She was a SECRETARY for the Label…UNTIL They HEARD Her SING & Became a Legend! | Professor of Rock

Poll: Who is your pick for the GREATEST FEMALE SINGER of the Rock era?

I love Motown so much. I wrote a letter to her not long ago, during COVID-19 and she not only sent me a signed photo but sent me a business card doubling for a backstage pass when she plays In My Area I’m going to go because she seems like an awesome person to meet.

Such a legend! And she's 82, still beautiful and spirited. Love it.

I was about 10y/o, recovering from measles, feeling down, being quarantined in bed for 2 weeks. My little sister put on Martha Reeves "In My Lonely Room" on the record player, cranked the volume full blast, grabbed a rattail hairbrush for a microphone and started singing along to me. Soon we were both dancing and jumping up and down on the bed, singing to each other with our faux mics. Of course we got in trouble! That was 60 years ago and my sister has passed, but the song still brings wonderful memories and joy to my heart.

One thing they got right: "Martha Reeves and the Vandellas were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995."

Professor, I found your channel shortly after my big brother passed away in 2021. I lost my mom a few weeks ago. Music and dancing were just a fact of life in our house from Motown and Elvis, to Michael Jackson and Styx there was ALWAYS music. Your channel is like a balm for my broken heart. Thank you for what you do and thank you to the incredible artists like Martha for giving us this little taste of what it was like to be there. ❤

The way she describes her vision for the song and how the people on her street helped each other and all partied and danced in the street on Saturday nights makes me wonder how society has gone so far in the wrong direction; and why.

I grew up listening to Motown in the 1960s. Now in 2024 I am 70 years old. I never missed watching Soul Train, kinda weird for a little white girl. I also watched American Bandstand, but the soul music touched me and the dancing on Soul Train was better too. Martha Reeves is still a beautiful woman, glad she is still doing well. Don't you just love her outfit with all the fringes! She has got it all going on! Thank you PoR! I love your channel and one thing you always do is respect the artists. I've also got mad respect for your Dad, he sounds like a great father who inspired you to love of music. Love ALL the stories that you are able to draw out in the interviews!

OMG -This woman is BEAUTIFUL...I'm 61, and I've love this song almost 60 years. Prof, You are the BEST...

i had the honor of meeting martha a few years ago. i told her i was from one of the cities she mentioned in this song, pittsburgh, and she said, "oh, you're from pittsburgh. my ex husband is from pittsburgh..." i was taken aback and wasn't sure how to respond when after a beat she burst into laughter and told me not to worry about that... a great artist with an awesome sense of humor.

This was the music of my youth. There was no way to feel down when Martha was singing.

Thank God Martha Reeves was standing in the door that day!!! I don't care who rerecords this song Martha absolutely owes it! When I was a kid we would have semi block parties and this track was always played. One of all time feel good tracks ever. Fantastic interview love Martha, I hope you got the low down on Heatwave and No Where to Run too. Long live Motown!!

During his intro, the Professor of Rock asked if anyone has ever saved their money to buy a single; not exactly. When we were kids, Mom used to take us to Gemco every couple of weeks so she could go grocery shopping. Gemco, in my mind, is the original Walmart where a person could get just about everything under one roof. The music section of Gemco was near the exit. If we behaved ourselves in the store while Mom did our grocery shopping, she would let us pick out a single to buy. We didn't call them singles, we called them 45s because that was the speed of the turntable when playing a single. I amassed a nice collection of 45s which showed that I must have behaved well while Mom did her shopping. That couldn't be further from the truth. My brother and I ran all over the store wreaking havoc. During the summers, the school used to open the swimming pool because we lived on the desert. When temperatures climbed near 115F there was no better relief than hanging out at the swimming pool. The staff, who were mostly high school kids, used to have a turn table hooked up and let us bring our 45s and play them while we went swimming. So it is very true that we were the only generation that could bring a "45" to school that our parents bought for us. The early 1970s were truly the good ol' days

Thanks again for giving the human side of the people involved, the whole story of this song. To me this song has always brought out hope and celebration. In my mind It was all about everybody and people of all races getting together dancing and celebrating life!

LOVE that expression "put some mustard on it"' Motown gave us so many incredible artists and songs! And they stand the test of time so easily.

I loved this interview! She talked about the emotion she put into her songs, but she puts just as mych feeling into her speech. Very classy lady!

I was 13 when this song came out. Great song! Everywhere! By the end of that summer I was ready to never hear it again! Now I look back and enjoy it with new ears. Thank you.

Magical interview, Prof! This was such a joy!!! Shoulda been #1. Martha is so beautiful - inside and out.

she is simply charming!

An absolute Queen of music! Such a voice!