(2005)
Brenda Holloway is one of the lesser known Motown alumni who many critics felt was too soulful for the label’s pop-chart aims. She was Motown’s first act from California when she was signed with them at eighteen years old. Holloway was was one of a few women at Motown who wrote songs although her biggest hit “Every Little Bit Hurts” was written by Ed Cobb. ” Her biggest success as a songwriter came from “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” co-written with her sister Patrice Holloway, Frank Wilson and Berry Gordy. There is her version of the song that came out in 1967 but the jazz rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears made the song popular in the mainstream. Holloway also has the distinction of being one of three female acts to open for the Beatles as she did for the first now legendary rock concert in 1965 at Shea Stadium in Queens, NY. The singer-songwriter retired from the music business in 1970 and returned in the ’80s with a gospel album and by the end of the decade she starting performing secular music again. Several people have covered “Every Little Bit Hurts” including George Clinton, Teena Marie, Alicia Keys, The Clash and The Spencer Davis Group. Holloway released her last album My Love Is Your Love in 2005.
