By breathtakingguy (65.238.91.193) on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 10:50 pm:

Does anyone know what Syreeta is up to these days? Does she still perfom? The last recordings I heard her do were with Ian Levine. "With You I'm Born Again" knocked me out of my socks. Wonder why he didn't do a complete CD with her? I wish "someone" would record her now!

By marv (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 12:46 am:

The last I heard was that she was battling breast cancer, but that was probably about 2 years ago.

By motownboy (64.170.50.18) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 01:05 am:

The last I heard about Syreeta performing was that she toured in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1994 featuring Ted Neeley as Jesus and Carl Anderson as Judas. She played the role of Mary Magdalene. I can almost imagine her sounding quite heavenly singing "I Don't Know How To Love Him."

I would love to know what she is up to these days as well....

By John Lester (213.123.134.112) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 03:42 am:

Syreeta was at the Women of Motown Roostertail celebration in November 2000 or was it 1999! Time flies so fast these days.

She looked good

By Allen (24.24.196.115) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 05:16 am:

I saw Syreeta at Stevie's brother's funeral a few months ago. She sang during the services. We spoke briefly. She's doing just fine. Enjoying her beautiful children.

Allen

By Allen (24.24.196.115) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 09:46 am:

Steve's brother Larry passed. Hope my last post didn't frighten anyone who know's Calvin, Milton or Timothy.

Allen

By Eli (151.197.181.206) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 09:52 am:

Someone had mentioned Carl Anderson.
Unfortunately he is battling lukemia at this time.
A mutual friend is going out to visit him next week.

By Allen (24.24.196.115) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 10:02 am:

damn.. I know Carl. I met him at The Villiage Recorder in West L.A. in 84 or so. Mr. Eli, if at all possible, could you please ask your mutual friend to give Carl my best wishes?

I haven't seen him in forever. Bet if he saw me, it'd put a smile on his face. We even hung out in Detroit once. Back when he was married to Kay.

Allen

By Eli (151.197.181.206) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 10:59 am:

Carl is a great guy and a super multi talented person. BTW, he also paints now!!

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:45 am:

Wasn't Carl Anderson singing with Nancy Wilson before and He is also married to Ali's ex-wife Veronica (Laila's Mom).

By Eli (151.197.181.206) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 12:35 pm:

Affirmative S.S.

By Allen (24.24.196.115) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 12:35 pm:

Carl's done lots of duets. He probably has worked with Ms. Wilson. His career has been quite unique. I think the record companies didn't know what to do with him. From what I remember they tried to make him the next Al Jareau.

Well that didn't work cause the first one has always been around. Carl is a great person. He made a great impression on me. And even though I haven't seen him in years, he's always with me.

He's proof you don't have to follow the most traveled road. As long as you're true to yourself, you can reach your destination.
No matter where that happens to be.

Allen

By Eli (151.197.181.206) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 12:40 pm:

Carl had a # 1 record in 1986 on a duet with Gloria Loring on Carrere records called Friends aand Lovers.
It still gets played on ac formats.

It is true that companies tried to make him the next "Jarreau".
In fact, I once saw him at the Baked Potato in L.A. and I thought just that at the time.

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 12:08 pm:

Syreeta is one of the unsung ladies of Motown. She came in on many records of other female artists and finished or sweetened them (famous example: I Cant Dance To That Music Your Playing for Martha Reeves and the Vandellas) and it is legendary how much work she did on Diana Ross recordings (there are rumors that some of Diana's hits had whole sections sung by Syreeta). It is a shame she was not a bigger solo artist. Even today, there are many people who still think that With You I'm Born Again is a duet between Diana Ross/Billy Preston.

How many of you believe that her career might have been bigger had she not sounded so similar to La Ross? There are recordings where she does not sound like Diana, but for the most part she does.

By Greg C. (166.84.225.18) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 12:23 pm:

Syreeta (Mowest) 1972
Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta (Motown) 1974
One To One (Tamla) 1977
Syreeta (Tamla) 1980
Set My Love In Motion (Tamla) 1981
The Spell (Tamla) 1983

This is a discography of the albums released during Syreeta's tenure with Motown. I have them all! All are excellent and if you can get a hold of them (some are on Japan import CD now) you're in for a treat.

This is another stellar artist who was constantly placed on the backburner during her entire career at Motown. The only time Motown took notice of her was when her duet with Billy Preston, "With You I'm Born Again" took off. Even that attention was fleeting!

By boynextdoor (65.238.6.174) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 09:11 pm:

Mary said Berry wanted Syreeta to replace Jean Terrell at the midnight hour (literally). They had already recorded most of their first album with Jean, and Berry called Mary in the middle of the night of their farewell show to say Syreeta was in and Jean is out. Mary said.....no way. Well, I guess we all know that story. Wonder where history would have taken us is Syreeta would have become the lead singer of The Supremes....Hmmmm. Any one have any thoughts on that one?

By Greg C. (207.103.134.142) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 09:28 pm:

As much as I commend Berry Gordy for his role in the Motown legacy sometimes his judgement was impaired. (He hated Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On album and it became a classic.) Syreeta in the Supremes would have been interesting. Never looked at Syreeta as being a part of a "group dynamic". Syreeta, Mary, and Cindy would have been a compelling line-up yet Jean Terrell was no slouch and I must give her props. She stepped in and definitely kept the Supremes legacy going.

By dvdmike (68.72.93.184) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 09:53 pm:

I went to high school with Syreeta's ex-husband, Curtis Robertson. He was after Stevie.

By stephanie (64.63.221.14) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 09:55 pm:

Nothing against Syreeta but Im glad that Mary held out because Syreeta may have wanted a solo career and down the road and Mary didnt want the group to become another stepping stone for a solo artist it was a team effort. I think Jean was the
best choice and I think Syreeta was not promoted properly. She had a good voice but it was not as unique as Jean or Diana or Martha or even Brenda Holloway. I think Syreeta was solo material and she could have been big if more time had been spent on her. I think she would have been a good duet queen singing with other guys. She was awesome with Billy Preston.
Steph

By Promises Kept (69.144.143.21) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 09:26 am:

That's a great point of view, Steph. I totally agree with this.

By MotownForever (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 11:37 am:

What always baffled me was how quickly Berry changed his mind (calling Mary in the middle of the night right after the farewell show) from Jean to Syreeta. I'm glad Mary stood her ground and rejected his idea. Syreeta is a gifted vocalist and I enjoy many of her recordings, but I'm glad Jean remained in the group.

I was listening to "Precious Little Things" this morning on my way to work and Jean's voice is just so soothing & beautiful...

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 01:40 pm:

I'm actually glad that Mary held for Jean instead of Syreeta. To me, Syreeta sounded too much like Queen Bee and the Supremes would not have taken the wonderful direction they did. The person that I would have loved to have seen be lead singer of the Supremes, and it was rumored that she would before she became ill, was Tammi Terrell. But some things are simply not meant to be....