Music
Annette Beard
born 1943 · singer
Detroit-born original Vandella who sang on "Come and Get These Memories", "Heat Wave" and "Quicksand" before leaving in 1964.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan
age 83- Also known as
- Annette Sterling · Annette Helton
- Detroit years
- 1943–
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Beard was born in Detroit and sang in church choirs as a child. At 14 she impressed Edward "Pops" Larkins with a single note at a YMCA audition and became one of the Del-Phis with Rosalind Ashford and Gloria Williams. She graduated from Southeastern High School in 1961. As the Vels the group sang backup on Motown's smaller labels, and with Martha Reeves they backed Marvin Gaye on "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", "Hitch Hike" and "Pride and Joy". After a Mickey Stevenson demo session, Berry Gordy signed them as Martha and the Vandellas in 1962. Beard sang on their first hits, "Come and Get These Memories", "(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave" and "Quicksand", but left in 1964 to raise a family, later working at St. John Hospital in Detroit. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the group in 1995 and still performs with the Original Vandellas.
Highlights
- Original member of Martha and the Vandellas (1957–1964)
- Sang on "Heat Wave" (1963)
- Backing vocals on Marvin Gaye's "Pride and Joy" and "Hitch Hike"
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1995
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Studied here · 1957–1961
Southeastern High School
She graduated from this high school in 1961.
Recorded here · 1962–1964
Motown Museum
Martha and the Vandellas recorded here in Studio A.