Originally Posted by
carole cucumber
A couple of points-
In the video segments following Smokey Robinson's 'Motown finishing school' comments, the Marvelettes [[dance moves during Don't Mess With Bill and a 1964 clip performing Please Mr. Postman) are featured as are Gladys Knight & the Pips [[Friendship Train & a Motortown Revue performance )
Some artists may not have been invited due to circumstances. The Marvelettes
had disbanded during a time of considerable tension among members. Wanda's proposed solo album was marketed as by The Marvelettes- Kat rightly refusing to pose for a cover shot of the album on which she had not been invited to sing. Wanda had experienced personal and family tragedies and was likely not in the best of mental heath.
If asked, would they have been able to regroup?...Would they have wanted to?
Jimmy Ruffin... His brother David had just participated in a Temptations' reunion, that according to many accounts started well but ended badly. Would Jimmy appear if David were not invited? Would Motown have to be concerned that David might suddenly appear [[unrehearsed) onstage during the the Temps vs. Tops medley- as David was known to do during some of Dennis' early engagements as a Temptation?
Gladys Knight/the Pips in the late 1970's branched out as 2 separate units. The public wondered if there was any undercurrent of family friction. When they came together again in 1980 they said that there hadn't been. But some still wondered..
At the time of Motown 25, both Edwin Starr and Jimmy Ruffin were residing in Great Britain. Considering that Motown 25 was also a fundraiser, I'm not sure what monies may have been budgeted for transportation by NBC.
According to the Countours with Joe Billingslea's website, Joe revived the group [[ although he does not state who the members were) in 1971 "playing a few dates here and there". Finally by 1981, the group with Council Gay and 3 members who were not part of the group signed to Motown began to play " a lot more dates". How many is a lot more? And how did they fare in keeping alive the same energy/showmanship that was the Contours at Motown?
Sadly , Marv Johnson, after his mid-60's return to Motown, had taken jobs in sales & promotion.
I'm not here championing their non-involvement in Motown 25; I'm only trying to see if there might have been extenuating circumstances that could have steered some from putting them on an official list, if there even was such a list at the time.
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