Annette Beard-Helton (born July 4, 1943) is an American R&B and soul singer, most notable for being one of the original members of popular Motown singing group Martha and the Vandellas.
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Biography
Early years
Born Annette Beard in Detroit, Michigan to Roger and Ann Beard[1], Annette started singing in church choirs at an early age. When she was fourteen, she was discovered by a man named Edward "Pops" Larkins, who was auditioning for a female group at the local YMCA to compliment a male group he had started. Fourteen-year-old Annette impressed him with a single note[2] and she joined friends Rosalind Ashford, Gloria Williams and Martha Reeves to form the original version of the Del-Phis in 1957. The group performed at local get-togethers, high school parties, YMCA benefits and lawn parties. Annette, who was a shy girl growing up, didn't mind singing background behind Gloria Williams, then the original lead singer of the group. After changing their name to The Vels, the group recorded for local Motown subsidiaries Mel-O-Dy and Tamla usually singing background for local Detroit acts such as The Elgins' Saundra Mallett. In 1962, frustrated by the group's slow development and sensing a break-up, Williams left the group. Afterwards, Annette, Martha and Rosalind sung together on Marvin Gaye's hits "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", "Hitch Hike" and "Pride & Joy". After replacing Mary Wells and The Andantes on a refuted session with a demonstration record for a Mickey Stevenson song, Motown president Berry Gordy suggested the girls to sign a contract as a recording group. With Reeves as the confirmed lead singer, the name Vandellas was chosen with the final name being Martha and the Vandellas.
Martha and the Vandellas
Signing to Motown Records' new Gordy subsidiary, Martha and the Vandellas gained a stature as hitmakers in the label almost as quickly after they were signed, boosted by their powerful backing behind Marvin's hit singles, their second single, "Come and Get These Memories", written by the fabled team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, became the group's first hit success. Distinguishing themselves from the two-lead format/traditional girl group pop sound of The Marvelettes and the doo-wop sensibilities of The Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas employed a much rougher and sharper sound influenced by gospel. The group's third hit, "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave", further established the group as recording stars. A third single, "Quicksand", further that rise in late 1963. The Vandellas' sound was unique because of the difference in sounds between the three women: with Reeves' brassy alto leading the group, Rosalind Holmes provided the high vocals in her soprano voice while Beard provided the lower vocals in her contralto delivery making for an interesting and commercial sound. But Beard's rise to fame was overshadowed by a romance with a suitor. Within a few months, Beard announced she was engaged and pregnant with her first child. Coming to grasp with wanting to stay in the group but also wanting to have a life of a married woman and mother, Beard opted to leave the group in the winter of 1964. Beard was replaced by former Velvelettes member Betty Kelly while Beard retired from show business working for Ameritech in her native Detroit.
Later years
Having remained in touch with her former band mates, Beard soon found herself back in the public eye following a reunion with Reeves and Ashford during a benefit concert for actor Will Geer in Los Angeles. Eleven years later, she and Rosalind filed suit against Motown for back royalties a few years after Reeves successfully sued the company for royalties. Sensing a return to performing, she reunited again with Reeves and Ashford and signed a contract with the London-based Motorcity Records releasing the "Heat Wave"-styled pop of "Step Into My Shoes" in 1989. Since then, she and Rosalind have performed all over the country as "The Original Vandellas" sometimes reuniting with Martha for benefit concerts. In 1995, Annette joined Martha, Rosalind, Betty Kelly, Sandra Tilley (posthumously) and Martha's sister Lois, as the group was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as member of Martha and the Vandellas. Annette has since retired from Ameritech and continues to perform.
