Memories of the 1962 Motown Revue

According to Joe Billingslea of the Contours, "some inhospitable Southerners fired rifles at the Motor Town Special tour buses, many of the hotels on that famous 1962 Motown trek were dumps, the buses was hot and rickety, but overall it was a fabulous tour.

In 1962, a Detroit photographer came along for the ride, and Curtis E. Woodson’s new book about the trip is being launched this week.

“Memories of The 1962 Motown Revue — A Photographic Journal” captures scenes from Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr.s road show, that featured Marv Johnson, Mary Wells, the Marvelettes, the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, the Contours, the Supremes, Singin Sammy Ward and the Choker Campbell Orchestra.

Woodson was the shows official photographer but for more than 40 years, the 100 odd photographs, shot during performances in Washington, D.C., Boston and Birmingham, Ala., have never been published or seen by the public.

Photo: Diana Ross, left, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard of The Supremes and Rosalind Holmes of the Vandellas.