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,
Melvin J. Ballard January 7, 1919. As an apostle, Ballard opened up missionary work in South America in 1925 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ballard served in the Quorum until his death in Salt Lake City from leukemia. Sylvester Q. Cannon was called to fill the vacancy caused by Ballard's death. Ballard was buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery. Melvin J. Ballard Melvin Joseph Ballard (February 9, 1873 – July 30, 1939) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). His grandson, M. Russell Ballard, also became an apostle. Ballard was