Chesapeake Beach, MD — One of Motown’s legendary performers transported this week her signature sound to the Chesapeake Bay shoreline. For more than 50 years Martha Reeves and the Vandellas have been packing in the crowds with their blend of Doo Wop, R & B, pop, soul, blues and jazz. They played to a sold-out crowd June 9 at Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa as part of the summer-long Rock the Dock series.
Martha Reeves joined the group called The Del-Phis in 1962 and the rest as they say is history (of the musical kind). The group signed with Barry Gordy’s Motown. At the time the Vandellas were Annette Beard and Rosalind Ashford. Today the two Vandellas perform as the Original Vandellas and Martha Reeves performs with her two sisters, Lois and Delphine as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. It was the latter group that performed at Chesapeake Beach.
With the sun still beating down, the group opened with Heat Wave and the set included their biggest hit “Dancing in the Street,” which reached Number 2 on the Billboard charts in 1964. It was reissued in 1969 and became one of the all-time favorite Motown single releases ever and one of the most played singles in history.
In introducing the song Reeves said many people driving in their car and listening to the radio stopped the car when they heard the song, got out and began “Dancing’ in the Street.”
After 50 years Reeves voice is still strong and her hour-and-a-half, non-stop performance was energetic and spirited. Reeves said after the opening number that her life since 1960 has been filled “withy many beautiful things.” She added a few for her audience that evening.
Many of the concert attendees joined in dancing in the sand through much of the concert, at Reeves’ urging.
Another Martha Reeves and the Vandellas favorite, Jimmy Mack (Billboard #10), also brought back many memories as the crowd sang and danced along. Indeed days later they were probably still singing the infectious lyrics to themselves and anyone in earshot.
Reeves also reminded those who lived through her music when it was first released about how much things have changed in the music world. She said many people today don’t even know what a 45 is, much less what a “B” side is, as they performed several of those B sides. “Sometimes the B sides sound better than the A sides,” she said.
The Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa’s “Rock the Dock” features music seven days a week with a number of local favorites interspersed with some nationally-known acts, such as the Brothers Osborne, Lee Greenwood, Deana Carter, Marty Stuart, and Seldom Scene, For a complete list of performers go to http://cbresortspa.ticketleap.com/
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com
