A Woman Like Me Read online

  LaVette, Sherma (Ginger), 23–24

  Lee, Nat, 41

  Lee, Peggy, 88, 154

  Lee’s Sensation (Detroit club), 41–42

  Leiber, Jerry, 53, 154

  Lesbianism, 65–67, 144

  “Let Me Down Easy,” 1, 59–60, 61, 63, 68–69, 81, 89, 102–3, 106, 189

  Let Me Down Easy: In Concert (LaVette), 205

  “Let Me Off Uptown,” 86

  “Let’s Get It On,” 120–21

  “Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go,” 106

  “Let’s Stay Together,” 176

  Letterman, David, 222

  Levine, Ian, 186–90

  Lewis, Barbara, 97

  Lewis, Huey, 214

  Lewis, Jim, 68, 92, 112, 130, 160, 168, 175, 181, 196, 211, 215, 216, 218, 230, 231, 233; BLV’s introduction to, 52; as BLV’s manager, 96–97, 101–3, 114–15, 129, 132, 135, 145–46, 176–77; death of, 179–80; mentoring of BLV by, 79–80, 82–83, 85–90, 94, 150, 154, 179–80, 237

  Library (Wayne State campus club), 185

  Lincoln Memorial, 231

  Little Esther, 10

  “Little Sparrow,” 220, 222, 229

  “Livin’ Life on a Shoestring,” 119, 122

  Locker Room Lounge (Detroit), 227–28

  Logan, Ed, 104

  “Lotus Blossom,” 96

  Louis, Joe, 55

  Louisiana Red, 131

  Love, Andrew, 104

  “Love, Reign o’er Me,” 229–31

  “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone,” 92

  “Love Makes the World Go Round,” 97

  “Lover’s Question, A,” 29–30

  Loy, Myrna, 235

  Lunceford, Jimmie, 52

  “Lush Life,” 89, 231

  Lynn, Barbara, 30

  Lynne, Gloria, 88, 135

  “MacArthur Park,” 155

  Majors, 65

  “Man That Got Away, The,” 88

  Manchester, Melissa, 168

  Mann, Aimee, 220

  Margaret (BLV’s cousin). See Wilson, Margaret Nell

  Marissa (BLV’s granddaughter). See Ross, Marissa

  Marsalis, Ellis, 165

  Martha and the Vandellas, 43, 81, 92, 150

  Marvelettes, 22, 43, 188

  Mathes, Rob, 230

  Mathis, Alphonso (Pinky), 14, 15–16, 19

  Mathis, Terrye (BLV’s daughter), 50, 93, 113, 130, 146, 175, 181, 232, 234, 235; birth of, 16; and BLV’s love life, 42; care for, by family, 16, 21, 37–38, 51, 159, 160; children of, 184; and death of aunt, 161

  Matthews, Johnnie Mae, 24–27, 47, 96

  Mattijssen, Ben, 205

  “Maybe I’m Amazed,” 232

  Mayfield, Curtis, 120, 134

  Mayfield, Percy, 97

  Mays, Margherite, 70

  Mattie (BLV’s sister). See McSwain, Mattie

  McCalla, Nate, 59, 60

  McCartney, Paul, 232

  McClure, Tommy, 104

  McLaughlin, Ollie, 97–98, 109, 110–11, 112

  McLean, Kim, 224, 239–40

  McPhatter, Clyde, 27, 29–30, 31–32

  McSwain, Mattie (BLV’s sister), 6, 8, 74, 93, 117, 146, 181; and BLV’s musical career, 37, 112, 113, 130; care for Terrye Mathis, 16, 21, 37–38, 51, 159, 160; closeness with BLV, 9–10, 159–61; death of, 160, 161, 180; marriages of, 9, 10, 159

  Memphis Horns, 104, 209

  Meters, 121

  Midnighters, 106, 202

  Miller, Steve, 214

  Milner, Ron, 176–77

  Miracles, 21, 43

  Mr. Wonderful. See J

  “Mockingbird,” 58

  “Money (That’s What I Want),” 233

  Monk, Thelonius, 89

  Monroe, Marilyn, 34

  Montgomery, Tammi. See Terrell, Tammi

  Moody Blues, 232

  “Moon River,” 165

  Moonglows, 40

  Moore, Sam, 34. See also Sam & Dave

  “More I Search (The More I Die), The,” 239–40

  Motorcity Records, 187–90

  Motown Records, 1, 21, 22, 23, 50, 60, 63, 100, 120, 129, 174, 182, 196, 198, 233–34; BLV’s album for, 166–70, 175, 177, 188; company culture of, 40–41, 81–84; competition for, 95–96; degree of success of, 43, 49, 89, 92; loss of artists by, 49, 131, 166; move to Los Angeles, 115–16; and psychedelic revolution, 101; revival of tradition of, 187, 188–89, 190

  Moy, Sylvia, 82, 92, 189

  Munich Records, 205

  Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, 91–92, 103–4, 223

  Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, 110–11, 123

  “Mustang Sally,” 37

  “My Cherie Amour,” 82

  “My Girl,” 60

  “My Little Angel,” 25

  “My Man—He’s a Lovin’ Man,” 25–27, 30, 32, 37, 89, 162

  “My World Is Empty Without You,” 76

  Nash, Johnny, 50

  Nate’s Place (Detroit), 130–31

  Nathan, David, 187

  Nelson, Willie, 106, 224

  Newman, Floyd, 104

  “Night Life,” 106

  “Nights in White Satin,” 232

  “No Time to Live,” 233

  Northern High School (Detroit), 16–17, 19–20, 193–95

  Northern Soul movement, 187–91

  Now, Voyager, 235

  Obama, Barack, 231

  O’Connor, Sinéad, 220–21

  O’Day, Anita, 86, 87, 88

  “Ode to Billie Joe,” 105

  Ohio Players, 119

  O’Jays, 109–10, 161–62

  Oldham, Spooner, 225

  “One of a Kind (Love Affair),” 137

  “Only Your Love Can Save Me,” 73

  Osborne, Jeffrey, 202

  Otis, Clyde, 68

  Otis Williams and the Distants, 21. See also Temptations

  “Our Own Love Song,” 111

  Palladium Club (Detroit), 44

  Palm Café (New York City), 55

  Paramus Theater (New Jersey), 160

  Parisian (Detroit club), 23

  Parliament(s), 100, 101

  Parnell, Phil, 165

  Parton, Dolly, 178, 220, 222

  Paul, Clarence, 53, 92, 99, 100, 112, 117, 130, 150, 176, 181–82, 189, 237; background in music business, 40; and BLV’s move to Los Angeles, 118; financial assistance to BLV, 52, 77, 138; and initiation of Stevie Wonder, 69–70; position within Motown, 40, 41, 82–84; producing of BLV by, 119, 120, 122; recording with Marvin Gaye, 120–21; relationship with BLV, 1–2, 39–44, 50, 69–70, 74, 82–83, 84–85, 94, 138, 175; songwriting by, 40, 82, 85, 138

  Pendergrass, Teddy, 161

  Perot, Ross, 197

  Petard, Gilles, 205–6

  P-Funk, 101

  Phelps Lounge (Detroit), 50, 52, 89, 100–101, 114, 116–17

  Philadelphia (film), 223

  Phillips, Esther, 30, 57, 196

  Phillips, Sam, 103

  Philly International Records, 131, 137–38, 162

  Pickett, Wilson, 37, 68, 92, 105, 106, 110, 111, 206, 227

  Pilgrim Travelers, 6

  Pimps: and club life, 21; enticement of performers with drugs, 65, 66, 67; financial arrangements of, 2, 75–76; in music business, 22, 40–41, 44–46; power of, over prostitutes, 1–3, 75–77; provocation of sexuality by, 65–66; recruitment of high school girls, 20; training of women by, 45–46; violence of, 1, 2–3, 75, 76, 77; women as, 67

  Pink Floyd, 232

  Plantation Records,
103

  Popcorn and the Mohawks, 190

  Powell, Adam Clayton, 55

  Powell, William, 235

  Prater, Dave, 34. See also Sam & Dave

  Presley, Elvis, 58, 103

  “Pride and Joy,” 43

  Prostitution: and club life, 21; financial arrangements of, 2, 75–76; power of pimps in, 1–3, 75–77; in sex clinic, 125; and touring, 160

  Race: and beauty, 10; and bigotry, 165–66; and class, 7; and skin tone, 153; and social unrest, 93

  Radiants, 60

  Ragovoy, Jerry, 65

  Raitt, Bonnie, 214, 221–22

  RCA (record label), 166

  “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” 76

  Rebennack, Mac. See Dr. John

  Red Bird (record label), 53

  Redding, Otis, 30–31, 32, 61, 68, 91, 94–95, 135, 227

  Reed, Jimmy, 58

  Reed, Vivian, 150

  Reese, Della, 20, 22

  Reeves, Martha, 43, 81, 189, 190

  Regal Theater (Chicago), 60–61

  “Release Me,” 30

  Religion, BLV’s attitude toward, 2, 93, 126–27, 176, 177, 182, 183, 236

  Reno, Janet, 223

  “Respect,” 61, 91

  “Respect Yourself,” 37

  Rice, Mack, 37, 206

  Rich, Charlie, 132

  Richardson, George, 175

  Ridley, John, 216

  “Right in the Middle (Of Falling in Love),” 168

  “Right Next Door,” 208

  “Right Place Wrong Time,” 121

  Riley, Jeannie C., 103

  “Ring My Bell,” 155

  Robbins, Cory, 155

  Robinson, Claudette, 233

  Robinson, Rudy, 95–97, 109, 146, 161, 185, 190, 205, 209–10, 211, 237

  Robinson, Smokey, 21, 81, 233

  Robinson, Sugar Ray, 55

  “Rockin’ Years,” 178

  Rogers, Kenny, 102–3

  Rogers, Lelan, 102–3, 104, 105–7

  Rogers, Roy, 7, 31

  Rolling Stones, 231

  Rosebud Agency, 213, 215, 229

  Ross, Diana/Diane, 64, 81–82, 166, 187, 188

  Ross, Marissa (BLV’s granddaughter), 184, 199, 235

  “‘Round Midnight,” 89, 231

  Rounder Records, 211

  Royal Jokers, 22

  Royal Peacock (Atlanta club), 31, 32

  Royal Sons, 40

  “Rubberband Man, The,” 137

  “Ruby,” 87

  Rudy Robinson and the Hungry Five, 95

  Ruffin, David, 21, 63, 65, 81, 101, 196, 232

  Rufus, 120

  Runnin’ Out of Fools (A. Franklin), 68

  Russell, Nipsey, 55

  “Sadie,” 137

  Sadler, Donnie, 162–65, 166, 171, 173–79 passim, 181, 222, 223

  St. Agnes Catholic School, 11–13, 16

  “St. James Infirmary,” 185

  Sam & Dave (R&B duo), 34, 92

  “Satin Doll,” 153

  Scene of the Crime, The (LaVette), 223–27, 229

  Scepter Records, 58, 59

  Schaefer Beer commercial, 114–15

  Scott, Little Jimmy, 87, 88, 89, 214

  Scott, Ray, 65, 66

  Seven Below Zero, 146

  Sex: BLV’s attitude toward, 13–14, 19, 34–36, 42, 65, 66, 133, 134–35, 144–45, 236; clinical coaching in, 123–25; kinky, 144–45; lesbian, 65–67, 144; male and female singers and, 63–65; and “matchmaking” by pimps, 65–66

  “Sexual Healing,” 176

  Shadow Box (Detroit club), 185

  Shanachie Records, 204, 207

  Shannon, Ronnie, 106

  Shapiro, Brad, 110–11, 112, 114, 118, 119, 123, 205

  Shavers, Jerome, 182–83, 184, 235

  Shaw, Timmy, 24–26

  Shaw Artists Corporation, 54

  Shindig! (television program), 60

  Shirelles, 58

  Short, Bobby, 234

  “Shut Your Mouth,” 23, 26

  “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” 82

  Silver Fox (record label), 103

  Simon, Joe, 111

  Simpson, Valerie, 73

  “Sincerely,” 40

  Singleton, Raymona, 170

  Singleton, Shelby, 103, 104, 106–7

  “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay,” 95

  “Skylark,” 68

  Sledge, Percy, 111

  Sly and the Family Stone, 101, 131

  Small’s Paradise (Harlem club), 1, 55–57, 58, 70, 73, 74, 94, 126, 127, 135

  Smith, Bessie, 7, 88, 136

  Smith, Clara, 7

  Smith, Jimmy, 55

  Smith, Mamie, 136

  Social class, and race, 7

  “Somebody Pick Up My Pieces,” 224

  Song of America (anthology), 223

  Songs in the Key of Life (Wonder), 138

  Soul City (London record store), 187

  “Soul Man,” 92

  “Soul Tambourine,” 111

  Sounds of Memphis (studio), 103–6

  South, Joe, 106

  “Spanish Harlem,” 30

  Spann, Pervis, 61

  Spinners, 137, 228, 234

  Springsteen, Bruce, 223

  “Stand by Me,” 30

  “Stand Up Like a Man,” 77

  Staples, Mavis, 133

  Staples, Pervis, 133

  Staton, Candi, 155

  “Staying Alive,” 161

  Stevens, Michael, 229, 232

  Stevenson, Mickey, 40, 83, 181–82, 183, 234

  Stewart, Rod, 232

  Stoller, Mike, 53, 154

  “Stormy,” 156–57

  “Stormy Monday,” 150

  Strayhorn, Billy, 89, 96, 153

  “Streets of Philadelphia,” 223

  Streisand, Barbra, 2, 230

  “Stubborn Kind of Fellow,” 30, 36

  Stubbs, Joe, 37

  Summer, Donna, 155, 157

  Sun Records, 103

  “Superfly,” 134

  Supremes, 22, 43, 49, 60, 81, 85, 92, 150, 188

  “Sweet Georgia Brown,” 150

  Swingin’ Time (television program), 156

  “Take Another Little Piece of My Heart,” 106

  “Talk to Me, Talk to Me,” 32

  “Talking Old Soldiers,” 224, 227–28

  Taupin, Bernie, 227

  Taylor, Bobby, 188

  Taylor, Johnnie, 37

  TCA (Twentieth Century Attractions), 129

  “Tears in Vain,” 85

  “Tell Me a Lie,” 157, 158, 168

  Tell Me a Lie (LaVette), 166–70, 177, 188

  Temptations, 21, 43, 49, 60, 101, 150, 159, 196, 234

  “Ten Commandments of Love,” 40

  Terrell, Tammi (Tammi Montgomery), 63–64, 73

  Terrye (BLV’s daughter). See Mathis, Terrye

  “Thank You for Loving Me,” 132

  “That’s the Way Love Is,” 92

  “There Goes My Baby,” 14

  “These Arms of Mine,” 31, 32

  Thin Man, The, 235

  Thomas, Irma, 211

  Thornton, Big Mama, 25

  “Thunder in My Heart,” 24

  Time magazine, 91

  Tiven, Jon, 206–7

  Tolliver, Kim, 141

  Tonight Show band, 209

  “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby,” 92

 
Toussaint, Allen, 121

  Townsend, Ed, 120, 121

  Townshend, Pete, 230

  Traffic (rock band), 233

  “Trance Dance,” 177

  Trouble Man (film with Gaye sound track), 120

  Troy, Doris, 67

  Turner, Ike, 34, 46–47, 119, 120

  Turner, Tina, 26, 34, 46–47, 119, 120, 176

  20th Century Fox Records, 49, 50

  20 Grand (Detroit club), 81–82, 83–84, 101, 102, 194

  “Twist, The,” 106

  United Sound (studio), 37

  “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do),” 82, 138

  “Uptight (Everything’s Alright),” 82

  “Use ta Be My Girl,” 162

  Utley, Michael, 104

  V (New York bull dyke), 143, 144–45

  Van Dyke, Earl, 50, 95

  Vaughan, Sarah, 68, 85–86, 96

  Velvelettes, 188

  Venetian Room (San Francisco), 154

  Very Best of the Motorcity Recordings, The (LaVette), 189–90

  Violence: in music business, 46–47; and prostitution, 1, 2–3, 75, 76, 77

  W. C. Handy Award, 215

  “Waiting for Tomorrow,” 119, 122

  Walker, Dennis, 207–10, 211, 213, 217

  Warren, Dale, 60

  Warwick, Dionne, 53, 168

  Washington, Dinah, 46, 68, 86

  Washington, Grover, Jr., 93–95, 237

  Watson, Johnny “Guitar,” 119–20

  Wayne State University, 185

  Wells, Mary, 21, 24, 43, 49, 50, 51, 64

  West, Katherine, 50–51, 54

  West, Robert, 26, 30, 37, 49–51, 53, 54, 96

  West End Records, 155, 157

  Weston, Kim, 64, 188

  Wexler, Jerry, 110, 112, 122, 125–26, 147; and Aretha Franklin, 67–68, 91–92, 103–4, 106; and BLV, 27, 37, 50, 53–54, 61, 68

  Wharton, Cynthia (Cindy), 65–67, 144

  “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” 76

  “What Condition My Condition Is In,” 97, 101–2

  “What’d I Say,” 87

  What’s Going On (Gaye), 100, 109, 116, 120

  “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” 176

  “When I’m Alone I Cry,” 85

  “When a Man Loves a Woman,” 111

  White, Ted, 74, 237; and Aretha Franklin, 45–46, 67–69, 91–92; financial assistance to BLV, 52, 77; relationship with BLV, 44–45, 50, 67–69; training of performers by, 45–46, 69