Detroit Women in Rhythm and Blues

Detroit Women work hard to create their
unique, award-winning sound

   Some of the hardest working women in Detroit have a little advice for anyone interested in personal and professional success:
    Always remember it’s about the music.
    Detroit Women in Rhythm and Blues, who recently swept the Detroit Music Awards, all have award-winning careers. Ranging in age from 17 to let’s-not-talk-about-it, these unique stars put on a rip-roarin’ performance one reviewer called “the blues served with a three-fingered shot of funk, jazz and gospel.”
    “It’s a very strong group,” said founder Kate Hart, “because everybody’s from a different genre.”
    When Hart moved from Seattle about 2 years ago, the spirit of an all-women’s group she founded there came along for the ride. Her call for audition tapes to form a Detroit group received 35 responses.
    Hart chose women who could sing well, regardless of style. And she had one other requirement: “I don’t hire people who don’t know it’s all about the music.”
    Some have dropped out, said manager Terry Koggenhop. Varying vocal and musical styles can make singing together a challenge. Not everyone is cut out for a Detroit Women performance, which means sharing the stage with five to seven other strong vocalists.
    The show is only half the story; Detroit Women is also a successful business venture. Hart and Koggenhop work together on deals that have booked them everywhere from a Detroit Tigers game to the Ann Arbor Blues Festival.
    “Women are really smart,” Koggenhop said. “We know how to get in there and get what we need.”
    When Hart broke into the business 30 years ago, women had a distinct advantage. Club owners and booking agents would get calls from 100 men – and one woman.
    “Besides that, I’m nicer, I have manners and I know how to speak on the phone,” Hart added, smiling broadly.
    Those qualities also drive her management of Detroit Women. Scheduling conflicts, for example, aren’t treated like mortal sins.
    “To Kate’s credit, she’s a really nice person,” said group member Ping Spells. “She understands.”
    Booking and rehearsing around eight women’s schedules has taught Hart some valuable lessons.
    “I’ve learned to go with the flow,” she said. “If you need to be right, you’ve got a problem.”
    She has little time for myths or stereotypes about women working together. While she’s the “head honcho,” what makes the group work is something outside and inside them all: the music.
    “Everybody who sees this says it’s so much fun,” Spells said. “That’s because we have fun.”
    They also share a pride in each other’s accomplishments and talents. Professional jealousy simply doesn’t exist among them.
    “There a respect here, and you can see it on the stage,” said Koggenhop.
    It all comes back to a common vision, the foundation upon which Detroit Women of Rhythm and Blues have built a business and solid friendships.
    “The entity that music is,” Spells said, “is the great equalizer.”

To learn more about Detroit Women, visit their Web site.