Former Motown singer Martha Reeves loses Detroit primary, says she’ll focus on music career

Former Motown singer loses Detroit council seat

DETROIT — Former Motown singer Martha Reeves’ tenure on the Detroit City Council will end after one term.

Reeves lost in the city’s nonpartisan primary Tuesday.

The 68-year-old Reeves tells Detroit’s WDIV-TV that she’ll concentrate on her music career.

Her first record was released in 1961. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 as a member of Martha & The Vandellas.

Of the six incumbents running for re-election, only Reeves failed to move on to the Nov. 6 general election.

She has been criticized for missing council meetings and for voting against a state plan to turn Detroit’s Cobo Center over to a regional authority. The convention center hosts the North American International Auto Show each January.