Rosalind Ashford helped the group to distinguish themselves from the other girl groups in the label including the pop-oriented Marvelettes and the doo-wop-influenced Supremes with a rougher, brassier gospel-influenced sound. Reeves was a brassy alto while Annette was a deep contralto, and Rosalind was a high soprano. Like the Supremes' Florence Ballard, the Marvelettes' Wanda Rogers and The Four Tops' Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Ashford registered as the high background vocal in Vandellas records. After "Quicksand" gave the group a third top forty pop hit, Beard left to start a family with her new spouse. Reeves recruited a former member of The Velvelettes,
Carol Ballard own business, Kite Books, which produces worksheets and teachers' resources. Carol Ballard Carol Ballard is an author of more than 80 non-fiction books. Specializing in informational books for children and teens, her focus is toward the 7- to 14-year-old group. After graduating from Leeds University in plant sciences, Ballard did post-graduate research and was awarded a PhD in Immunology. She has many years experience as a science teacher and co-ordinator and has written articles for teachers on various aspects of science teaching, and teachers' materials for classroom use. In addition to her writing, Carol works as a freelance consultant for