DELL FI'S - DEL FI'S - DEL-PHIS (1) - FAYETTES (HATTIE LITTLE & THE) - VANDELLAS (MARTHA & THE)
Gloria Jean Williamson, Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard
The Del-Phis (1) (Detroit)
aka The Dell Fi's aka The Del Fi's aka The Del-Phis aka The Vells (2)
aka Hattie Little & The Fayettes aka Martha & The Vandellas
Personnel :
Gloria Jean Williamson (Lead)
Martha Reeves (Second Lead)
Rosalind Ashford (Background)
Annette Beard (Background)
Discography :
J J Barnes & The Dell Fi's
1960 - Won't You Let Me Know / My Love Came Tumbling Down (Kable 437)
Leon Peterson & The Dell Fi's
1960 - Silver & Gold / Together Just We Two (Kable 438)
Mike Hanks & The The Del Fi's
1960 - When True Love Comes To Be / The Hawk (Inst.) (Mah's 000.3)
Mike Hanks & The Del-Phis (1)
1961 - I Think About You / I Think About You Part 2 (Mah's 000.4)
The Del-Phis (1)
Singles :
1961 - I'll Let You Know / It Takes Two (Checkmate 1005)
Unreleased :
1961 - My Heart Tells Me so (Checkmate)
The Vells (2)
1961 - There He Is (At My Door) / You'll Never Cherish A Love So True (Mel-O-Dy 108)
Hattie Little & The Fayettes
1962 - Here You Come / Your Love Is Wonderful (Gordy 7007)
Biography :
After graduating high school, Martha Reeves began singing
professionally in 1959 when she joined the Fascinations. The following
year, she joined the Del-Fis - Gloria Williamson (lead), Rosalyn
Ashford, Annette Beard - from which the Vandellas later emerged,
performing at local talent shows and backing Mike Hanks on his record,
Leon Peterson and J.J. Barnes's 1962 on “Won't You Let Me Know.”
J J Barnes From the top : Gloria Jean Williamson, Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard
Billy Davis snatched them for his Checkmate label for one release as
the Del-Phis: "I'll Let You Know" written by Joe Hunter and Martha
Reeves and "It Takes Two,". Checkmate folded and Davis moved to Chicago
to work for Chess Records. The girls found day jobs but still did backup
sessions. A chance for the Del Fi's came later in 1962 when William "Mickey" Stevenson needed background singers for a Marvin Gaye session; the Andantes were moonlighting in Chicago, so Martha called the Del Fi's down to 2648 West Grand Blvd. to do the job. The song "Stubborn Kinda Fella" became Gaye's first smash and introduced the Vandellas' chirpy sound to the world.
1962: Top left to right - Martha Reeves, Annette Beard, Mary Wells & Dick Clark. Marvin
Gaye
They recorded a single on Motown's
subsidiary Melody Records. Gloria Williamson led both sides of the
record "You'll Never Cherish a Love So True" b/w "There He Is at My
Door," released October 1962; It was credited to the Vells since Chess
Records owned the name Del Fi's. Mickey Stevenson put the Del Fi's
voices on "I'll Have to Let Him Go"; the "demo" became Martha & the
Vandellas' debut single.
