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
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