The Supremes
The most successful female group of all time the legendary Supremes started out as a quartet known as the Primettes. In 1959, two 15-year-olds, Florence Ballard of Northwestern High School and Mary Wilson of Northeastern High School, met at a talent show. Mary sang Frankie Lymon songs like “I’m Not a Juvenile Delinquent” while Flo belted out “Ave Maria.” Local manager Milton Jenkins, who had a doo wop group called the Primes (see THE TEMPTATIONS), wanted a sister group to accompany the Primes for stage performances, and he asked Flo to put together such an act. She remembered Mary. The two of them then brought in 16-year-old Betty Travis while Primes member Paul Williams recommended a 15-year-old from Detroit’s Brewster Housing project, Diane Ross of Cass Technical High School. Jenkins christened them the Primettes after Diane was given permission by her parents to join, and the quartet started doing club dates.
Travis was yanked from the Primettes by her parents, who wanted her to pay more attention to her studies. Then Barbara Martin joined, only to exit shortly after – along with Florence – under the same parental conditions. Mary and Diane worked as a duo until Florence and Barbara improved their grades and rejoined.
The group’s influences ranged from THE MCGUIRE SISTERS to FRANKIE LYMON AND THE TEENAGERS, and unlike most black groups of the day, they were not largely influenced by gospel music.
Florence, Mary, and Diane could all sing lead; Florence’s voice was considered the best and most powerful.
In 1960 they met Diane’s neighbor William “Smokey” Robinson and auditioned for him in the basement of the home of his girlfriend Claudette Rogers (later his wife and an original member of THE MIRACLES) in hopes of getting to Motown’s Berry Gordy, Jr. That audition turned into a dead end for the group, but they managed to try out for Gordy later on, singing THE DRIFTERS’ “There Goes My Baby.” He told them to return when they finished high school.
Undaunted, the foursome began camping out in Motown’s Grand Boulevard office reception room, but no one took any special notice. They continued doing local talent shows and were spotted by Richard Morris, who brought them to Lupine owner/producer Bob West. Bob recorded two sides on the Primettes, “Pretty Baby” with Mary on lead and “Tears of Sorrow” featuring Diane. Released in 1960, the Lupine single went nowhere, and soon the girls were hanging around Motown again, doing occasional hand claps on Marvin Gaye’s early sides and singing some backups for blues artist Mabel John.
In January 1961 Gordy finally signed the quartet but required they change their name. The girl who formed the group, Florence, was also the one to name it the Supremes, which Mary and Diane initially disliked, but Gordy approved. By now, Diane had upscaled herself to Diana, which was what her birth certificate incorrectly read.
Their first single, issued on Tamla in April 1961, was the undistinguished “I Want a Guy,” and the second was an R&B dance tune called “Buttered Popcorn” with Florence on lead. Both releases failed.
Their next three sides barely touched the bottom of the Hot 100. In fact, by the middle of 1962 the Supremes were doing so badly Diana took a job in the cafeteria of Hudson’s Department Store in Detroit and later in the year Barbara left to get married, leaving the group a trio.
In the fall of 1963 came the best of their early releases, “When the Lovelight Starts Shining,” (#23) but by the spring of 1964 the “no-hit Supremes,” as they were called by their hit-making stablemates, had seen eight of their Tamla/Motown singles come and go without a single one making it to the top 20.
It took a Marvelettes reject to jumpstart the Supremes’ career. Holland, Dozier, and Holland brought their new song “Where Did Our Love Go” to the Supremes after Gladys Horton, the Marvelettes lead, rejected it with the comment that she “wouldn’t sing that junk.” Gladys told Diana she passed on it, which may explain why the Supremes didn’t even like the recording when it was finished on April 8, 1964.
Nonetheless, by August “Where Did Our Love Go” was at number one Pop and R&B, number three in the U.K., and number 19 in Australia. In a matter of weeks the group went from no billing on a Dick Clark Caravan of Stars show (which included THE SHIRELLES and Gene Pitney) to top billing.
Diana was now doing all the lead vocals, which did not always sit well with Florence.
More Holland/Dozier/Holland magic followed. “Baby Love,” issued in September 1964, also went to number one Pop, R&B, and in the U.K. and to number 38 in Australia. With “Baby Love,” the Supremes became the first all-girl group to reach number one in England.
“Come See about Me,” released in October, also reached number one, and the Supremes became the first American group to have three number ones from the same LP.
With “Stop! In the Name of Love,” the Supremes became the first group to have four number ones in a row on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also rose to number two R&B and number seven in England, where the girls spent the “Stop” chart run thrilling the British fans on the historic Motown Revue tour through Europe. The group developed their now familiar hand motions (resembling a traffic cop stopping oncoming cars) for “Stop! In the Name of Love” in the men’s room of a London TV studio with the help of Berry Gordy and the Temptations’ Paul Williams and Melvin Franklin prior to a live appearance.
On June 12, 1965, “Back in My Arms Again” became the girls’ fifth million-selling single, their fifth number one, and the fifth mega-hit in a row from the pens of Holland, Dozier, and Holland.
The Supremes were not only competing head-on with the British invasion, they were accomplishing the greater feat of gaining superstar status in the realm of the pop establishment. The groundswell picking up strength when they appeared as head-liners in New York’s famed Copacabana nightclub on July 29, 1965.
That same month, “Nothing But Heartaches” was issued and broke the string of number ones, reaching only number 11 Pop (#6 R&B). But it was a short-lived decline; “I Hear a Symphony” reached number one on November 20th.
“My World Is Empty Without You” (#5) and “Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart” (#9) kept the hot Supremes in the top 10 in early 1966. Then they returned to number one with “You Can’t Hurry Love” (#1 Pop, #3 U.K., September 10, 1966).
A new string of number ones started. The hard-edged side of the Supremes surfaced with one of their best records, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (#1 Pop, #8 U.K., November 19, 1966), followed by “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone” (#1 Pop, #17 U.K., March 11, 1967) and “The Happening” (#1 Pop, #6 U.K., May 13, 1967).
“The Happening” was the last of 10 chart toppers produced and written by Holland/Dozier/Holland for the trio. They left Motown to form their own labels, called Hot Wax and Invictus.
By that time the friction between Ballard and Ross had taken its toll on Florence and she missed two shows in New Orleanes and Montreal. During July, part way through their performance stay at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Florence was fired by Gordy and replaced by Cindy Birdsong of the Blue-Belles.
With Ballard gone, Gordy took the opportunity to rename the trio Diana Ross and the Supremes. Though Diana was gaining stature on her way to a solo career, the new lineup was not nearly as popular saleswise as the old. Over the next two years Motown issued 12 singles and only one, the powerful message song “Love Child,” hit number one (November 30, 1968).
Their first two singles as the new trio, “Reflections” (#2) and “In and Out of Love” (#9), were carryovers from the H/D/H days.
The group did several good remakes with the Temptations, including “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” (#2, originally by Madeline Bell), “I’ll Try Something New” (#25, the Miracles), and “The Weight” (#46, the Band).
Their final record together provided for a series of lasts. “Someday We’ll Be Together,” issued in October 1969, became the last of the group’s 12 number one records (#13 U.K.), on December 27, 1969, which also made it the last number one of the turbulent ‘60s. It was the trio’s last single together, and they performed it in the last of 20 appearances of Ed Sullivan’s show. Additionally, it was the last song they sang together when they appeared at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas on January 14, 1970. The, on stage, Diana dramatically introduced her replacement, Jean Terrell (the sister of boxer Ernie Terrell), and an era was over.
The song that pulled together all these elements was not, as many believe, written to be Diana’s swan song as a Supreme. It was written and recorded in 1960 by Johnny Bristol. Jackie Beavers, and Harvey Fuqua. Johnny and Jackie sang it and Harvey produced it on his Tri Phi label, which was bought out by Gordy with Bristol coming over as a writer.
In the late ‘60s Bristol dug out a tape copy and showed it to Gordy, who immediately recognized its possibilities for the Supremes. Ironically, it was not the Supremes who sang it on the hit record. If the label had been accurate it would have read “Diana Ross and the Waters.” Julia and Maxine Waters, two pro back up vocalists, recorded it with the added depth of Johnny Bristol’s male tones.
To keep pace with their singles popularity over the years, Motown recorded the Supremes on a series of concept LPs. Some of the many were A Bit of Liverpool (featuring recordings of British bands’ songs); The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop; We Remember Sam Cooke; The Supremes at The Copa; The Supremes A-Go-Go; The Supremes Sing Disney; The Supremes Sing Motown; and The Supremes Sing Rodgers and Hart.
On March 7, 1970, the Jean Terrell – led Supremes hit the Billboard charts with “Up the Ladder to the Roof” (#10) and proved the name still had power even without Diana Ross. In fact, their Right On LP with Terrell did better (#25) than the double live farewell LP with Ross (#46).
Their third single as the new Supremes, the Frank Wilson-produced “Stoned Love,” was a million seller in 1970, and the number seven Pop hit became the eighth number one R&B charter under the Supremes’ name.
The group did two LPs with the Four Tops in the early ‘70s and hit with a remake of the Ike and Tina Turner 1966 single “River Deep, Mountain High” (#14 Pop, #7 R&B, #11 U.K.).
In June 1972 Cindy Birdsong left for home and family and was replaced by Lynda Lawrence.
A succession of replacements for Lawrence included Sherrie Payne (Freda’s sister), Cindy again, and Susaye Greene.
Mary Wilson, left the group in June,1977 and the group disbanded. Karen Jackson was a backup singer to Mary Wilson in the 1970’s & 1980’s. Wilson’s autobiography “Dreamgirl” was released in 1986.
Their last Pop chart single was “You’re My Driving Wheel” (#85, 1976), and the group soon disbanded.
Florence Ballard, after leaving the group in 1967, did two singles for ABC and then spent several years fighting Motown in a lawsuit over her dismissal. She lost the suit and spent some time on welfare while trying to support her three children. On February 21, 1976, an overweight and despondent Florence Ballard died of a heart attack at the Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit at the age of 32.
In complete contrast, the driving, aggressive Diana Ross realized her every dream and then some as a superstar performer and actress of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Her 41 Hot 100 hits included “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (#1, 1970), Michael Masser’s “Touch Me in the Morning” (#1, 1973), “Do You Know Where You’re Going To” (theme from the film Mahogany, which she starred in), “Love Hangover” (#1, 1976), “Upside Down” (#1, 1980), “It’s My Turn” (#9, 1980), “Endless Love” (#1, 1981), and Frankie Lymon’s “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (#7, 1981). Her movie career included roles in Lady Sings the Blues and The Wiz.
Mary Wilson later went on to form her own group called Mary Wilson and the Supremes, withKaren Jackson and Karen Ragland. She lost her right to use the name sometime after.
In May 1983, she, Diana and Cindy reunited for Motown’s 25th Anniversary TV show.
In 1984 Mary wrote her story, titled Dream Girl: My Life as a Supreme.
In 1988 the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The number one female group scored 18 Hot 100 hits as the Supremes, nine as Diana Ross and the Supremes, three as Diana Ross and the Supremes and Temptations, 12 as the Supremes (after Diana), and two as the Supremes and the Four Tops (also after Diana). Obviously, the whole was always greater than it parts to their fans, and the group sounded as top-notch at the end as they did when the hits started.
– Jay Warner
Mary Wilson of The Supremes, passes away at 76
Mary Wilson, founding and original member of The Supremes, passed away suddenly this evening according to a statement from her longtime friend and publicist, Jay Schwartz. She was at her home in Las Vegas, NV. She was 76.
She is survived by: her daughter Turkessa and grandchildren (Mia, Marcanthony, Marina); her son, Pedro Antonio Jr and grandchildren (Isaiah, Ilah, Alexander, Alexandria); her sister Kathryn; her brother, Roosevelt; her adopted son/cousin Willie and grandchildren (Erica (great granddaughter, Lori), Vanessa, Angela). Services will be private due to Covid restrictions. A celebration of Mary Wilson’s life will take place later this year. The family asks in lieu of flowers, that friends and fans support UNCF.org and the Humpty Dumpty Institute .
A singer, best-selling author, motivational speaker, businesswoman, former U.S. Cultural Ambassador, mother, and grandmother, the legendary Mary Wilson made great strides on her inevitable journey to greatness.
As an original/founding member of The Supremes, she changed the face of pop music to become a trendsetter who broke down social, racial, and gender barriers, which all started with the wild success of their first number one song. Formed in Detroit as The Primettes in 1959, The Supremes were Motown’s most successful act of the 1960s, scoring 12 No. 1 singles. They also continue to reign as America’s most successful vocal group to date. Their influence not only carries on in contemporary R&B, soul and pop, they also helped pave the way for mainstream success by Black artists across all genres.
Mary achieved an unprecedented 12 #1 hits with 5 of them being consecutive from 1964-1965. Those songs are “Where Did Our Love Go”, “Baby Love”, “Come See About Me”, “Stop! In the Name of Love” and “Back in My Arms Again” according to Billboard Magazine. In 2018, Billboard celebrated the 60th anniversary of Motown with a list of “The Hot 100’s Top Artists of All Time”, where The Supremes ranked at #16 and still remain the #1 female recording group of all time. January 21, 2021 marked the 60th anniversary of the day The Supremes signed with Motown in 1961. This year, Mary kicked off the celebration of the 60th anniversary of The Supremes.
With the same passion as she did singing with the original Supremes as well as with her solo career, the world renowned performer was an advocate for social and economic challenges in the United States and abroad. Ms. Wilson used her fame and flair to promote a diversity of humanitarian efforts including ending hunger, raising HIV/AIDS awareness and encouraging world peace. Mary was working on getting a U.S. postage stamp of her fellow band mate and original Supreme Florence Ballard who passed away in 1976.
2019 marked an exciting time for Mary. On top of releasing her new book, she stretched her dancing muscles when she joined the cast of the 28th season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”. With no sign of slowing down Ms. Wilson published her fourth book “Supreme Glamour. This highly anticipated coffee-table book showcased the gowns The Supremes were known for over the decades and delved into more history of the most successful female recording group of all time. She was honored at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills celebrating her work in music and her influence on young African Americans and entertainment. Her conversation with Janice Littlejohn left the audience laughing with her unmatched humor and standing with applause displaying her graceful composure throughout the night. Showing the same love she has shown to all her fans, Mary gladly met and personally thanked every attendee that night for their support throughout her career.
Mary’s influence reached beyond music. In 2018, Mary’s longtime fight in the passage of the Music Modernization Act (MMA) came to fruition when the United States legislation signed the act into law on October 11, 2018. The act aims to modernize copyright-related issues for new music and audio recordings due to new forms of technology like digital streaming which did not protect music recorded before February 15, 1972. Her tireless advocacy for this legislation included trips to Washington D.C. to meet with members of Congress personally to advocate for legacy artists gaining fair compensation when their songs are played on digital radio stations.
Mary’s last solo recording, her song “Time to Move On” reached #23 on the Billboard Dance charts, which marked her first time on the charts with a solo recording, since The Supremes. She was working on new projects for 2021 including an album she recently teased on her YouTube channel. Her primary love of preserving the legacy of The Supremes and introducing her music to new generations.
MOTOWN – THE SOUND THAT CHANGED AMERICA
As an irresistible force of social and cultural change, Berry Gordy’s legendary Motown Records made its mark not just on the music industry, but society at large, with a sound that has become one of the most significant musical accomplishments and stunning success stories of the 20th century. The Supremes, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, the Marvelettes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and later Stevie Wonder and the Temptations, Michael Jackson & the Jackson 5 and Lionel Richie & the Commodores, their music communicated and brought together a racially divided country and segregated society, around the world, touching all people of all ages and race.
After breaking down barriers and having pop radio embrace Motown artists, Berry Gordy set his sights on television. He booked his artists on popular shows such as American Bandstand and The Ed Sullivan Show. After captivating national audiences with near-weekly performances on The Ed Sullivan Show, making history as among the first African-American artists on the show, and The Supremes were the first R&B act to play the country’s most prestigious night club, New York’s Copacabana, which paved the way for other R&B acts into the top cabaret circuits around the world.
LITERARY ACHIEVEMENTS
Ms. Wilson’s “Dare to Dream” lecture, which she gives to young people, emphasizes the need for personal perseverance to achieve their goals, despite obstacles and adversities in their lives. The topic is the foundation of her best-selling autobiography “Dreamgirl – My Life as a Supreme.” Ms. Wilson later authored its sequel, “Supreme Faith – Someday We’ll Be Together.” In 2000, these two books, along with updated chapters, were combined to complete her third book. Her fourth book, “Supreme Glamour,” is a coffee table hardcover featuring the gowns, history and legacy of the Supremes.
“THE STORY OF the Supremes FROM THE MARY WILSON Gown COLLECTION”
“The Story of the Supremes from the Mary Wilson Collection” spotlights more than 50 gowns exposing the international community to the impact their fashion had on social issues in the United States. The exhibit traces their career from the early days when they were known as The Primettes to the glamorous height of their fame in the 70s. Their success story helped change racial perceptions during the time of the American Civil Rights movement and to appeal to the people of all ethnic backgrounds. A magnificent collection of dresses worn by Mary Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard for live performances, television performances, including the Butterfly dress worn on their television special in 1968, and on album covers are featured alongside contemporary photographs and magazine spreads.
The exquisite gowns were curated by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland for Ms. Wilson and later exhibited at the Detroit Historical Museum, the New York State Museum in Albany and the Long Island Museum. Several gowns have also been displayed at The Museum of Metropolitan Art in New York as part of the Rock and Roll of Fame Museum exhibit.
The gowns worn by Ms. Wilson and the original Supremes – Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, as well as the 1970s Supremes – were on exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, then showcased in the United Kingdom before starting a tour for two more years in Europe.
MS. WILSON: THE “GOODWILL AMBASSADOR”
Ms. Wilson has toured the globe not only as a performer, but as advocate on behalf of social and civic issues. As a Supreme, she performed for Britain’s Queen Mother and the future King of Sweden and other international audiences. However, Ms. Wilson’s global stature grew after former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell named her one of nine cultural ambassadors in 2003.
As an official “goodwill” ambassador, Ms. Wilson visited poverty-stricken areas in Bangladesh, where she witnessed children as young as five years old having to break bricks to earn money for their families. In Pakistan, she spoke at Fatima Jinnah Woman University about pursuing their goals and “Daring to Dream.” In Mozambique and Botswana, Ms. Wilson addressed young people about the dangers of HIV and AIDS and her quest for world peace.
In November 2004, she was one of the featured performers to headline the United Nations’ “World AIDS Day” concert at St. John the Divine Cathedral in New York City. She later returned to the United Nations Building to lecture about the poverty, hunger and destruction she witnessed during her trips.
SPEAKING AGAINST LANDMINES
In 2007, Ms. Wilson was elated to be named spokeswoman for the Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI), a non-government organization that establishes partnerships to raise money and awareness for landmine clearance projects across the globe, including Sri Lanka, Laos and Vietnam. When it was announced, Ralph L. Cwerman, president of the Humpty Dumpty Institute, called her “an original American icon” whose involvement will heighten attention to removal of these unexploded ordnances.
“HDI is privileged to have her as its new spokesperson,” Mr. Cwerman said. “Mine clearance and landmine awareness around the world will benefit greatly as Mary begins to speak out against these cruel weapons of war.”
In November 2007, Ms. Wilson traveled to Sri Lanka, where as many as 15 people are injured or killed every month by landmines. Her tour focused on clearing mines in northern Sri Lanka and regenerating the area’s dairy industry. Along with her seven-member band, Ms. Wilson gave a 90-minute concert, where she performed a medley of the Supremes’ greatest hits drawing diplomats, government officials and the news media to the dance floor. The proceeds from the concert were contributed to Sri Lankan charities assisting victims of landmines.
Ms. Wilson also has visited Laos, which received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve the quality of life of children who were not attending school because they were hungry or in danger of unexploded ordnances. While in Muangkhai Village, Laos, Ms. Wilson personally pushed the button to detonate more than two tons of explosives found in and around villages and schools. In late 2008, her plans include travel to Vietnam, Cambodia and Okinawa, as well as returning to Laos, to clear landmines still active from the Vietnam War, which ended more than three decades ago.
HUMANITARIAN ACHIEVEMENTS
Over the years, Ms. Wilson has been highly recognized as the consummate humanitarian. She continues to devote her time and talent to assisting a diverse group of non-profit organizations, including the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the American Cancer Society, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, The Po Leung Kuk schools of Hong Kung, UNICEF, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Figure Skaters in Harlem, a youth organization committed to helping children realize their dreams to compete in the Olympics. She has been active with Child Research, supporting a child around the world for the past 20 years.
In 2003, the National Foundation for Women Legislators bestowed a Lifetime Achievement Award on Ms. Wilson and invited her to a delegation of women legislators who traveled to Bahrain. She participated in a Trade and Civil Life Conference hosted by the Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain and is proud to have played a role in helping pass the Freedom Trade Bill between the U.S. and Bahrain.
At the 37th Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in 2007, she received the Floyd Washington Auto Safety Advocacy Award for her commitment to auto safety.
DREAMGIRLS/ THE PLAY/THE MOVIE
Interest in the Supremes’ legacy was renewed after the release of the award-winning film “Dreamgirls,” in 2006. While the film created a wonderful piece of work using the likeness of the Supremes, as well as their history, Ms. Wilson said it did not depict their true story.
SPEAKING OF WOMEN’S HEALTH
Ms. Wilson has also served as the national celebrity spokesperson for Universal Sisters; a division of the National Speaking of Women’s Health Foundation that helps women makes informed decisions about their health care, well-being and personal safety.
THE PRIMETTES
Growing up in Detroit’s Brewster-Douglass Projects, Mary Wilson had enjoyed a passion for singing. Performing at an elementary school talent showcase, she met soon-to-be long-time friend and future group mate, Florence Ballard. They made a pledge to remember each other if they ever joined a singing group.
Ironically, in 1959, Milton Jenkins, manager of male singing group, the Primes, decided to create a spin-off girls’ group. A friend of the Primes, Betty McGlown, was first asked to join, and then Florence Ballard, who invited Ms. Wilson to join. At the same time, Ms. Wilson’s then neighbor, Diane Ross, was asked by a member of the Primes, and completed the quartet the Primettes. After performing various gigs around Detroit, covering songs by popular artist, such as Ray Charles and the Drifters, the Primettes decide to audition for the up and coming Motown record company. Unfortunately, due to their young age, Motown President, Berry Gordy, Jr. turned them down and suggested they come back after they graduated high school.
Determined to leave an impression on Motown President, Berry Gordy, Jr – the young Primettes thinking that he didn’t like them – and join the stable of rising Motown stars, the Primettes frequented the Hitsville USA recording studio every day after school. Much to their surprise, ‘Prime’ members Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks joined with Otis Williams & the Distants and formed new male singing group The Temptations. Eventually, The Primettes themselves convinced Mr. Gordy to sign them to his label. Gordy agreed to sign them to his label, under the condition that they change their group’s name. With a collection of names from friends and family, Florence had chosen a name and on January 15th 1961 the Primettes officially became The Supremes. At this time Betty had left the group and was replaced with Barbara Martin.
‘THE SUPREMES’
In the spring of 1962, after recording a few songs for their first album, Barbara Martin left the group to marry her childhood sweetheart. Now the newly named Supremes: Florence Ballad, Diana Ross and Mary Wilson became a trio; which to this day remains one of their greatest trademark signatures.
From 1961 to 1963, the Supremes recorded many songs and released eight singles, which did not garner much attention and jokingly earned them the title “no-hit Supremes” at Motown. But their fate changed dramatically in late 1963 when the song “When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes,” written and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland, was released and peaked at number 23 on the Billboard pop chart. Although released in June, it was in August of 1964 that their single “Where Did Our Love Go,” reached number one on the U.S. pop charts and number three in the United Kingdom. Four more number one hits soon followed, including: “Baby Love,” “Come See About Me,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” and “Back in My Arms Again,” making the Supremes the only group to have five consecutive number one hits.
The Supremes success attracted many promotional opportunities allowing them to become one of the first pop groups of the 1960’s to do commercial endorsements, to include Coca-Cola, Arrid deodorant, and even their own “Supreme” white bread and wig brands.
The Temptations and the Supremes taped two of the first TV Specials by any Pop stars. The TCB and GIT Specials were TV trends that are still popular today.
‘DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES’
The year 1967 was pivotal for the group. Ms. Ballard was replaced by Cindy Birdsong, Mr. Gordy renamed them “Diana Ross and the Supremes.” In January 1970, Diana Ross performed for the last time with the Supremes before pursuing a solo career. With Ross’ departure, Ms. Wilson was left as the only original member of the Supremes. Ms. Wilson continued performing with Cindy Birdsong and Jean Terrell as the “New” Supremes, better known today as the “70’s Supremes.”
The “New” Supremes scored a number of hits including “Up the Ladder to the Roof” (US number 10, UK number 6), “Stoned Love” (US number 7, UK number 3) and “Nathan Jones” (US number 16, UK number 5). These three singles were also R&B Top Ten hits, with “Stoned Love” becoming their last number one hit in December of 1970. Songwriting/production team Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson produced another Top 20 hit for the group, a Supremes/Four Tops version of Ike & Tina Turner’s “River Deep – Mountain High.”
In 1972, the Supremes had their last Top 20 hit single release, “Floy Joy,” written and produced by Smokey Robinson, followed by the final US Top 40 hit, “Automatically Sunshine” with Ms. Wilson on lead vocals, (US number 37, UK number 10).
While Ms. Wilson is best known as a founding member of the world’s most famous female trio, the legendary singer’s career did not stop there. The 70’s found Mrs. Wilson getting married and starting a family. Then in June of 1977, Ms. Wilson embarked on her own solo career and toured Europe and Asia while raising three new babies. Ms. Wilson has recorded two solo albums, including her self-titled debut in 1979 with the single “Red Hot,” and her 1990 release “Walk the Line.”
In 1988, Mary Wilson accepted the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the Supremes when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1994, the Supremes received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 1998, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. In 2001, Ms. Wilson was the recipient of an Associate’s Degree from New York University and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Paine College in Augusta, Georgia.
Dreams Do Come True
Since a young age, Ms. Wilson’s many accomplishments are vast. Her many feats as a Supreme include her endorsement of Vice President Hubert Humphrey and the opportunity to sing at Command Performances for the Royal family in England and Sweden. Appearing as “Mary Wilson of the Original Supremes,” she was sought after to entertain all over the world; to include a performance for President Bill Clinton in the East Room of the White House at the Millennium Celebration. Even now as a mother and a grandmother, Ms. Wilson was fulfilling her personal desires to be involved in worthy causes around the world that improve the lives of individuals, families and all humanity. Ms. Wilson’s experience as a Supreme and cultural ambassador had greatly broadened her horizons and afforded her the pleasurable opportunity to present her talents, compassion and strength to the world.
BERRY GORDY STATEMENT ON PASSING OF MARY WILSON:
I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes.
The Supremes were always known as the “sweethearts of Motown.” Mary, along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, came to Motown in the early 1960’s. After an unprecedented string of number one hits, television and nightclub bookings, they opened doors for themselves, the other Motown acts, and many, many others.
I was always proud of Mary. She was quite a star in her own right and over the years continued to work hard to boost the legacy of the Supremes.
Mary Wilson was extremely special to me. She was a trailblazer, a diva and will be deeply missed.
Berry Gordy,
Founder, Motown