Sad News - Bertha Barbee-McNeal of The Velvelettes - RIP

[Mike]

Reported via various sources that Bertha Barbee-McNeal a co-founder member of The Velvelettes passed away on the 16th December 2022 

RIP

 

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/videos/view-1808-the-velvelettes-lonely-lonely-girl-am-i/

 

 

A detailed article can be read on the Western Michigan University web site featuring Bertha Barbee-McNeal and the group...

The Velvelettes: A legendary Motown group born on Western's campus

"Three of us quit at that time to have our families," says Barbee-McNeal. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in music from Western and became a music teacher in Kalamazoo Public Schools, where she taught for 26 years."

https://wmich.edu/news/2021/02/63261

The Velvelettes rehearse at Motown studio in Detroit in 1963. Left to right: Betty Kelley, Norma (Barbee) Fairhurst, Bertha Barbee-McNeal and Cal (Gill) Street

[David Meikle]

It must have been amazing to have played a part in the incredible Motown story.

Bertha thank you for the part you played in bringing the Velvelettes together.

RIP Bertha

 

Edited December 17, 2022 by David Meikle
photo added

[Tlscapital]

The Velvelettes are on their own real outstanding. To my ears and in my book since a teen they were always holding a special place. Later collecting such or such press of each of their releases proved not the easiest thing to gather.

Expectedly to careless punters they might be just the other 'Motown' (West to that) act lost in the who's who of Motown that of which they're suffering from (I've witnessed that occasionally) just as they gained from that back then.

R.I.P. Bertha Barbee-McNeal. We're forever grateful for these uplifting hymns we love to hum and gitty-up to. Throw A Farewell Kiss... +

Edited December 18, 2022 by Tlscapital

[Soul Shrews]

One I never tire of.

Farewell Bertha

Cheers Paul

[Ian Parker]

The Jewel in the Motown crown.    handful of releases,  but every one , memorable and adored.    very sad news

[givemesoul]

4 hours ago, Soul Shrews said:

One I never tire of.

Farewell Bertha

Cheers Paul

One of the best i've ever had the pleasure of owning

R.I.P

[Ian Stacey]

R I P . beautiful  voice  

Very sad indeed