strange cousin susan

1961 - Motown releases what would be its first number one hit, “Please Mr. Postman” by The Marvelettes.

From wikipedia:

The Marvelettes were an American singing girl group on the Motown label. Motown’s first successful female vocal group, the Marvelettes are most notable for recording the label’s first US #1 pop hit, “Please Mr. Postman”, and for setting the precedent for later Motown girl groups such as Martha and the Vandellas and The Supremes.

During their eight-year run on the Billboard charts, the group scored nineteen top forty American R&B singles and ten top forty American pop singles. Of these hits, three were top ten pop singles and nine were top ten R&B singles, and one, “Please Mr. Postman,” was number one on both charts.

The group that became the first Motown success story had pretty small beginnings. Lacking confidence in their singing abilities, Gladys Horton and Georgia Dobbins formed the Casinyets (or “Can’t Sing Yets”) in their hometown, Inkster, Michigan, with backing vocalists Georgeanna Tillman, Wyanetta (usually spelled “Juanita”) Cowart, and Katherine Anderson.^[1]

In 1961 the quintet, now called The Marvels, entered the Inkster High School talent show, where they finished fourth. Though only the first three winners could win the prize of a trip to audition for the new Motown record company, an exception was made and they were allowed to audition as well. In April they did this for Motown executives Brian Holland and Robert Bateman, with the girls alternating lead parts. They auditioned for Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, who scheduled a second audition, after asking if the group had any original material.