Died On This Date (January 6, 1980) Georgeanna Tillman / The Marvelettes
themusicsover Georgeanna Tillman
February 6, 1943 – January 6, 1980
Georgeanna Tillman was an original member of Motown’s legendary girl group, the Marvelettes. Formed in 1960, the group were responsible for Motown’s first #1 pop single with “Please Mister Postman.” Tillman left the group in 1965 due to the effects of lupus and sickle-cell anemia which were making it near impossible to continue. She succumbed to the diseases on January 6, 1980, passing away at the age of 36.
Gladys Horton was the founding lead singer of influential Motown girl group, the Marvelettes. Formed in Detroit in 1960, the Marvelettes would go on to have 21 R&B charting hits and 23 to make Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart. Their most popular songs were “Beechwood 4-5789,” “Too Many Fish In The Sea,” and of course, “Please, Mr. Postman,” which was Motown’s first #1 pop hit. They were the blueprint for future hit makers like Martha Reeves & The Vandellas and the Supremes. Horton left the group in 1967 but reunited with the group during the late ’80s. Gladys Horton was 66 when she passed away in a Los Angeles nursing home on January 26, 2011. She had been recuperating from a previous stroke. Co-founding member, 
