By Motowner (208.4.27.140) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 08:18 am:

I've just learned that Pat Lewis and Telma Hopkins (from Dawn) were Andantes at some point. Does anyone know when they were a part of the group? and what part did they sing? So far I know Louvain Demps was the 1st soprano, Marlene Barrow-Tate was the 2nd soprano/tenor and Jackie Hicks was the alto. Also There is a song on Cellarful of Motown by the Lewis sisters "Dont Make Me Live Without Your Love". Was Pat a part of the Lewis Sisters? I also know that the Andantes had families in the 60's and were not always able to be "on Hand" so any idea who else may have subed for the ladies?

By RD (63.188.33.80) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 09:20 am:

Helen and Kay Lewis (the Lewis Sisters) are white singers and songwriters who cut their first record in the '50s. They are not related to Pat Lewis.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 09:22 am:

Pat Lewis has no connection with the Lewis
Sisters - they were two white girls.

Billie Rae Calvin and Brenda Evans of the
original Undisputed Truth worked as background
singers for Motown before the Truth was formed.

By Reese (12.15.169.254) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 09:40 am:

I think Telma Hopkins was more of a sub than an actual member. In the Girl Groups book, one of the Andantes mentioned that they had trained her. Telma also gave credit to the Andantes when she appeared on LIVE FROM LA WITH TANYA HART back in the 90s.

By Vickie (198.81.26.231) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 09:48 am:

Telma says that's her on "Shaft"
in the background...


Vickie

By acooolcat (210.200.105.243) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 10:36 am:

I think Telma and Pat got involved with The Andantes once the original group started to work at Golden World, around '65 - '66.
Berry Gordy told the three original members that he didn't want them to sing for any other company - the competetion, and Lovain told me she stopped going. It's the same story as the Funk Brothers.
I think the other two Andantes may have continued doing freelance work, and took Pat and Telma as members. Pat and Telma both did a lot of background work at Golden World.
Graham

By Reese (12.15.169.254) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 10:56 am:

If you have a vinyl copy of the SHAFT album, there is a photo of Telma, and I believe, Pat Lewis. Pat was a member of Isaac Hayes backup group for quite a few years.

By boynextdoor (67.24.156.170) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 01:09 pm:

Weren't Billie Rae Calvin and Brenda Evans in a girl group called The Delicates? Freddi Poole of the Former Ladies of The Supremes was in that group.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 01:18 pm:

Boynextdoor,

Yes - the Delicates was their pre-Motown group
(the group had a few singles on Challenge while
they were still in Los Angeles). Bobby Taylor
met them and brought them to Motown.

Your post is the first mention I've seen of Freddi
Poole in connection with the Delicates.

The Delicates on Challenge have no connection with
any other group called the Delicates.

Davie

By motown_david (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 02:22 pm:

There's a great picture of the Delicates in the present edition of Chatbusters, a great British magazine dedicated to all things Motown. Freddi is featured of course.
David.