Meeting Shirley Alston Reeves, Original Lead Singer of The Shirelles

I've been a fan of The Shirelles from around the time I became a Supremes fan...so around 2000 I guess. Although there is quite a bit of Shirelles stuff out there, there are a lot more things "Supreme" related to collect so my Shirelles collection is a bit lackluster, although that's changing slowly. I got to see Shirley Alston Reeves, who is the original lead singer of The Shirelles, a total of three times now...the first two were a few years ago in Lancaster, PA at The American Music Theater as part of an Oldies revue. She was great and put on a solid set, but being a part of a revue she wasn't on stage long. I didn't get to meet her at those two concerts sadly but I knew one day I would get the chance to see her again and attempt to meet the woman who, along with Beverly Lee, Doris Jackson & Micki Harris, helped create "the girl group sound".

Shirley does not have an official website and tracking down her concerts is a bit of work. I usually go to Google news, type her name in and hope something comes up...and sometimes it does and I find out the day after a concert she was in the area. Well, as luck would have it I found out she was doing a FREE concert in North Wildwood, just a few blocks from the famous Wildwood boardwalk at the Lou Booth Amphitheater.

As I got to the small outdoor venue, Shirley along with her band were doing sound check and chatting with the audience. Someone had asked her to do "A Thing of the Past" and she along with her 2 background singers were gathered around the keyboardist trying to remember & work on remembering the song which peaked at 41 on the charts. Although the song is not a well known hit, it's one of Shirley's favorite songs. I found a seat on a bench near the stage and talked to the 2 older women in front of me who loved the fact that a young man was interested in the music of their generation. I asked if they thought Shirley would do a meet and greet after and they said to just walk up to the stage when she got off during sound check...so I did. I had in my hand my hard to find copy of Ms. Alston's first solo album, "Lady Rose" (which I found in a record shop in Newport News, VA), The Shirelles "Spontaneous Combustion", a sharpie and my camera.

Shirley was talking to a few of her friends who came to the show and then spotted me and said sweetly "A fan!" and I walked up to her nervously. I was standing next to someone who I had listened to so much growing up. She was dressed casually and looked great for someone who had recently celebrated their 69th birthday. I introduced myself and told her I was from Lancaster, PA-over 3 1/2 hours away-and came down to see her do her show and she said she wasn't feeling so great and that she'd try to do the best show possible. She was surprised I had tracked down the "Lady Rose" album and as she signed the front & back of the album ("...just in case one of the signatures fade, you'll have the other one...") told me a bit about Billy Vera who played a big role in making it. I asked her if she knew where I could find "Shirley sings The Shirelles", her 2nd album and she said "Good luck with that one, it's hard to find". As she signed above the picture of her on the cover of the "Spontaneous Combustion" album she explained that the photo was shot at a different concert and not the one featured on the album. She also explained that she was ill during the concert photographed on the cover and then pointed out "You see here how Doris is in a different dress than the rest of us? She was pregnant and couldn't fit into our regular stage costumes". After signing and chit chatting for a bit more, I asked for a picture and she took two with me (my favorite one is posted here)I then asked if she was taking requests and when she said "What would you like to hear?" I said "Big John" and she said "I think we can arrange that, give me one second to ask the band"...she went to her music director and talked to him about the song and came back with "We'll do it for ya tonight". I gave her a hug and said have a great show and off she went to get ready for the show. "Wow!" I thought to myself...I had finally met Shirley and she was so incredibly sweet...one of THE nicest musicians I have met.

I made my way back to my seat and talked to the older ladies in front of me. One used to live in Delaware and also the Poconos and the other used to live in Holtwood where I lived for quite a few years growing up. We talked about our love of older artists, the harsh winter we had and the hot weather of the past few days.

About quarter of 8, there was an opening ceremony which featured some of the local towns people who talked about upcoming events. Around 8, the band came out and played 3 songs to warm up the crowd...most of which mostly consisted of older people who were teenagers when The Shirelles themselves were teenagers and having hit after hit.

On the heels of applause, Shirley & her two background singers, Iris Lammers & Cassie Hawkins, made their enterance to the tune of "Johnny B. Goode" and continued onto a string of hits by other artists including "Shake", "Tossin' & Turnin'", "Chapel of Love". Also included was a tribute to the Girl Groups which included "Stop! In the Name of Love", "Jimmy Mack" among others. The crowd was energetic and during the songs, people were dancing in front of the stage and 2 senior citizens in the crowd even did a bit of pole dancing with the lighting poles causing Shirley to say she "...never had anyone pole dance at one of her concerts before". The energy was in the air and everyone was having fun singing along. Shirley sounded great, as did her band.

After the cover songs, she introduced her Shirelles material with their first big hit "I Met Him On a Sunday (Rhonde-Rhonde)" and then continued on through "Mama Said", "Baby It's You" "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", "Everybody Loves a Lover" & "Tonight's The Night". During "Soldier Boy", the Shirelles biggest hit, Shirley, Iris & Cassie did a high kick routine in the middle of the song to a roar of applause showing that age is nothing but a number.

Towards the end of her set, she said she had two requests. The first she was going to do was "A Thing of the Past" but the band had started into "Big John". She said "Big John" was for Brian who was out there somewhere and that her favorite was "A Thing of The Past" so whichever the band wanted to do first was up to them and they started into "A Thing of the Past", which sounded fantastic. Next she said "Okay, where's Brian? He wanted me to do "Big John" for him. Brian, are you out there? Stand up Brian...There you are, I see you! This is for you, don't laugh if we mess up" and they went into a rousing version of "Big John", a Top 40 hit for the group back in 1961 and ended it with "Hope you enjoyed it Brian"...and I did, very much :)

She ended her set with 2 medleys, the first consisting of "Up On the Roof", "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Be My Baby" and for her finale "Twist", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" & "Blue Suede Shoes". She thanked everyone for coming out and "Brian for coming down" which made my already big smile, huge. I made my in front of the stage with the crowd that had danced and gathered before this Doo-Wop icon and when she saw me, she pointed at me, blew a few kisses at me and then as I held out my hand, she grabbed it for a few moments". Even though the show ended and the band departed, she remained on stage, talking and shaking hands with everyone who had gathered.

This was one of my favorite shows I've been too and not just because it was kinda personalized. Shirley Alston Reeves just knows how to put on a great show and knows what her audience wants. Her sweetness and charm shines through during her set as she talks back and forth with the audience between hits. If you get a chance to see her, go...you won't be disappointed and I can pretty much guarantee you'll know just about every song.

Just a heads up for those who want to know, she is doing shows at Mount Airy Casino in Mount Pocono, PA on August 5 & August 19 at 2:30pm. She is also appearing at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA (just outside DC) on August 28 as part of an Ultimate Doo Wop Show.


...and just a side note...I found a few copies of "Shirley Sings The Shirelles" on Ebay, all for close to $20. I checked a local record store and after some hunting around in there, I found it for $4 and I think almost let out a loud "YES!" lol...it's definitely worth whatever price you pay. Shirley's vocals are front in center, hardly any background vocals and different arrangements of her Shirelles hits. I also googled her 3rd album, "With a Little Help From My Friends" and managed to find and download it-and I do plan on finding this on vinyl as well. A great collection of covers with her doing lead and the original group doing the background.

(Clockwise: Micki, Beverly, Shirley, Doris)
(Photo from Amazon.com)

---Setlist---
(not in accurate order for most part and may be missing a few songs but it'll give you an idea of her show)
Johnny B. Goode
Shake
Rock n Roll
Tossin' and Turnin'
Heatwave
Chapel of Love
Girl Group Medley (includes Jimmy Mack, Stop! In The Name of Love, Where Did Our Love Go, One Fine Day)
I Met Him On a Sunday
Tonight's The Night
Mama Said
Baby, It's You
Soldier Boy
Everybody Loves a Lover
Foolish Little Girl
Will You Love Me Tomorrow
A Thing of the Past
Big John
Medley of Up On The Roof, Some Kind of Wonderful & Be My Baby
Finale: Twist/Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On/Blue Suede Shoes & Hound Dog