What or who is a vandella as in Martha Reeves and the Vandellas?

Question

What or who is a vandella as in Martha Reeves and the Vandellas?

Question #131952. Asked by endoverend.
Last updated Apr 10 2023.
Originally posted Jul 23 2013 10:29 PM.

CmdrK

Answer has 4 votes

Currently Best Answer

CmdrK

Moderator
16 year member
280 replies avatar

Answer has 4 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.

The Vandellas were not named after Van Dyke Street and Della Reese, they received their name from Barry Gordy, the CEO of their record company, Gordy, which was a subsidiary of Motown Records.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_and_the_Vandellas#Early_years_(1957-1962)

Whether it was taken from "vandella", a ghost-walker in Ethiopianfol lore is unknown.

https://findwords.info/term/vandella

Response last updated by CmdrK on Apr 10 2023.
Apr 10 2023, 2:53 PM

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Answer 1

pjmjlm

Answer has 3 votes

pjmjlm

18 year member
69 replies

Answer has 3 votes.

The Vandellas were named after Van Dyke Street in Detroit and singer Della Reese.

[From rockhall.com 2013 article, no longer online]

Response last updated by CmdrK on Apr 10 2023.
Jul 23 2013, 10:48 PM