News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Sunday January 11th 2026
MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS Bring Minneapolis Much Needed HEATWAVE
Martha Reeves
By Raymond Jackson
It was Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Diana Ross & the Supremes, and Martha Reeves & the Vandellas that brought Motown Records, unheralded success and worldwide spotlights.
It is, however, Martha Reeves and her current Vandellas, that continue to glow and shine now; in the new millennium.
Returning to The Dakota Jazz Nightclub, 1010 Nicollet Ave., in Loring Park Neighborhood, northwest of Phillips Community, on January 11 & 12, they did four shows on our two coldest nights of this current winter season. Martha and her two youngest sisters, Lois and Stephanie, her current Vandellas, brought back many memories to their four fully packed houses.
In regard to her Dakota Nightclub audiences, who enjoyed light to heavy dining that created quite an aroma, she stated, “I recognize many off you as members of my old hippie following.”
You see, Martha & the Vandellas reached International stardom in 1964, with their hit, ”˜Dancin”' In The Streets”', co-written by the late Marvin Gaye and Ivory Joe Hunter., to which she gave great tribute for her years of success.
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“Who Dyed?” “What is next to Which?” “Who”'s on First?” *
The truth of the revisionist history stories of who was buried first and who is buried where is that Vienna Hodsdon and her grandmother, Joan Wardell, were buried in Lot 101, Block B, in the far southeast corner of the cemetery in 1875 and 1858, respectively. The first burial at Layman”'s Cemetery now called Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery was 1853.
By Sue Hunter Wier
Uncle Peter first? Joan Wardwell second?, all at Hodsdon”'s at Bloomington and Lake Farm next to Layman”'s
In the late 19-teens and early 1920s several newspaper articles claimed that “Uncle” Peter Wardell (sometimes Wardwell or Waddell) was the second (or even the first) person buried in Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery. He was buried, so the stories go, either under what is now the bus stop at Cedar Avenue and Lake Street or in the far southeastern corner of the cemetery at Lake Street and 21st Avenue. Supposedly, Uncle Peter was an employee of Martin Layman who had moved to Minnesota with members of the Layman family in 1853. There”'s only one problem””“Uncle” Peter didn”'t exist.
The confusion about this imaginary man is understandable, though. There is a person with a similar name who was among the earliest burials in the cemetery.… Read the rest ““Who Dyed?” “What is next to Which?” “Who”'s on First?” *”
The Passing of Elder Carol Littlewolf
On Martin Luther King Day, some of us were gathered at the Minneapolis American Indian Center to honor the life of Carol Littlewolf, an elder younger than I who passed the previous Wednesday””just as she predicted. A wheelchair-bound whiz who served people through her job at Hennepin County and her community and her family. She was remembered for her marathon canasta parties and extravagant lavishing of gifts beyond her means on those she loved. A complicated person who loved simply and effortlessly, she was my teacher.
I wrote: Thank you, Carol! You have been a great teacher. You taught us to be patient, to be forgiving, to listen well. You taught us to celebrate those we love while we can. You taught us to ride the Red Ponie, your absolute favorite! YYou taught us courage to stand up to the doctors and demand what we need to go forth. You taught us that Love is the answer and for that we will always love you and remember you forever.
Bob [Albee]
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