimate party band ... no nominations. Patti LaBelle &the Bluebelles/Labelle. No, nothing either. Let's not even talk about 70s R&B groups : The Dramatics, , the Spinners, Harold Melvin and the blue notes, The Stylistics, the Delfonics, Lou Rawls, Barry White, the Manhattans, the Whispers. These artists, and others like them, I've been completely ignored, and the Hall of Fame has the nerve to talk about inclusion? Diversity? I just don't see it. It seems like too little, too late.

Posted by Bill G on Sunday, 06/27/2021 @ 19:57pm


... and don't even get me started, on Gene Chandler, Ben E. King (solo) Jerry Butler (solo) , The Olympics, Roy Hamilton, the Intruders,( pioneers of the Philadelphia Sound) The Pointer Sisters, Mary Wells, Natalie Cole,The Clovers, The Olympics and writers such as: Thom Bell and Linda Creed, Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, , Van McCoy. Yet, it seems that every rapper that comes down the pike, gets inducted. Why have 50's, 60's & '70s Deserving R & B Artists continued to be snubbed, while the Hall of Fame completely bypasses them, in favor of 80s rappers?

Posted by Bill G on Sunday, 06/27/2021 @ 20:11pm


Yes. The Marvelettes are long overdue.EThey meet the requirements to be in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. And on 12/15/2021- Wanda Young-Lead Singer passed Away with her beautiful distinctive voice and No Recognition. Shame On You. So far their is only one Surviving member- Katherine Anderson Schaffner who will be 78 yrs old on 1/16th. All those Number One Hits, Don't Mess with Bill; Please Mister Postman, My Baby must be a Magician, Too Many Fish in the Sea. PLEASE INDUCT them now

Posted by Karen Godbold on Thursday, 01/13/2022 @ 11:40am


A couple of corrections here. The FIFTH Original member of the Marvelettes
JUANITA (Wynetta) COWART, was SNUBBED on BOTH PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS.
Something that should NEVER have happened, WHY ? Because
1) She was an ORIGINAL MEMBER of The Marvelettes, and
2) She was on several important recordings with the group, such as
The Million-Selling, #1 Pop Smash, PLEASE MR. POSTMAN, the Top 10 Pop Hit,
" PLAYBOY", the Top 20 Hit, BEACHWOOD 4-5789, and the Top 10 R&B Hit,
"STRANGE I KNOW".
The RRHOF needs to STOP nominating and inducting groups PIECEMEAL. This
Is the SAME NONSENSICAL VIOLATION they committed in 1987 , when they inducted SMOKEY ROBINSON as a SOLO ARTIST, when any fan worth his salt KNOWS that the great majority of his hits were NOT SOLO, but as a member of Motown's first and most important group, THE MIRACLES…who were inexcusably SNUBBED.
3) JUANITA is , with the death of Marvelettes member WANDA YOUNG-ROGERS, one of only TWO surviving original members of The Marvelettes. She and KATHERINE ANDERSON should BOTH be inducted, as JUANITA left the group for medical reasons .Not her fault.
INDUCT THE ENTIRE GROUP, PLEASE !!

Posted by Bill G on Monday, 01/24/2022 @ 06:12am


The Marvelettes absolutely belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their string of hits speaks for itself.

Posted by Alex Koodrin on Sunday, 11/27/2022 @ 20:30pm


RIP Katherine Anderson

Posted by J.W. on Friday, 09/22/2023 @ 11:10am


TOTALLY BOGUS and WRONG…
that The Marvelous MARVELETTES
Got SNUBBED…not ONCE, but TWICE…from induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…with over TWO DOZEN CHART HITS, and INFLUENCE that is THROUGH THE ROOF…
While The Go-Gos, with only EIGHT chart hits to their CREDIT, got INDUCTED. They have NOWHERE NEAR the influence of Motown's FIRST SUCCESSFUL FEMALE GROUP…so, how did THEY get in…while GLADYS, KATHY, WANDA,
GEORGEANNA, and JUANITA did not ?
***CONNECTIONS, BABY !!***
Do you know just HOW MANY FAMOUS ARTISTS have COVERED the MARVELETTES' songs ?
We have: THE BEATLES,THE CARPENTERS, BOBBIE RAITT, THE YOUNG RASCALS, MELBA MOORE, PHIL COLLINS, BETTE MIDLER, MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS,JUNE POINTER (of The POINTER SISTERS)BARBARA McNAIR,MARVIN GAYE, THE ORLONS, CARLA THOMAS, BRENDA & THE TABULATIONS,STEVIE WONDER, BARBARA MASON, TIERRA,DEE DEE SHARP,PATTIE BROOKS, DARLENE LOVE, THE COWSILLS, THE PLAYMATES, PAT BOONE, HUMAN NATURE,MARTHA & THE
VANDELLAS, THE MIRACLES, JULIE GRANT, THE ELGINS, EARL VAN DYKE, TAYLOR DAYNE, THE CONTOURS, BETTYE LA VETTE,
KIM WESTON, DIONNE BROMFIELD,BABY WASHINGTON, THE CHORDS, THE COMMITMENTS, THE TEEN QUEENS, and MORE !!
Do you know how many songs by THE GO-GOS have spawned COVER VERSIONS BY OTHER ARTISTS as of 2023 ?

***NONE.***
So, WHY are THEY INDUCTED….
while THE MARVELETTES are NOT ?
****** GO FIGURE !!!******

Today, as of 2023, THE MARVELETTES are one of the FEW original Motown artists…
Who are STILL NOT in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
And Wynetta aka Juanita…
Is the ONLY LIVING ORIGINAL MEMBER LEFT.

Posted by Bill G on Saturday, 10/21/2023 @ 16:16pm


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Future Rock Legends is your home for The Marvelettes and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, including year of eligibility, number of nominations, induction chances, essential songs and albums, and an open discussion of their career.


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