Martha Rose Reeves is an R&B and pop singer and former politician, born on 18th July 1941 in Eufaula, Alabama, USA. She is probably best known for being the lead singer of the girl group “Martha and the Vandellas”, who made numerous hit singles such as “Nowhere to Run”, “Come and Get These Memories”, “Jimmy Mack”, “Heat Wave” and “Dancing In The Street”. In the period from 2005 to 2009, she served as a council woman for the city of Detroit, Michigan.
Have you ever wondered how rich Martha Reeves is? According to sources, it has been estimated that in early 2017 Martha Reeves’ net worth is over $5 million, acquired mainly through a long and successful music career, which dates from the late ‘50s. Apart from her music career, Martha has made a notable career as a politician, which significantly increased her net worth. Since she is still active in the entertainment industry, her net worth continues to grow.
Martha Reeves Net Worth $5 Million
Although born in Alabama, Martha grew up in Detroit, the third of eleven children. As her family was very active in singing in the church choir, Reeves was raised on gospel music and looked up to singers such as Della Reese and Lena Horne. During her education in Northeastern High School, she had a vocal coach who worked with other talented musicians of the time too, such as Mary Wilson, Bobby Rogers and Florence Ballard. She soon became interested in doo-wop and R&B music, and joined a pop vocal group called “The Fascinations” in 1959, but left before they rose to fame. Martha’s friend, Gloria Williams of “The Del-Phis” group, hired Reeves to join the band in 1960, however, during this period, Reeves had to take up various jobs to make a living, and additionally sang jazz and blues standards in nighttime hours. This was how Motown A&R director Mickey Stevenson noticed her and invited her to an audition, so in the early ‘60s, Martha signed with Motown Records and her group was soon chosen to sing backup on Marvin Gaye’s song “Stubborn Kinda Fellow”, which became an instant hit single. Renamed to “Martha and the Vandellas”, they recorded their first own single in 1964 called “I’ll Have to Let Him Go”. Their second single “Come and Get These Memories” reached no.5 on the R&B chart and the third single, “(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave)”, climbed to no.4 on the Hot 100 chart and no.1 on the R&B singles chart, for which the band received a Grammy Award Nomination. Soon followed other hits including “Quicksand”, “Dancing in the Street”, “Nowhere to Run”, “My Baby Loves Me” and “Jimmy Mack”, which all achieved enormous success on the charts, and added to her net worth.
However, as the years went by and the pressure of fame rose, Reeves became addicted to prescription drugs, and by 1969 their collaboration with Motown Records started to come apart. The group disbanded in 1972, and Martha started building her solo career. Although she released seven solo albums, she never reached the level of former popularity enjoyed by the band. Reeves also wrote and released an autobiography “Dancing in The Street, (Confessions of a Motown Diva)”, in 1994 and a year later she was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Apart from her music career, Martha also served as an elected member of the City Council of the City of Detroit from 2005 to 2009. She is a board member of Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
When it comes to her personal life, Reeves has been married twice and has a son, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
