Some blue- eyed Soul for you today courtesy of Chris Clark.
She was one of the first white singers to sign for Motown in 1966. She had a clandestine affair with Berry Gordy at the same time as he was secretly seeing Diana Ross. A busy boy.
According to Stuart Cosgrove in his excellent book Detroit 67 Gordy briefly toyed with the idea of her joining the Supremes making them a multiracial group. Not only a busy boy but a brave one. Sadly, or maybe fortunately, it never came to anything.
Born in Santa Cruz, California she ended up as a Northern Soul favourite. As well as being a great singer she was clearly a clever and talented lady. She co-wrote the screenplay for the 1972 film Lady Sings the Blues featuring the aforementioned Diana Ross earning her an Academy Award nomination. She was an executive with Motown's Film and Television prior to serving as Motown's Head of Creative Affairs from 1981to 1989.
I am happy to report that she is still going strong at the age of 77.
Tracks 1 and 3 are not too bad, but #2 is an absolute belter!
ReplyDeleteIt might be quicker to list the female Motown artists who Berry Gordy didn't hit on. Dirty old man.
ReplyDeleteAh, excellent. Love's Gone Bad is superb. I didn't know that about co-writing the LSTB screenplay either.
ReplyDeleteWe have needed more of this since Drew’s retirement. Keep it comin’. - Brian
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