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Georgeanna Tillman

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Georgeanna Tillman
Tillman in 1963
Tillman in 1963
Background information
Birth nameGeorgeanna Marie Tillman
Also known asGeorgeanna Tillman Gordon
Born(1944-02-06)February 6, 1944
Inkster, Michigan, U.S.
DiedJanuary 6, 1980(1980-01-06) (aged 35)
Inkster, Michigan, U.S.
GenresDoo wop, rock 'n' roll, R&B, soul, pop
Occupation(s)Singer, dancer
Years active1960-1965

Georgeanna Marie Tillman Gordon (February 6, 1944 – January 6, 1980) was an American singer and an original member of the Motown girl group the Marvelettes.

Life and career

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Tillman was born and raised in the Detroit suburb of Inkster, Michigan.[1] Tillman had three sisters, Sharon, Anna Marie, and Thea, and her mother was Annabelle Tillman.[1][2] In 1960, Tillman was recruited into a girl group with her former Inkster High School glee club members Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson and Juanita Cowart.[3] Georgia Dobbins was later added to the lineup by Horton.[4]

Career with the Marvelettes

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The group called themselves The Casinyets, short for "we can't sing yet". The group auditioned for Motown after the talent show, and while the audition was successful,[5] the group was requested to give a musical composition.[4] After Dobbins created the composition "Please Mr. Postman", Dobbins left the group after her father refused to let her perform in the group.[4] The group changed their name to the Marvelettes shortly after Motown signed the act, and Dobbins was replaced by Wanda Young.[4] In 1961, the group released "Please Mr. Postman" in 1961.[4] The single would top the charts, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Motown's first No. 1 Pop hit. The group would score hits such as such as "Playboy", "Beechwood 4-5789", "Someday, Someway", "Strange I Know", Locking Up My Heart, and "Too Many Fish in the Sea".[6] In 1965, Tillman left the group after her diagnosis with lupus, and still suffering from sickle cell disease.[6] Her doctor advised her to leave show business for good, as the disease worsened.[7][8] She continued to work at Motown as a secretary until Motown moved to Los Angeles.[2]

Personal life and death

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Tillman married Billy Gordon, lead singer of the Contours, on August 12, 1963.[9] They have a son, Darrian.[1]

Before her death, she was a student at the Wayne County Community College and was a secretary at Plymouth State Hospital.[1] Tillman died on January 6, 1980 at her home in Inkster, Michigan from complications of lupus or sickle cell disease.[5][9][2] She was interred at the Metropolitan Memorial Park in Belleville, Michigan.[9][1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Georgeanna Gordon of the Marvelettes". Detroit Free Press. January 12, 1980. p. 10.
  2. ^ a b c Company, Johnson Publishing (February 7, 1980). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved February 2, 2024 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ Warner, Jay (2006). American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today (Hal Leonard) p. 421. ISBN 0-634-09978-7.
  4. ^ a b c d e The Marvelettes – Unsung episode (TVOne).
  5. ^ a b Talevski, Nick (April 7, 2010). Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door. Music Sales. ISBN 9780857121172. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "The Marvelettes Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "Marvelettes". Lupus.org.uk. November 25, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  8. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 166/8. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
  9. ^ a b c Ryan, Jack (2012). Recollections, the Detroit Years. Glendower Media LLC. ISBN 9780914303046. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
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