
Sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if I’m dreaming … like the memories I have of working with the Marvelettes. Yesterday was Katherine Anderson-Schaffner’s birthday and as I was going through some old photos, I began reminiscing. We were having dinner at my house and talking about the celebration of their first #1 hit, Please Mr. Postman, and the first #1 hit for Motown. Unfortunately, it wasn’t recognized as a Gold Record until 2005 when the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awarded the Marvelettes with that honor. That evening while talking about the industry and the Motown Sound, I had the idea of having our own Marvelettes celebration at my restaurant, Atria’s at PNC Ballpark. Katherine loved the idea and brought the Gold Record to my restaurant to put it on display. We turned it into a Motown party with Katherine Anderson-Schaffner, Bob Babbit of the Motown Funk Brothers and members of Local Pittsburgh Musicians. We displayed the Marvelettes Gold Record, I brought some of my favorite Motown, framed artwork and collectibles to display as well. It turned into a beautiful, Motown history lesson with questions answered by Katherine Anderson and Bob Babbit. For those who are not totally familiar with the history of the Marvelettes here is some background information. The group was founded by Katherine Anderson and Gladys Horton (lead singer of the Marvelettes) calling themselves the “Casinyets” while still in Inkster High School. They were invited to audition for Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy and changed their name to the Marvelettes upon signing with the Tamla Record division Motown Records. The Marvelettes went on to chart multiple hits for the label … songs we all remember like … _Playboy,. Beechwood 4-5789, Too Many Fish in the sea, Don’t Mess With Bill, My Baby must Be A Magician (with the legendary bass man of the Temptations, Melvin Franklin, speaking the intro) and the classic soul ballad, “Forever”. By the way, their first group name … the Casinyets… was a joke the girls came up with as a play on words … “can’t sing yet”. I loved these talented ladies from Detroit, their songs and the memories … A Day With The Marvelettes!