Rosalind Ashford

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Rosalind Ashford (born September 2, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American soul and R&B singer most famous for her tenure in the legendary Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas.

Ashford joined Martha Reeves, Annette Sterling and Gloria Williamson and formed the Del-Phis in 1960. After an initial name change to the Vels and finally changing to Martha & the Vandellas by 1962 after the group signed with Motown, the group began finding their ground after Williamson left leaving the group a trio. Together, first with Sterling, the group scored a breakthrough hit with "Come And Get These Memories" and topped the charts with subsequent releases "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave", "Quicksand", "Live Wire" and "In My Lonely Room". After Sterling's departure in 1964 (replaced by Betty Kelley, formerly of another Motown girl group, The Velvelettes), the trio of Reeves, Ashford and Kelley scored hit after hit between 1964 and 1967 including "Dancing in the Street", "Nowhere to Run", "Wild One", "I'm Ready For Love", "Jimmy Mack", "Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone" and "Honey Chile".

Ashford left the Vandellas in 1969 and was replaced by another Velvelette, Sandra Tilley. Still close friends with Reeves and Sterling, the original trio occasionally come together and perform in benefits. Along with Reeves, Sterling, Kelly and Reeves' younger sister Lois, Ashford was inducted as a member of the group to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.