By Sonya Hollins, editor
editor@comvoicesonline.com
Julia Chan, Velvelette Historian
That history is what Chan, 25, is chronicling in her master’s project as a student a the University of California at Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. As she pursues her master’s degree in journalism specializing in long-form television and multimedia (to be completed this May) she felt the story on her hometown Motown group would be a unique way to share the history of women who helped bring Motown music to the world.
The Velvelettes also are being featured in an upcoming exhibit at the Motown Historical Museum which features the women of Motown (visit www.motownmuseum.com). Kelly, an original member of the group, soon become a member of Martha and the Vandellas soon after arriving to Motown when one of the Vandellas left the group.
Their 1964 hit, “Needle in a Haystack,” topped the charts before Diana Ross and the Supremes began making a name for themselves on the same label. Today, they travel the world sharing their hits, mixed with melodies of other memorable Motown hits. Two group members, Barbee-McNeal, and Street, live in Kalamazoo, and met with Chan for an entire day of interviews. The members in Flint, (Fairhurst and Mildred Gill) were interviewed in their cities as well during Chan’s recent trip home.
After learning about the Velvelettes she was surprised that I had never really heard of them or their music. After reading Susan Whitall’s book, Women of Motown, she learned of the group from a chapter devoted to them.
“At the time I was taking a history course on the 60s, and Motown was such an important part of that decade that it was featured prominently in that class,” Chan said. “When the class ended I sort of put all the history I had learned about the Velvelettes on a shelf. While I thought their story was fascinating and deserved more attention, I never really thought about pursuing it any further.”
Flash forward a few years later. When deciding upon the topic of her master’s project, the story of the Velvelettes came to mind as a possible project to explore.
“It clicked for me that perhaps my master’s project would be a good opportunity to finally showcase their life stories, especially since I always thought they deserved more attention than they received. Their story has been featured in a few books, but at the most it’s been limited to a few pages here and there. To my knowledge, no one has done anything on them to the extent of what I’m doing.”
The end result of her project will be a mini documentary which will premiere at UC Berkeley during their end-of-the-year festivities, and host a screening in Michigan as well. She plans to also post a version of the film online as well at her site, juliachan.net.
Chan said her interviews have allowed her to learn so many interesting things about their career in Motown.
“I loved hearing all the stories about rubbing elbows with other Motown stars. For example, the story that Marvin Gaye changed Millie’s daughter’s diaper is too funny! It’s things like that. It’s so cool knowing that these ladies were actually there and actually knew these people who we consider icons today. They’re a direct link to history. Now it’s their turn to finally be in the spotlight, 50 years after being signed to Motown!”
Chan hopes to one day become a network TV news producer for a magazine show, such as Nightline or 60 Minutes. In the meantime, she will start by making a success of her Velvelettes project in hopes that their story will allow others to be inspired by the group and their story.
“The Velvelettes hold such an important place in history that so few people really know about. I hope my film will help to change that,” Chan said.
Members of the Velvelettes during the 1960 include clockwise: Bertha Barbee-McNeal, Cal (Gill) Street, Norma (Barbee) Fairhurst, Betty Kelly, Mildred (Gill) Arbor. - Photo provided by the Velvelettes
KALAMAZOO (MICH.)- While working at a television station in her hometown of Flint, Mich., Julia Chan learned of her colleagues’ connection to Motown. Norm Fairhurst was the son of Norma Barbee-Fairhurst, a member of the Velelettes. Norma and her cousin, Bertha Barbee-McNeal attended Western Michigan University during the 1960s. It was there they befriended Kalamazoo natives Mildred (Gill) Arbor, Cal (Gill) Street, and their friend Betty Kelly. Together they would enter a talent show sponsored by WMU’s Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and win. They went on to become one of the first girl groups signed to Motown. The rest is history.
Sonya Bernard-Hollins
Community Voices was founded in 2005 by James and Arlene Washington in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The weekly print publication provided a unique opportunity to inform the multicultural community of news important to them. In addition, it provided an affordable advertising source for small businesses in the community.
