Shirley Owens

Who is Shirley Owens?

Shirley Alston Reeves was the lead member of the hit singing group, The Shirelles. As well as Owens, the Shirelles consisted of classmates of hers from Passaic High School, New Jersey: Addie "Micki" Harris, Doris Kenner Jackson, and Beverly Lee. Through marriages, she became Shirley Alston and later, Shirley Alston Reeves. Her strong, distinctive voice meant that she was the natural choice for their main lead singer, though Jackson was also featured as lead on several songs as well.

Reeves enjoyed a string of hits with the Shirelles throughout the 1960s. She left the Shirelles in 1975 to begin a solo career, initially recording under the name "Lady Rose". That same year, she recorded an album entitled With A Little Help From My Friends, after the hit song by The Beatles, which featured members of the Flamingos, The Drifters, Shep and the Limelites, The 5 Satins, The Belmonts, Danny & The Juniors, Herman's Hermits and La La Brooks of The Crystals.

The Shirelles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. She also performed on the Doo Wop 51 PBS special in 2000.