Music
Betty Kelly
born 1944 · singer
Former Velvelette who replaced Annette Beard in Martha and the Vandellas in 1964 and sang in the lineup behind "Nowhere to Run" and "I'm Ready for Love".
- Born
Attalla, Alabama
age 82- Also known as
- Betty Kelley
- Detroit years
- 1961–1967
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Kelly was born in Alabama and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1961 she joined the Velvelettes, a Motown girl group from the Kalamazoo area, and in 1964 Martha Reeves recruited her to replace Annette Beard in the Vandellas. She was part of the group's best-known lineup with Reeves and Rosalind Ashford, recording "Nowhere to Run", "I'm Ready for Love" and "My Baby Loves Me" and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, Shindig! and American Bandstand. After conflicts with Reeves she was dismissed in 1967 and replaced by Martha's sister Lois. She moved to California and worked for a savings and loan association. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the group in 1995.
Highlights
- Member of the Velvelettes from 1961
- Vandella from 1964 to 1967
- Sang on "Nowhere to Run" and "I'm Ready for Love"
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1995
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
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.
Recorded here · 1964–1967
Motown Museum
Martha and the Vandellas recorded here in Studio A.