Artist Name: Mary Wells

Year Inducted: 2009

Details

Category: Legendary Songs

"My Guy" (W. Robinson) - Mary Wells;  Motown label,  # 1 Billboard Hot 100 - 1964.  Inducted in 2009.

Mary Wells was the first female star on the Motown label. Mary and writer/producer Smokey Robinson combined for seven Top 40 hits from 1962 to 1964. The last of these was "My Guy", Mary's only # 1 recording. Smokey Robinson had a great deal of success writing songs for Wells that featured a calypso-based rhythm, and "My Guy" fits into that general pattern.

Robinson adapted the opening notes of the song from "Canadian Sunset", a 1956 instrumental by Eddie Heywood, and the song is anchored by some incredible playing by the Funk Brothers' bassist, James Jamerson. The backing vocals on "My Guy" are by the Andantes who's "What you say?" responses are a perfect match with Mary's declarations of undying love.

"My Guy" was the first big Motown hit in England, and Mary Wells became the first Motown artist to perform there when she opened for the Beatles on their tour of the United Kingdom in 1964. Mary's recording of "My Guy" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1M5eEJeT38