Katherine Anderson

Katherine Anderson
The Marvelettes in a 1963 promotional photo. Clockwise from top left, Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, and Wanda Young
Background information
Birth name	Katherine Elaine Anderson
Born	(1944-01-16)January 16, 1944 (age 69)
Genres	Doo wop, rock 'n' roll, R&B, soul, pop
Occupations	Singer, dancer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1960–1970
Labels	Tamla, Motown
Associated acts	The Marvelettes, The Casinyets, The Marvels, The Darnells

Katherine Elaine Anderson Schaffner (born January 16, 1944) is an American singer, famed for her tenure in the Motown all-female singing group The Marvelettes. Though not known for any lead spots acquired by Gladys Horton, Wanda Young, or Ann Bogan, Schaffner's role was as notable as she was the only member to survive the group's several incarnations that occurred during the 1960s until breaking up for good in 1970.

Biography

Although born in Ann Arbor, Michigan,^[1] Katherine Anderson was raised in the Detroit suburb of Inkster, Michigan, where she grew a fondness for singing in her teens. In 1960, she helped to form a group with high schoolers Gladys Horton, Georgia Dobbins and her friends Juanita Cowart and Georgeanna Tillman.

The group named themselves The Casinyets (can't sing yet) and began performing at local high-schools and basement parties before finally landing an important audition at Motown where, already changing their name to The Marvels, they performed a rendition of a song member Dobbins had co-wrote called "Please Mr. Postman". Dobbins left before signing with the label due to her father's strict rules against his daughter performing in nightclubs since all five were still underage. Fellow Inkster High class mate Wanda Young eventually replaced her and the group recorded "Please Mr. Postman" in 1961 signing to Motown as The Marvelettes.

Anderson would prominently be featured in the background throughout her tenure in the Marvelettes while Horton and Young each sung lead vocals on the Marvelettes songs. The first departure after Dobbins left occurred in 1962 when Cowart quit due to bad nerves following a goof on American Bandstand where she had referred to Detroit as a suburb of Inkster. Two years later, due to an impending marriage and battles with sickle cell and lupus, Tillman also resigned. In 1968, Gladys Horton left the group citing marriage as the reason for her departure and was replaced by Ann Bogan.

In 1970, the Marvelettes split up with Young trying a solo career that went unsuccessfully after Motown re-marketed the album as a Marvelettes release. According to reports, Motown's CEO Berry Gordy had lost the Marvelettes name during a gambling game while in Las Vegas. Anderson quit show business following the Marvelettes' departure. When Gladys Horton wanted to reform the group, Anderson, who has since married to Joe Schaffner, declined to join.

In 1995, the Marvelettes won a Pioneer Award at the R&B Foundation Awards. In 2004, they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.^[2] The following year, the Marvelettes classic singles "Please Mr. Postman" and "Don't Mess With Bill" each received belated million-selling Gold certifications by the RIAA.

Of all the original Marvelettes, Katherine is the most active today. Katherine Elaine Anderson Schaffner retired from singing when the Marvelettes group disbanded in 1970. She has become very involved in helping troubled teenagers in the Detroit area.

She appeared in 2006 to attend a play in her hometown of Inkster, Michigan. Her last appearance was at Motown's 50th Anniversary celebration, held at the historic Roostertail in downtown Detroit (November 21, 2009). Katherine ('Kat' to her friends) is the mother of two adult children, Keisha and Kalaine Schaffner. She also has a grandson, Toure Schaffner.

The Marvelettes were nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012.

See also

• Too Many Fish in the Sea

References