The Velvelettes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Velvelettes
The Velvelettes (from left to right: Sandra Tilley, Carolyn Gill, and Annette McMillan)
Background information
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres	R&B, pop, soul
Years active	1961–1970; 1984–2004
Labels	VIP (Motown)
Associated acts	Martha and the Vandellas, The Marvelettes, The Supremes
Members	Carolyn Gill Mildred Gill Norma Barbee
Past members	Betty Kelly Annette McMillan Sandra Tilley Bertha Barbee-McNeal

The Velvelettes were a popular American girl group from the 1960s. They signed with Motown, a famous record label. Their most successful song was "Needle in a Haystack" in 1964. This song reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. It also reached number 27 in Canada.

How The Velvelettes Started

Forming the Group

The Velvelettes group began in 1961. It was started by Bertha Barbee-McNeal and Mildred Gill Arbor. Both were students at Western Michigan University. Mildred asked her younger sister, Carolyn Gill, to join. Carolyn was in 9th grade at the time. Carolyn's friend, Betty Kelley, also joined. Bertha then invited her cousin, Norma Barbee. Norma was a student at Flint Junior College. Carolyn Gill was chosen as the main singer for the group.

Joining Motown Records

A classmate of Bertha and Mildred, Robert Bullock, was the nephew of Berry Gordy. Berry Gordy was the founder of Motown. Robert encouraged the group to try out for Motown. The Velvelettes signed with Motown in late 1962. They started recording their music in January 1963.

They recorded at the famous Hitsville USA studio. Their first single, "There He Goes" and "That's The Reason Why," was released. These songs were produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson. A young Stevie Wonder even played harmonica on these recordings!

First Big Hits

The Velvelettes got their first big break in 1964. A young producer named Norman Whitfield helped them. He produced their song "Needle in a Haystack." This song became a hit, reaching number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

After this success, they recorded another song, "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'", also with Norman Whitfield. The group also went on many tours with other Motown artists. In September 1964, Betty Kelley left the group. She joined another famous Motown group, Martha and the Vandellas. After this, The Velvelettes became a group of four singers.

Later Years and Legacy

Changes in the Group

The Velvelettes kept performing, but members sometimes left and rejoined. This often happened because of family reasons. By 1967, Carolyn Gill, Norma Barbee, and Bertha Barbee-McNeal decided to focus on their families. Carolyn then brought in two new members for live shows. These new members were Sandra Tilley and Annette McMillan. Sandra Tilley later joined Martha and the Vandellas.

New Songs and Albums

Even though they had hit songs and went on tours, The Velvelettes never released a full album. Motown started an album project for them. However, other Motown groups like The Supremes became very popular. So, Motown's attention shifted, and the Velvelettes' album was never finished.

Motown did release two more singles for them: "Lonely Lonely Girl Am I" and "A Bird in the Hand." These songs did not become as popular as their earlier hits. The Velvelettes continued to record new music until September 1967. One of their last songs was "Bring Back The Sunshine."

Their final single was "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You." This song reached number 43 on the U.S. R&B Charts. Carolyn Gill married Richard Street, a singer from The Temptations. She decided to leave the group to focus on her home life. Because of this, The Velvelettes disbanded in 1970. Sandra Tilley later passed away in 1981.

Reunion and Compilations

In 1971, "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You" became a hit in the United Kingdom. It reached number 34 on the UK Singles Chart. Despite this new success, the group did not reunite until 1984. The Gill sisters and Barbee cousins came together again. They re-recorded their old hits and some new songs for an album called One Door Closes. The group continued to perform for many years after that.

Years later, Motown released several CD collections of The Velvelettes' music. These included The Very Best of the Velvelettes (1999) and The Velvelettes: The Motown Anthology (2004). These albums featured many of their songs, including some that had never been released before.

In 2006, The Velvelettes contributed to a special CD project. They sang a remake of "One Of a Kind Love Affair." This song was originally sung by the Spinners.

Founding member Bertha Barbee-McNeal passed away on December 15, 2022, at the age of 82.

The Velvelettes' Music

Singles

• The Velvelettes' first album was never fully completed or released.
• Chart positions marked with an asterisk (*) are from Cashbox Magazine.

Albums

• 1966: The Velvelettes (not finished, was planned for V.I.P. 401)
• 1990: One Door Closes (MOTCLP 43)

Compilation Albums

• 1999: The Very Best of the Velvelettes
• 2001: The Velvelettes: The Best Of
• 2004: The Velvelettes: The Motown Anthology

See also

In Spanish: The Velvelettes para niños