The Valadiers, a Detroit vocal group formed in 1959, was composed of Stuart Avig, Marty Coleman, Art Glasser, and Jerry Light. They became Motown's first white vocal group and achieved their only chart success with "Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam)", a song co-written by the members with Motown staffers Robert Bateman, Brian Holland, and Ronnie Dunbar. Released on Motown’s Miracle label in 1961, it reached number 89 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the label’s only hit. The group toured with artists including the Isley Brothers, Marv Johnson, and Wilbert Harrison, but subsequent releases failed to chart, and they disbanded in 1964. Avig later recorded as Stuart Ames and revived the group with new members in 2003. Coleman, under the name Martin Cohen, became a Motown staff songwriter, writing for artists such as The Spinners and Gladys Knight & the Pips.
