Originally Posted by
reese
I remember reading that it was actually the Drifters' manager George Treadwell who owned the name. At one point in the 50s, he fired the original group and replaced them with a younger group, the Five Crowns, headed by Ben E. King. After George's death, I believe his widow Faye retained the name.
Martha may have been given some rights to the name Vandellas in recent years. But in the 80s, in the book NOWHERE TO RUN, she was quoted as saying she didn't own the name and Motown could send another group on the road if they so wished. I gather Rosalind and Annette may have some rights now as well since they tour as "The Original Vandellas."
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