A Motown Temptation Remembered by Area Ex-Wife, Motown Artist

by Sonya Bernard-Hollins, publisher
editor@comvoicesonline.com
Headline photo (Richard Street, kneeling on left) from www.digitalspy.co.uk;

The original Velvelettes; Cal Street Standing, right.

KALAMAZOO (MICH.)- It’s often the girlfriend who notices someone is checking out her friend. That was the case of Cal Gill who was being “checked out” by Richard Street. Cal was the 19-year-old lead singer for the Motown girl group, the Velvelettes, and Street was in quality control at Motown.

“I remember Bertha (Barbeee-McNeal) pointing him out to me during one of our listening sessions in quality control. We went there to listen to the various versions of our songs, of which one would be voted on by the board. He was a cute and made me laugh.”

Gill and Street were married in 1969; she was 19, and he was 23. Street, known best for his role as a member of the Temptations, died Wednesday (Feb. 20) in Las Vegas of a pulmonary embolism at the age of 70.

Cal Street of Kalamazoo said hearing of his death was a hard one for not only herself, but her son, Richard Jr. (Ricky).

“Ricky said he had talked to his father a day before his death while he was in the hospital. Richard told Ricky that his body was not responding to the treatments as it had before. The next day he died.”

Cal said her life with Street was like a dream. The two moved to California and lived in the prestigious Bel Aire community after Motown left Detroit. She said his life as an understudy for Paul Williams of the Temptations, led to a permanent role, and was one that allowed the young family to live an exciting life of travel and fame. The two divorces in 1983.

Cal, who continues to tour with the Velvelettes in between her job at a Michigan university, did not attend the March 9 funeral.

“I am feeling sad. But as I reminisce about the good times, and good days we had as a couple, I smile. Had Bertha not pointed him out to me in the control room at Motown, I may not have ever noticed him. My heart goes out to his present wife and other kids,” Cal said.