Twin Citians are fortunate that The Dakota Jazz Club has a history of showcasing the best that music has to offer. Not only do they feature top jazz acts, but they have also garnered a reputation for showcasing up and coming, as well as iconic artists of all music genres. Their February 5th and 6th shows scheduled for Motown’s classic superstars, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, one of just 4 female groups inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, keep up the tradition of spoiling us for nothing less than Dakota’s standout line up.
Martha and the Vandellas (Martha created the group’s name by combining the names of Van Dyke street in Detroit and her favorite singer, Della Reese) got one of their first breaks performing the catchy background vocals on Marvin Gaye’s “Stubborn Kind of Fellow”, when Martha was employed at Motown as a secretary. Their first big hit as featured performers came in 1963 with “Come and Get These Memories” penned by the renowned songwriting-production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. This track is often credited as beginning “the Motown Sound”.
Their long string of hits, like the unstoppable “(Love is Like a) Heatwave”, “Quicksand”, “Dancing in the Street” (co-penned by Gaye, who also played drums on the recording), “Jimmy Mack”, and many more launched these divas into the stratosphere where they will forever remain. “Dancing in the Street” has the distinction of being one of only 50 songs preserved by the Library of Congress to the National Recording Registry, and has been covered repeatedly, by everyone from the Mamas and the Papas to Black Oak Arkansas.
What a privilege it will be to experience these ladies in the flesh, as they treat us to a stop in the Cities after performing everywhere, around the world.
Plan an evening at the Dakota, Friday February 5th, or Saturday February 6th at 7:00 and 9:00 PM both nights, to enjoy the legacy of Martha Reeves, along with her sisters, Vandellas Lois and Delphine. Nicollet Mall is just outside, where we’ll be dancing!
– Stacey Tyler | childofprince@yahoo.com | @childofprince
Dakota Jazz Club: Box Office 612-332-5299