Additional Coverage:
- ‘Queen of Motown’ Mourns the Death of Martha and the Vandellas Bandmate: ‘My Heart is Heavy’ (parade.com)
Martha Reeves is mourning the loss of Rosalind Ashford-Holmes, a founding member of the iconic Motown group Martha and the Vandellas, who passed away on Tuesday, September 15, in Redford, Michigan, at the age of 83. According to reports, Ashford-Holmes died of natural causes just two weeks after celebrating her birthday.
In a heartfelt statement, Reeves, often called “The Queen of Motown,” expressed her sorrow: “I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Rosalind Ashford. Rosalind played an important part in the early days of Martha and the Vandellas.
Her voice will forever be with us through our great recordings together, and she will be missed, but never forgotten. Our Motown family has just gotten a little smaller.
My heart is heavy.”
Born in Detroit on September 2, 1943, Ashford-Holmes began singing in church choirs and school groups before joining the Del-Phis in the late 1950s. This group, which later evolved to include Reeves, became the legendary Martha and the Vandellas. Before their own rise to fame, Ashford-Holmes and her bandmates lent their vocal talents as backing singers for Motown legends like Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells.
Ashford-Holmes’ distinctive high soprano voice contributed to the group’s string of hits such as “(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave,” “Dancing in the Street,” “Nowhere to Run,” and “Jimmy Mack.” Martha and the Vandellas amassed 24 R&B hits and became one of Motown’s most successful touring acts, eventually earning induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
She remained with the Vandellas throughout much of their peak period, departing near the end of the 1960s, though she later reunited with original member Annette Beard for performances as the Original Vandellas. While Reeves and Ashford-Holmes experienced tensions in the years after their Motown success, they reportedly reconciled in recent times.
Outside of music, Ashford-Holmes enjoyed traveling and spending quality time with family and friends, according to her son, Damon Holmes. She is survived by her son, four grandchildren, and a daughter-in-law. Funeral arrangements are forthcoming in Detroit.
Rosalind Ashford-Holmes’ passing marks the end of an era, but her voice and the timeless recordings she helped create continue to resonate across generations-a legacy that Martha Reeves and fans alike will cherish forever.