The Gemini had an open-mic hour with a live backing band and that’s how we got on. Pearl would refuse to sing anything fun—for some reason she hated the word baby, she thought it was too worldly or some nonsense—so that knocked out a lot of the Motown hits right there. And honey, this was 1969, 1970 Detroit! I was trying to meet Mr. Berry Gordy! It was very reasonable that one day he would walk into the Gemini looking for his next starlets, and we’re up there singing Christmas carols? But I always meant for it to be Pearl, I really did. She had the voice; I was just the backup.
