Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
Motown comes to town
Martha Reeves to perform two shows of hits at Theatre Centre
Several voices are instantly recognizable as being “the Motown sound.” The instant you hear Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells or Smokey Robinson, you think Motown.
The Motown sound was created at the Motown Recording Studios founded by Berry Gordy in Detroit in the early ’60s. The studios were inside two converted houses that had previously been home to a photography studio.
Martha Reeves has one of the Motown voices. When you hear her songs “Nowhere to Run” or “Heat Wave,” you think Motown and you think “The ’60s.” Maybe that’s why those songs show up in movies such as “Good Morning, Vietnam” and “The Boys in the Band.”
Reeves will perform two shows of hits on Saturday, May 12, at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. She said in a telephone interview that she is having as much fun performing today as she did when the songs were originally hits more than 55 years ago.
“The music has mellowed to a point where we are guaranteed audiences who know all the words,” she said.
“It’s more fun now than it’s ever been because they remember all of the lyrics and it is so much fun to hear people recall where they were and what they were doing when they first heard them.”
She encourages anyone coming to the shows to bring their stories and their memorabilia.
“Bring them and let me see them and sign them. I love hearing the stories.”
Reeves sai d being a part of the magic of Motown, which became known as Hitsville U.S.A., was an honor and it is something she is proud of today.
“Seeing it happen and being there in the early ’60s, it was great and it’s still great. It’s great being an oldie and a goodie.”
Reeves said she is constantly performing and has traveled the world over many times. She said Motown studio in Detroit was a hit-making machine that operated pretty much around the clock. It used to be closed for two hours each day for general maintenance and clean- up. Otherwise it was nothing to see someone like Robinson or Gaye there laying down a new song.
“It was like heaven to be there with so many talented artists, and it was always good with the best singers, the best writers and the best producers.”