The Never-Ending Story of the Women of Motown

As a child, one of the first CDs I ever owned was a Motown's Greatest Hits CD that I got for my eleventh birthday. Being that I turned eleven in 2009, decades after Motown's golden era under founder Berry Gordy, Jr. had already ended, my music taste led people to believe that I was an old soul. But the truth is that Motown's music is timeless and has remained in people's hearts and minds since its inception in the late 50s.

While most people are familiar with Motown greats like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, and the Jackson 5, the women of Motown have really allowed for the iconic Black record label to have a lasting impact on the world. From their music being featured in movies, TV shows, and all throughout popular culture, Motown owes much of its timeless success to the women who made it happen.

The Marvelettes

The Marvelettes paved the way for Motown girl groups and many girl groups in general. In the early 60s, the men of Motown were already having commercial success releasing hits like "Money (That's What I Want)" by Barrett Strong and "Shop Around" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. But the women of Motown were not having as much success breaking through. That is... until The Marvelettes entered the scene.

In 1961, the Marvelettes released their iconic song "Please Mr. Postman" which made its way to number one on the charts, making them the first Motown girl group to have a hit single.

Like great music often does, their song reached the hearts of people all over the country and all over the world and sparked other classic renditions like the 1963 Beatles version. Having the biggest male rock group in the world covering their song only proved how good it was, but covers of the song didn't end there or even in that decade.

My first time hearing the song was in the opening scene of Sister Act 2, when Deloris does a medley of Motown songs in her Las Vegas show. This happened three decades after the song's initial release and introduced it to Gen X-ers and milennials alike.

In 2014, the song resurfaced yet again when a viral video started circulating the internet of three young women practicing the song for a school performance.

This video sparked even more renditions, with one of the most popular being this six second Vine video of a young boy and an old man giving their take on the timeless classic.

Even if you have never heard of The Marvelettes, chances are you have heard this song in some way, shape, or form. And while many people have popularized "Please Mr. Postman" over time, we have The Marvelettes to thank for giving us a song that has made people smile for sixty years and counting.

Martha & The Vandellas

One of my favorite songs on my Motown CD was "Heatwave" by Martha and the Vandellas. I would keep that song on repeat until I grew tired of it and then return to it the next day.

This girl group joined Motown after The Marvelettes and became musical stars in their own right.

My first time hearing "Heatwave", much like with the song "Please Mr. Postman" was in a Sister Act movie. At the beginning of the first Sister Act, Deloris is also doing a Motown medley, only this time it is in a small casino in Reno and no one is really paying attention to her. Needless to say, that scene made the song live forever in my mind.

Staying true to her love of Motown and girl groups of the 50s and 60s (as she said in the movie), Deloris (or Sister Mary Clarence) returned with another Martha and the Vandellas song in Sister Act 2, "Dancing in the Street." For those who grew up watching this movie like me, this was probably your introduction to this girl group's music.

Recently, I have discovered a Netflix gem through my four year old nephew and my five year old niece. Motown Magic (or as they call it, ABC - because of the theme song) is a children's cartoon dedicated to introducing the wonderful music of Motown to the new generation. And of course, "Heatwave" and "Dancing in the Street" can be found being covered on the show because... how could they not?

Diana Ross & The Supremes

When you think of girl groups, it is hard not to think of Diana Ross and The Supremes. These legendary ladies are the top selling girl group of Motown and considered the most successful girl group of all time, having a total of twelve number one hits and many more top 40 hits.

Songs like "Baby Love", "Come See About Me", and "Stop! in the Name of Love" are easily recognizable and beloved by people of all generations.

Their choreography, harmonies, backing vocals, and yes... even their hair, made them a force to be reckoned with and have caused people to emulate their style generations later.

As a child, I remember watching reruns of the 90s TV show Sister, Sister and being captivated by their performance of the Supremes' hit song "Can't Hurry Love", complete with bobbed wigs and go-go boots.

In the 2010s, one of my other favorite shows and the most popular musical television show ever, Glee, was no stranger to doing covers of classic Supremes' songs. Their mashup of "Stop! In The Name of Love" by The Supremes and "Free Your Mind" by another iconic girl group, En Vogue, became an instant hit among pre-teens and teens in 2010 (including myself).

The show's covers of Supremes' hits like "Come See About Me" saw the Unholy Trinity - or Quinn, Britanny, and Santana - staying true to the style and synchronicity that made the Supremes the orginal women that every girl and their friend group wanted to be.

The iconic nature of these women even sparked a complete Broadway musical and movie production that is loosely based on their time spent at Motown.

Dreamgirls became a big hit on Broadway in 1982 with notable Black actresses Sheryl Lee Ralph (from Moesha and Sister Act 2), Loretta Devine (from Waiting to Exhale and Madea's Big Happy Family, along with many many others), and Jennifer Holiday who immortalized the role of Effie White. This musical told the story of The Supremes (or as they're known as in the musical, The Dreams) and their name change, their start with Motown, their member changes, and even Diana Ross' alleged affair with Berry Gordy, Jr.

In 2006, this musical was revived with Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, and Anika Noni Rose taking these characters to new heights and getting the world once again talking about the glamour and the drama of The Supremes.

After the group broke up, Diana Ross went on to have a solo career that set the standard for musical diva-hood in the second half of the twentieth century.

Arguably, her most iconic song is "I'm Coming Out" which has been featured in television, movies, and even video games since its release in 1980.

Another big hit of hers was the song "The Boss" which was released in 1979 and is most recognizable by many modern day people as the song that was used in the exciting lip sync between Bebe Zahara Benet and Trixie Mattel on Rupaul's Drag Race All Stars season 3.

These amazing women of Motown walked so that groups like Destiny's Child, En Vogue, the Spice Girls, and even Blackpink could run. Without their contribution to music, many of the most memorable moments in television, movies, Broadway, and entertainment in general would not have existed. It is no wonder why their music has been able to overcome racial, gender, and generational barriers and stand the test of time.

If you enjoyed this article, feel free to leave a like and/or tip and check out some of my other stories. Also, follow me on Instagram @c.r.hughes