Girl-Groups

The Marvelettes, American girl group formed in 1961 whose principal members were Gladys Horton (b. May 30, 1945, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.—d. January 26, 2011, Sherman Oaks, California), Wanda Young (b. August 9, 1943, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.—d. December 15, 2021, Garden City), Georgeanna Tillman (b. February 6, 1943, Detroit—d. January 6, 1980, Detroit), Katherine Anderson (b. January 16, 1944, Ann Arbor , Michigan, U.S.), and Wyanetta Cowart (b. 1944, Detroit). Originally billed as the Casinyets (a name derived from the phrase can’t sing yet) and later called the Marvels, the Marvelettes were a collection of high-school friends from the Detroit suburb of Inkster. The quintet was organized by Horton to perform at a talent show that offered as its top prize an audition with a scout from Motown Records . Although the group failed to win, they were allowed to attend the audition. The Motown representative advised the group to work on some original material, and the result was the...