Sandra Delores Reeves (born April 12, 1948), better known as
Lois Reeves, is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, most notable for being the younger sister of Motown legend
Martha ReevesMartha Reeves is an American R&B and soul singer and former politician, and was the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. During her tenure with The Vandellas, they scored over a dozen hit singles including "Dancing in the Street", "Nowhere to Run" and "Jimmy Mack"...
, for having replaced popular
Martha and the VandellasMartha and the Vandellas were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963-1967...
member
Betty KellyBetty Kelly is a former American singer, most famous for her tenure in the popular Motown singing group Martha and the Vandellas.-Early years:...
as member of her sister's group in 1967, and for later singing background for records by
Al GreenAlbert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer who was popular in the 1970s, and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.-Early years:...
in the seventies.
Upon graduatation from high school, Lois Reeves began to travel extensively with her older sister, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.
Sandra Delores Reeves (born April 12, 1948), better known as
Lois Reeves, is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, most notable for being the younger sister of Motown legend
Martha ReevesMartha Reeves is an American R&B and soul singer and former politician, and was the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. During her tenure with The Vandellas, they scored over a dozen hit singles including "Dancing in the Street", "Nowhere to Run" and "Jimmy Mack"...
, for having replaced popular
Martha and the VandellasMartha and the Vandellas were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963-1967...
member
Betty KellyBetty Kelly is a former American singer, most famous for her tenure in the popular Motown singing group Martha and the Vandellas.-Early years:...
as member of her sister's group in 1967, and for later singing background for records by
Al GreenAlbert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer who was popular in the 1970s, and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.-Early years:...
in the seventies.
Music career
Upon graduatation from high school, Lois Reeves began to travel extensively with her older sister, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. As she watched the shows from the wings almost nightly, she knew the music and routines perfectly.
It all happened by surprise for the teenaged Lois. One night she was in the wings , the next night, barely 18 years of age, she was asked by her sister to replace Betty Kelly.
Though never under contract to Motown Records, she was under contract to Martha Reeves and later found herself singing on the Vandellas' singles "
Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone"Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone" is a 1967 single released by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. The song's production was a departure from the Vandellas' repertoire as their label, Motown, was having a harder time staying with the times in the music industry and having a much harder time...
" and "
Honey Chile"Honey Chile" is a 1967 single by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas on the Gordy label. Produced by Richard Morris and written by Morris and Sylvia Moy, the tune described how the narrator wanting to get rid of her boyfriend who's been courting and dating other girls behind her back...
", the latter of which was when the group was known as
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Lois was the youngest member of the Vandellas throughout its tenure and performed with the group in Japan, UK and Spain. She also performed with the group when they succussfully opened at The world renowned Copacabanna Nightclub in New York.
Lois and original Vandellas member
Rosalind AshfordRosalind "Roz" Ashford-Holmes is an American soprano R&B and soul singer, famed for her work as member of the popular Motown singing group Martha and the Vandellas.-Early years:...
often had to share background work with
The AndantesThe Andantes were a prolific female session singing group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Comprising Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Temptations,...
behind Martha as Motown was limiting the sounds of background vocals. Since the Andantes played a pivotal role in the Motown sound, it's often confusing as to which actual member of the Vandellas sung on the recordings with Martha. It's confirmed, though, that Lois sung on Vandellas hits such as "
I Should Be Proud"I Should Be Proud" is a 1970 protest song written by Henry Cosby, Pam Sawyer and Joe Hinton and recorded by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas...
" and "
Bless You"Bless You" is a 1971 hit single by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas and was the group's last significant hit before disbanding in 1972.-Overview:...
" and the entire
Black MagicBlack Magic is a soul album released by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas on the Gordy label in 1972. It is the last studio album issued by the group after ten years with the label. The album is significant for featuring the group's biggest hit of the decade with the Jackson 5-esque "Bless You"...
album, the Vandellas' final album, released in 1972.
Lois Reeves heavily contributed to the groups choreograpy. especially when Sandy Tilly joined the group in 1969. The two are considered by Martha as the best dancers and most elegant of the all the Vandella line-ups.
At the end of the year, the group split up and Lois joined background singing group Quiet Elegance, who played a role in singing background for
Al GreenAlbert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer who was popular in the 1970s, and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.-Early years:...
's pivotal seventies work on songs such as "Call Me", "Livin' for You" and "L-O-V-E".
Later career
In the late 70's, Lois quit singing and opened a night spot in Detroit with her then-husband. A few years later she closed the business, got divorced, and found herself back on the road as a Vandella, this time with younger sister, Delphine. In 1990, she released the single
Patience Is a Virtue and the album track
Sweet Temptation for
Ian LevineIan Levine is an English songwriter, producer, and DJ. He is also a well-known fan of the long-running television show Doctor Who. He was born on 22 June 1953 in Blackpool, Lancashire.-Music career:...
's giant
MotorcityMotorcity Records is a British record label formed by producer Ian Levine in 1989. The label aimed to record new material with former Motown artists.-History:...
project.
Lois continues singing with her sisters Martha and Delphine as
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Her contribution to her tenure as member of the actual Vandellas led to her being inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and The Rhythm & Blues Hall Of Fame. She continues to reside in Detroit where she lives near her siblings and occasionally does consultant work for the NAACP, Detroit Chapter.