Stars of Motown's golden years are still rolling along

Everyone knows about Michael, but whatever happened to Jermaine?

The Motown artists of the '60s and '70s, such as The Jackson 5 and other performers, made remarkable achievements musically and led the way for a new chapter in music history. Detroit was the place for new talent, and the new label, Motown, helped promote these new acts.

Some former pop and soul stars are still performing musically and acting as well. Web sites www.allmusic.com and www.wallofsound.com report that Motown artists such as the Jacksons have had diverse and turbulent careers since they stopped performing as a group under the Motown label.

The Jackson 5, one of the most successful pop groups of the '70s, was made up of five brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. The group was formed in 1966 by the boys' father, Joe.

In 1970, the group's first four singles reached No. 1. The group continued its success the next year, and in 1972 Motown developed Michael and Jermaine into solo acts. Four of the brothers went to Epic Records in 1975, but Jermaine stayed with Motown.

Jermaine Jackson eventually married Hazel, the daughter of Motown label founder Berry Gordy. He also had several hits in the '70s, one of which, "Let's Get Serious," was written by Stevie Wonder.

But Jermaine left Motown in 1983 for Arista Records, where he had some success. Jackson rejoined his brothers in 1984 for the "Victory" tour.

Jermaine's most recent album, "Word to the Badd," got out to the urban radio stations in 1991. The song was seen as an attack on his more successful brother Michael. Jermaine hasn't been in the news musically for some time since.

Other former Motown stars still perform. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, known for hits such as "Heat Wave," "Dancing in the Street" and "Nowhere to Run," have not stopped performing. But they did take a break from performing as a group. Reeves originally was a secretary at Motown Records and the group she formed was called "The Vel" until the musicians took the name "Vandellas" from Reeves' heroine, Della Reese.

After its initial success, the group broke up in December of 1972. Reeves started a solo career and had to sue Motown to get out of her contract.

Reeves then suffered several breakdowns that led to her institutionalization.

More bad relations with the Motown record label followed in 1989, when Reeves and former Vandellas Annette Beard and Rosalind Ashford sued Motown for back royalty payments. They succeeded, and renewed success followed.

In 1994, Martha Reeves published her autobiography, "Dancing in the Street." In the book, Reeves claims that Martha Reeves and the Vandellas could have been more successful if Berry Gordy had put as much effort into improving and promoting them as he did to Diana Ross and the Supremes.

But in spite of the turbulent history of the group, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas have periodically reunited for concerts during the '90s.

Another famous Motown girl group from the same era, Diana Ross and the Supremes, no longer performs as an ensemble.

Diana Ross and the Supremes, known for hits such as "Baby Love," was one of Motown's most successful pop acts with 12 No. 1 hits. The group was led by Diana Ross, who went on to have a very successful solo career.

Ross became a successful musical performer as well as an actress. She starred in a film version of a biography of Billie Holiday, "Lady Sings the Blues," in November of 1972. Ross' talent was recognized with an Academy Award nomination, and the soundtrack to the film went to No. 1 on the charts.

Ross went on to make a series of top-10 albums in the '70s. After her musical success she went back to acting, with a role in 1978's "The Wiz." Ross also starred in a film titled "The Boss" in May 1979.

The early '80s were important years for Ross. In 1980, she had the biggest hit of her musical career, "Endless Love," a duet with Lionel Ritchie. Shortly afterward, Ross left Motown for RCA Records. In the latter part of the '80s Ross was less successful, but she went back to Motown in 1989 and a resurgence of her carer followed.

In October 1993, she released a box set, "Forever Diana," and in 1994 she released her autobiography. Ross is currently considering various acting projects and has starred in a 1994 ABC movie of the week, "Out of Darkness."

Even if favorite former Motown stars aren't regularly performing music anymore, the Motown record label itself is there to help. Listeners can always put on a record of "ABC" by the Jackson 5 and try to recapture the Motown sound.

03-26-98