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Maxine Powell
Maxine Powell
Maxine Powell
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Maxine Powell (May 30, 1915 – October 14, 2013) was an American etiquette instructor and talent agent. She taught grooming, poise, and social graces to many recording artists at Motown in the 1960s.[1][2][3][4]

Key Information

Biography

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Born Maxine Blair in Texarkana, Texas, she was raised by her aunt in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1933, attended Madam C.J. Walker's School of Beauty Culture, and worked as a manicurist to finance her acting studies; she also studied elocution and dance.[5] In the early 1940s she worked as a model and as a personal maid, and she developed a one-woman show, An Evening with Maxine Powell, which she performed with a group at the Chicago Theatre.[5]

She moved to Detroit, Michigan, in 1945 and taught self-improvement and modeling classes before opening the Maxine Powell Finishing and Modeling School in 1951. She bought a large house in 1953, which became the largest banquet facility in Detroit for African Americans, and worked as a talent agent, bringing black productions and artists to Detroit theaters and placing black models in advertising campaigns.[2][5] Around this time she hired a printing business to prepare programs for her annual Las Vegas–style fashion show. The business was operated by the family of Berry Gordy. She and Gordy became friends, and in the early 1960s he asked her opinion of the young artists that had signed with his record company, Motown.[2]

In 1964, she closed her school to be a consultant to Motown's talent. When Motown expanded into new offices in 1966, she was hired to work in the company's department of artist personal development, teaching artists such as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5 and the Supremes, whose Mary Wilson stated Powell taught them more than stage presence, but "tools for us as human beings". In Powell's words, she turned them into performers "fit for kings and queens."[1] While at Motown, Powell also worked as the costumer for the Supremes, often creating outfits from outfits available from local bridal shops. Powell left Motown in 1969 and taught personal development courses from 1971 until 1985 at Wayne County Community College.[1][2][3][4]

On May 31, 2013, Powell suffered a fall. Her health steadily declined until her death of natural causes on October 14, 2013, at the age of 98 at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Michigan.[1][3][4]

References

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Maxine Powell

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Maxine Powell is an American etiquette instructor and artist development coach known for her transformative work at Motown Records during the 1960s, where she taught grooming, poise, stage presence, and social graces to the label's young performers. Her rigorous training helped artists from modest backgrounds project sophistication and professionalism on international stages, contributing significantly to Motown's crossover appeal and polished image. Powell's classes emphasized self-discipline, proper posture, eye contact, and refined behavior, with memorable instructions such as singing with eyes open and avoiding certain gestures to maintain elegance. Born on May 30, 1915, in Texarkana, Texas, Powell was raised in Chicago by her aunt, who taught her etiquette and refinement from an early age. She studied acting, elocution, dance, and movement, performed in theater productions, and created her own one-woman show before relocating to Detroit in the 1940s. In 1951 she established the Maxine Powell Finishing and Modeling School, which grew into a leading institution for self-improvement, modeling, and etiquette within the African American community, where she also placed Black models in mainstream advertising and organized fashion events. In 1964, Powell joined Motown as director of its artist development department, often referred to as its finishing school, at the invitation of Berry Gordy. She worked directly with performers including the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Martha Reeves, and Smokey Robinson, helping them refine their presentation for venues ranging from the Copacabana to Buckingham Palace and the White House. Berry Gordy and artists alike credited her with instilling lasting class and confidence that became hallmarks of Motown's legacy. Powell's guiding philosophy, summarized in her favorite quote "Beauty Is Self-Discipline," extended beyond Motown after she left in 1969; she taught personal development courses at Wayne County Community College from 1971 to 1985 and continued as a consultant. She died on October 14, 2013, at the age of 98 in Southfield, Michigan, remembered by Motown alumni and executives as an essential force behind the label's enduring elegance and success.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Upbringing

Maxine Powell was born on May 30, 1915, in Texarkana, Texas. She was raised in Chicago by her aunt Mary James Lloyd, who instilled strict discipline along with lessons in etiquette and refinement. Lloyd's rigorous approach to child-rearing emphasized proper behavior, poise, and self-respect, profoundly influencing Powell's personal discipline and self-image during her formative years. This upbringing laid the foundation for Powell's later philosophy that "Beauty Is Self-Discipline."

Education and Artistic Training

Maxine Powell graduated from Hyde Park High School in Chicago in 1933. She attended Madame C.J. Walker's School of Beauty Culture and worked as a manicurist to finance her acting studies. Powell pursued additional artistic training through eight years of elocution study with James Baron of the Negro Drama League. She also received dance and movement lessons from Sammy Dyer in Chicago. These specialized studies in speech and physical expression built upon her earlier education and shaped her expertise in poise, communication, and performance fundamentals.

Early Career

Performing and Modeling in Chicago

Maxine Powell developed and performed her one-woman show An Evening with Maxine Powell in Chicago, featuring pantomime and skits as key elements of the production. She also appeared with the first African American group to perform at the Chicago Theatre. To sustain herself during this period, Powell worked as a personal maid to wealthy clients while teaching etiquette classes. She further organized fashion shows through the Fashionettes, a group she assembled to present these events. In 1945, a magazine article on the Gotham Hotel in Detroit prompted her relocation from Chicago.

Relocation to Detroit and Business Ventures

Maxine Powell relocated to Detroit in 1945 after visiting the city for eleven days, inspired by a magazine article about the Gotham Hotel's grandeur. Soon after arriving, she took a job as a manicurist in the hotel's barbershop, where she lived, and redecorated her own room in a way that prompted the owner to apply similar enhancements throughout the property. She began teaching self-improvement and modeling classes shortly after her move, establishing herself in community education and personal development. As a member of the Zonta Club and serving as entertainment director for its African American chapter in Detroit, Powell advocated for greater inclusion by bringing Black productions and artists to local venues. In 1953, she purchased and remodeled a large house on Ferry Street, transforming it into the largest banquet facility available to African Americans in Detroit at the time. Through her own agency, she also became the first to place Black models with Detroit automobile companies and in mainstream print advertisements. Some sources cite her relocation year as 1948, but her own oral history interview with The HistoryMakers prioritizes 1945. These early ventures in education, advocacy, and hospitality laid the groundwork for her subsequent endeavors in Detroit.

Maxine Powell Finishing and Modeling School

Founding and Growth

In 1951, Maxine Powell founded the Maxine Powell Finishing and Modeling School in Detroit, Michigan, establishing one of the city's early institutions dedicated to etiquette, poise, and professional modeling training, with a particular emphasis on creating opportunities for Black women in a segregated industry. The school quickly grew by offering courses in posture, grooming, wardrobe selection, and runway techniques, attracting students seeking to enter fashion and promotional work. A major achievement was Powell's successful placement of Black models in advertising campaigns for Detroit's major automobile companies and in mainstream print advertisements for the first time, breaking barriers in an era when such opportunities were rarely available to African Americans. To showcase her students' skills and elevate the school's profile, she produced fashion shows that drew audiences and industry attention in Detroit. Among the notable students trained at the school was Gwen Gordy Fuqua, who later became connected to the Motown organization. The school's pioneering role in professionalizing Black modeling and promoting dignity and elegance in presentation helped establish Powell as an influential figure in Detroit's fashion and community scenes during the 1950s and early 1960s. The institution continued operations until 1964, when Powell closed it to focus full-time on artist development at Motown Records.

Achievements in Modeling and Etiquette Instruction

Maxine Powell's Finishing and Modeling School, founded in Detroit in 1951, established itself as a pioneering institution for African American women seeking professional training in modeling and etiquette. Recognized as the city's first modeling agency dedicated to Black talent, it provided comprehensive instruction in poise, posture, stage presence, refined behavior, and self-improvement, helping students navigate societal barriers through class and style. In 1953, Powell expanded operations by purchasing and remodeling a large house on Ferry Street, transforming it into a prominent banquet facility and school headquarters for the African American community. The school's most significant achievements included successfully placing Black models in advertising campaigns for Detroit's major automobile companies for the first time, marking a breakthrough in an industry previously inaccessible to African Americans. Her students also appeared in Detroit's daily newspapers in positive contexts, a rarity in the 1950s when Black individuals were seldom featured outside negative stories, thereby advancing visibility and representation. These placements and media appearances underscored the school's role as a groundbreaker in race relations and professional opportunities for Black models. Powell's rigorous training produced numerous successful graduates, including pageant winners and professional models, with her emphasis on etiquette and personal development enabling students to project confidence and refinement in competitive environments. Among her notable trainees was Gwen Gordy Fuqua and other members of the Gordy family, whose experiences at the school later influenced Berry Gordy's decision to recruit Powell for artist development at Motown. The school operated successfully until Powell closed it in 1964 to pursue that opportunity, leaving a lasting legacy of empowerment through disciplined instruction in modeling and etiquette.

Motown Artist Development

Recruitment and Role at Motown

In 1964, Maxine Powell was recruited to Motown by Gwen Gordy Fuqua, Berry Gordy's sister and a top model from Powell's own finishing school, who convinced Berry Gordy to hire Powell full-time and establish an in-house finishing program for the label's talent. Berry Gordy offered her a position in the newly created artist development department—which Powell herself named—where she headed efforts in artist personal development. She worked alongside choreographer Cholly Atkins and vocal instructor Maurice King in this department, which operated under associate Harvey Fuqua. The artist development department was based in a building on the corner of Farnsworth and St. Antoine Streets in Detroit, close to Hitsville USA, Motown's primary offices and studio on West Grand Boulevard. Powell insisted on referring to her program as a "finishing school" rather than a "charm school," reflecting her emphasis on refinement and poise. Classes in the program were compulsory for Motown artists when they were in Detroit. Powell left Motown in 1969, shortly before the company relocated its headquarters to Los Angeles.

Teaching Methods and Philosophy

Maxine Powell's teaching methods at Motown emphasized personal development, grooming, poise, and social graces as essential components of an artist's professional image, rooted in her philosophy that "Beauty Is Self-Discipline." She viewed self-image as paramount, often stating that "Your best friend is your self-image," and believed individuals could cultivate intrinsic beauty through disciplined behavior and presentation. Her overarching goal was to prepare artists for elite environments, declaring "We’re training them for Buckingham Palace and the White House" to instill standards of conduct suitable for prestigious venues and broader societal acceptance. Her instruction focused on precise behavioral corrections to project elegance and control on stage and in public. Artists were taught to avoid grimacing or closing their eyes while singing, to refrain from frowning, finger-snapping, leg-spreading, or protruding buttocks, and to maintain proper posture at all times. She also provided guidance on graceful exits from limousines and other everyday movements to ensure polished appearances in all settings. Powell incorporated practical elements into her sessions, including advice on table manners, handling media interviews, and costume modifications such as padding or alterations to enhance stage presence and visual appeal. Her methods stressed class and refinement to aid crossover success during the era of racial segregation, promoting comportment that transcended stereotypes and positioned Motown artists as sophisticated performers worthy of mainstream acclaim. Detroit-based artists attended her mandatory classes two days a week.

Influence on Specific Artists

Maxine Powell's influence manifested in targeted corrections and lessons that helped individual Motown artists project professionalism and poise on stage and in public. The Supremes benefited particularly from her guidance, with Powell ordering Diana Ross not to grimace when singing but instead to smile and keep her face still to suit upscale venues. This emphasis on facial control extended to the group, as Mary Wilson recalled how Powell's training increased their self-confidence and altered how audiences treated them. Powell also corrected the group's movements, instructing them to "dance with their feet, not their buttocks" and to avoid protruding their buttocks during dances like "the shake," which she deemed inappropriate. Marvin Gaye received specific posture corrections from Powell, who persuaded him to stop slouching and to keep his eyes open while singing, explaining that closed eyes made audiences think he was asleep. She emphasized that "the eyes are the windows to the soul," a principle she applied to enhance his stage presence. The Temptations learned makeup application and personal hygiene from Powell, with Melvin Franklin recalling her instructions on grooming as part of broader rules against frowning, closing eyes while singing, finger-snapping, spreading legs, or protruding buttocks. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas were encouraged to recognize their potential through Powell's flower metaphor, as she told them "some were roses and some were lilies, but we all had the potential to be beautiful." Reeves later credited Powell with teaching self-worth, proper protocol, how to carry oneself with class, and techniques like sitting still, posing for pictures, and walking properly. Smokey Robinson and the Miracles gained fundamental social graces from her classes, which Robinson said instilled the confidence to enter any situation with heads held high. Other artists experienced more limited but still meaningful input; Powell noted she did little for Stevie Wonder because he was "always beautiful," while she worked with Tammi Terrell on general presentation. These individualized interventions aligned with her broader aim of preparing performers for elite venues such as the Copacabana in 1965.

Later Career

Teaching at Wayne County Community College

After her departure from Motown, Maxine Powell taught personal development courses at Wayne County Community College in Detroit from 1971 to 1985. This academic position enabled her to continue sharing her expertise in etiquette, poise, and personal presentation with a new generation of students in a structured educational environment. Following the conclusion of her tenure at the college in 1985, Powell transitioned to working as a consultant on an individual basis.

Consulting and Appearances

Powell worked as an individual consultant on personal development, providing guidance in etiquette, grooming, and poise to clients on a freelance basis throughout her later years. In the 2000s, while Martha Reeves served on the Detroit City Council (2005–2009), Reeves hired Powell to speak at convalescent homes and schools. Reeves stated that Powell taught motivation and how to walk, talk, and be socially acceptable. Powell made occasional media appearances as herself in documentaries and television programs discussing Motown's legacy. She appeared in an episode of E! True Hollywood Story in 2003. In 2013, she was credited as the Etiquette Coach for Motown Records in the TV series Soul Power!. She also had a minor on-screen role as a church member in the 2010 short film Reunion. In August 2013, Powell received a tribute at the Motown Museum in Detroit, where Smokey Robinson and others honored her enduring influence on the label's artists through etiquette and artist development.

Personal Life and Death

Personal Philosophy

Maxine Powell's personal philosophy centered on self-improvement, the power of positive self-perception, and the inherent worth and potential of every individual. She believed that one's background did not define their future, asserting "with me it is not where you come from, it's where you're going." Throughout her life, she emphasized discovering one's authentic self and uniqueness, stating that individuals should "find out what a unique human being you are" and recognizing that "no one is as great as you. You're your own person." She held an optimistic view of human potential, declaring "I've never met anyone that I could not improve and they stand tall around the world." Powell advocated for rejecting negative conditioning acquired after birth, noting that "anything that we're doing that isn't productive or negative, it's something that we have been conditioned to, it's not the real you" and that growth involves returning to one's innocent, positive essence. She outlined essential life skills as developing the ability to listen, follow positive guidelines consistently, remain determined, and maintain consistency in all endeavors. Her approach to others was rooted in respect and positivity, treating each person as capable of greatness and deserving of dignity. Powell's outlook was shaped by early influences, including the discipline instilled by her aunt. She was married to James Powell, though the marriage later ended in divorce.

Death

Maxine Powell died on October 14, 2013, at the age of 98 in Southfield, Michigan. She passed away at Providence Hospital of natural causes. Her health had steadily declined following a fall on May 31, 2013, and she slipped into a coma in the days before her death. Powell was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.

References

  1. https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/maxine-powell-40
  2. https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/10/15/234738593/remembering-the-woman-who-gave-motown-its-charm
  3. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/22/maxine-powell
  4. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-24532467
  5. https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Famed-Motown-Mentor-Maxine-Powell-Dies-at-Age-98-20131015
  6. https://catalog.freelibrary.org/Record/2613574
  7. https://www.thehistorymakers.org/sites/default/files/A2005_024_EAD.pdf
  8. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/17/arts/music/maxine-powell-motowns-maven-of-style-dies-at-98.html
  9. https://www.metrotimes.com/music-2/song-of-etiquette-2177134/
  10. https://thesmithcenter.com/explore/smith-center-blog/motown-s-finishing-school/
  11. http://teachrock.org/wp-content/uploads/Handout-_Powell_1.pdf
  12. https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnbaldoni/2013/10/31/class-act-lessons-in-style-from-the-queen-of-motown-style/
  13. https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2013/dec/15/maxine-powell-obituary-martha-reeves-observer
  14. https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-maxine-powell-20131020-story.html
  15. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1483691/
  16. https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/music/2013/08/27/robinson-pays-tribute-to-motown/23941810007/
  17. http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/e72b1c-interview-with-maxine-powell-part-1-of-2
  18. http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/bf1194-interview-with-maxine-powell-part-2-of-2
  19. https://obits.columbian.com/us/obituaries/columbian/name/maxine-powell-obituary?id=60245548
  20. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/10/14/obit-maxine-powell-motown/2982505/
  21. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/music-theater-dance/2013/10/14/Powell-Motown-Records-chief-of-charm-dies-at-98/stories/20131014156
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