Mary Wells - First Lady of Motown
In another thread, Berry Gordy and Claudette Robinson refer to Claudette as the First Lady of Motown. She was the first woman signed to the label, but she was signed as part of a group.
People of my generation always remember Mary Wells being referred to as the FIRST LADY OF MOTOWN in the early sixties, especially when radio dee-jays were introducing her records. Motown had many hits on the charts by the Marvellettes, Martha & the Vandellas, The Miracles, Contours, Mary Wells and others. Mary was the female soloist with the biggest and most hits on the charts and was constantly referred to as First Lady of Motown.
Of course later, Diana had more hits with and without the Supremes, and by rights, at this point, she probably should be referred to as the First Lady of Motown, but referring to her as Queen of Motown is just as good.
I guess it is a generation thing. To me, Bette Davis is First Lady of Motion Pictures, Ella is First Lady of Song, & Helen Hayes is First Lady of Theatre. All have had successors. And to me, Mary Wells is the First Lady of Motown
Written by Linnea Crowther
Mary Wells was one of the early superstars of Motown Records. In fact, she was so important to the development of the label's sound, and such a bright light in the label's early catalog, that she was known as "The First Lady of Motown."
That title also referred to Wells' status as the first female star at Motown. There were a few women who joined the label before she did, Wells was the first to be wildly successful. And while we've got "firsts" on our minds, here are a few other firsts from Motown’s First Lady…
In 1961, Mary Wells became the first Motown female artist to have a Top 40 pop single. "I Don't Want to Take a Chance" made it to No. 33 on the U.S. pop chart and helped establish Motown Records as a youth-culture powerhouse.
Motown quickly gained respect in the music industry, and less than two years after that first "first," Wells was nominated for a Grammy Award for her single "You Beat Me to the Punch." She was the first Motown star to receive a Grammy nomination.
By 1964, the world was falling in love with Motown – and with Mary Wells. The label's records were making a splash on the British charts, and when The Beatles were asked who their favorite American singer was, they named Wells. In fact, the Lads from Liverpool so admired her music that they invited her to open for them on their U.K. tour. Wells agreed and crossed the pond, making her the first Motown star to perform in the United Kingdom. Later, Wells recorded a tribute album on which she sang some of her favorite Beatles songs.
In later years, Mary Wells and Motown went their separate ways. When Wells died, she hadn't been with the label for more than 25 years… but she'll always be remembered as the First Lady of Motown.
http://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity...lady-of-motown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=r1M5eEJeT38
