The Andantes

Prolific female sessions group/background singers at Motown Records during the mid-60's to the early 70's. Group Members: Louvain Demps (soprano), Jackie Hicks (first alto), and Marlene Barrow (second alto). Marlene and Jackie attended Northwestern High School with pianist Richard Wylie who brought the Andantes to Motown in 1960. Wylie had already landed an audition and wanted the girls to be his backing group. Things didn't work out for Wylie, but the girls were invited to stay. Emily got married and her husband didn't want her to sing so she left. It was at this time that Louvain Demps was invited to join the Andantes who historians say appeared on more than 20, 000 recording sessions. At first they took a back seat to the Rayber Singers who consisted of Raynoma, Berry, Robert Bateman, Brian Holland, and anyone else hanging around. When running Motown escalated, Louvain took Miss Ray's place in the Rayber Singers who disbanded around 1962 when the Temptations, and the Supremes started doing sessions. Early Andante assignments included Eddie Holland's Jamie and Mary Well's "Laughing Boy." The group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops, Jimmy Ruffin, Edwin Starr, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, among others, along with the occasional non-Motown recording. The Andantes were used as vocal substitutes for Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong on many of The Supremes' recordings done in 1968 and 1969. They were also called upon to overdub and smooth out The Marvelettes background vocals records.