Martha Reeves’ first album in a decade is arriving with a splash — including a hometown celebration Saturday afternoon (Aug. 8).
The Motown star will be at Dearborn Music from 2 to 4:30 p.m. to sign vinyl and CD copies of “Searching,” which will hit streaming platforms next week ahead of a wider physical release Sept. 14.
“I am overjoyed to be going back to Dearborn Music. I have always been well received there,” Reeves said in a statement. “I’m even more pleased that it’s the Detroit area where my fans will be able to get advance release copies of my new album.”
“Searching” was recorded with producers Delfeayo Marsalis and Chris Roe in New Orleans, and its blend of R&B, jazz and blues marks the first Motown-meets-Big-Easy project of Reeves’ long
career.
The music has already thrust her back onto the British charts: A dance version of the lead single “To Know You is to Love You,” remixed by producer Eric Kupper, just debuted at No. 31 in Music Week, reflecting club play across the U.K.
“To have this Eric Kupper masterpiece makes me appreciate remixed dance music,” Reeves said. “He kept the integrity of the song, which is really important. There’s a reason why he is a master of his craft.”
“It’s great to see a whole new generation listening to Martha’s music,” added Roe, her manager of several years.
The hoopla comes on the heels of an unfortunate viral moment for Reeves just weeks after her 85th birthday. Video of her rough national anthem performance at the Women’s Pro Baseball League inaugural game Aug. 1 whipped up detractors and defenders of the famed voice behind classics like “Dancing in the Street” and “Nowhere to Run.”
Reeves cited “wet and windy” field conditions and a lack of stage monitors in what she called “a historic moment for women in sports.”
“While it wasn’t the performance I had hoped for, I’m grateful to have been there in support of these remarkable athletes and this groundbreaking league,” she said in a statement provided to the Free Press.
Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Martha Reeves heads to Dearborn for album signing ahead of 'Searching' release
