Bertha Barbee McNeal dies: Motown’s Velvelettes co-founder turns 82

Bertha Barbee McNeal, whose Motown group The Velvelettes had hits with “Needle in a Haystack” and “(He Was) Really Saying Something,” died Thursday at a hospice in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was 82 and had colon cancer.

McNeal and The Velvelettes’ hit “He Was Really Saying Something” was covered by British band Bananarama, and The Velvelettes were credited by singer Amy Winehouse as a major influence.

“She was an angel. I lost my dearest friend,” Cal Gil Street, lead singer of The Velvelettes, told the Detroit News. “She was the historian of the group and the glue that held us together.”

In a statement, the Motown Historical Museum praised McNeal as “a community leader and educator.” … Bertha’s passion inspired young girls, especially the next generation of female talent. A staunch supporter of the Motown Museum, she attended many museum events including Hitsville Honors in 2019 and the grand opening of Rocket Plaza last August, her friendly and sweet presence was always a delight and she was beloved by museum staff and alumni. .”

McNeal last performed with The Velvelettes at Arcadia Creek in downtown Kalamazoo in July.

McNeal and her friends formed a singing group at Western Michigan University. The group was talented – they defeated the Supremes several times at Berry Gordy’s “Battle of the Stars” at the Graystone Ballroom,

Bertha Barbee grew up in Flint, Michigan and was part of a family singing group, The Barbees, with her cousin Norma. In 1957, The Barbees went to Detroit to record a single, “Que Pasa” (backed by “The Wind”), produced by Mickey Stevenson.

When they hear about a singing contest that gives winners $25, Bertha and her friends join forces. They won the contest and caught the attention of a fellow WMU student, Robert Bullock, who happened to be the son of Esther Gordy Edward (and nephew of Berry Gordy and the father of Robin Terry, CEO of the Motown Museum ).

Bullock suggested that the girls audition for his uncle in Detroit. They arrived at the studio only to be told there were no auditions on Saturday. As fate would have it, Mickey Stevenson happened to drop by the office, recognized McNeal and Barbee from the 1957 recording session, and everything changed.

Stevenson, then head of A&R at Motown, signed her and co-wrote Needle in a Haystack with producer Norman Whitfield. The single peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The group also recorded “There He Goes” and “That’s the Reason Why” with Stevie Wonder in 1963.

The follow-up, also produced by Whitfield, was “He Was Really Saying Something”.

But the group had other paths to take as graduates and soon split up. They reunited in 1984 at McNeal’s request. After that, they participated in many historic Motown events.

McNeal is survived by a son, Marty McNeal, and a daughter, Melva Payton, as well as a granddaughter, Cydni Payton, and a grandson, Spencer Payton.

The funeral preparations have not yet been completed.