GIVING IT TO YOU

Anyone who’s been on a dance floor in the past, say, quarter-century has probably heard the musical force that is Martha Wash’s voice. Wash began her career as a back-up singer for ’70s icon Sylvester; along with Izora Rhodes, they were Two Tons O’ Fun. After being renamed The Weather Girls, the duo had its biggest hit with the disco tune ‘It’s Raining Men.’ As a soloist, Wash has sung on such hits as Black Box’s ‘Everybody, Everybody,’ C&C Music Factory’s ‘Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)’ and ‘Give It To You’ (from her own CD). Most recently, she released the single ‘You Lift Me Up’ from her own label, Purple Rose Records.

The dance diva will perform at Hydrate on October 29 (However, many may be surprised by her appearance now that’s she dropped about 75 pounds.) She recently took some moments to tell Nightspots about a few of her favorite things.

Favorite childhood memory: I guess it’s probably standing on a table while singing in church. It’s when I started singing and started my career.

Favorite place where she’s performed: I like to go to Italy. The people are so nice – and I like the food! [Laughs] I always have a nice time when I’m there. I like Florence and some of the smaller towns. I don’t think I’ll live there, though.

Favorite quality in a man: It has to be humor. It can sometimes carry you through tough times if you have a good sense of humor.

Favorite up-and-coming artist: I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head. [Nightspots, jokingly: You mean someone like Britney isn’t at the top of your list?] Uh… no. Sorry! [Laughs]

Favorite decade: Let’s see. I guess the ’80s. I’m trying to be careful now… I’m not going back too far now. [Laughs] I really like the music from the late ’70s and early ’80s. [NS: It couldn’t be the fashion.] I never tripped on the fashion until years later – but at the time, everybody thought they were looking good. You look back, though, and ask ‘Hey, what was I thinking?’

As an aside, people are saying that Madonna is bringing back disco [with her new CD, Confessions on a Dance Floor]. I’m thinking that it never really left. People in the mainstream didn’t know that. Disco music never really left; they just changed it to dance music and made the beats the little faster.

Favorite thing about Sylvester: It was probably rehearsals. In the early days, we used to have fun. We’d be there for hours learning songs and putting shows together. Prior to that time I hadn’t really been in that type of environment, with bands and everything. That was my training ground for being in this business. As a person, he was cool. He’d have his moments, but he was cool.

Favorite female singer: Aretha Franklin. I prefer her older songs; I grew up on the old stuff. [NS: Do you have a favorite Aretha song?] No way; it’s too hard to choose. I used to sing her songs in high school all the time. You can’t pick just one – and that’s a good thing.

Favorite male singer: There are a whole bunch, but I’d probably say Eddie Kendricks [as a soloist and as part of The Temptations]. I liked the pureness of his tenor. [NS: I actually like Donny Hathaway.] That was my second choice! He had such a soulfulness about him. I also like Marvin Gaye.

Favorite guilty pleasure: Oooh! [Laughs] I can’t give you one… I guess it’s shopping. I’ve learned how to order by catalog and that’s a dangerous thing for me. Honey, don’t put a catalog in front of me!