The Supremes Page
The      Supremes comprised of:
Diana        Ross (b. 26th March 1944, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.)
Florence        Ballard (b. 30th June 1943, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A., d. 22 February        1976, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.)
Mary        Wilson (6th March 1944, Greenville, Mississippi, U.S.A.)
and
Betty        McGlown (b. 1943, Detroit Michigan, U.S.A.)
other        members at various times included:
Barbara Martin (between the years 1960 - 1962)
Cindy Birdsong (between the years 1967 – 1972 and 1973 – 1976)
Jean Terrell (between the years 1970 – 1973)
Lynda Laurence (between the years 1972 – 1973)
Scherrie        Payne (b 14th November 1944, Detroit, Michigan,        U.S.A.)
and
Susaye Greene (between the years 1976 – 1977)
The Supremes were,        probably, the first Black female group to take the art of merging popular        music and fashion to another level, whilst still retaining their own R & B heritage without any artistical surrender.
Their first incarnation        emerged under the group name of Primettes.
Betty McGlown was        dating Paul Williams of The Primes at the time, and was the first Primette.
Florence        Ballard met Eddie Kendricks and Paul        Williams of the Primes, the mangager of the male group, Milton Jenkins,        created the Primettes.
The        Primes were later to become The Temptations .
The        founding members of the Primettes were Florence        Ballard , Mary Wilson , (the then) Diane        Ross and Betty McGlown, whom all lived at the Brewster-Douglass public        housing project in Detroit.
Florence        Ballard had recruited Mary Wilson ,        who in turn recruited Diana Ross .
The        Primettes: Barbara Martin, Mary Wilson, Diane Ross, and Florence Ballard
tears        of sorrow / when the lovelight starts shining through his eyes
The        Primettes issued a single on a small local label, for Lupine Records (a        label created just for them) entitled 'Tears of Sorrow' b/w 'Pretty Baby'.
Barbara Martin was        to replace Betty McGlown in 1960.
In        1960, Diana Ross asked an old neighbour, the Miracles lead singer Smokey        Robinson , to help the group land an audition for Motown executive Berry        Gordy .
Smokey organised        the audition, however, he was keen to recruit to his own groups ranks, the        Primette's guitarist, Marv Tarplin.
After        concerns regarding the Primette's ages, the group signed with Motown the        following year as The Supremes.
Barbara        Martin then left the group in early 1962, and Diana        Ross , Florence Ballard and Mary        Wilson became the Supreme line-up familiar to many.
The Supreme's name        was only decided upon following the suggestions of 'The Darleens', 'The        Sweet Ps', 'The Melodees', 'The Royaltones' and 'The Jewelettes'.
Diana        Ross was aginst the name 'the Supremes', initially, as she felt the        name had a male influence.
The Supremes early        releases saw only minor success, leaving the group with a regular reputation        for missing out on chart success.
Diana Ross then took the place of Florence        Ballard as the group's regular lead vocalist, at Berry Gordy's suggestion,        which did bring chart success at last.
'When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes', was the group's first        hit in December 1963 (the song made number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100).
meet        the supremes - 1963 / where did our love go? - 1964
In        the spring of 1964, The Supremes recorded the single 'Where Did Our Love        Go?', (a song originally destined for The Marvelettes ,        who turned it down).
with        holland / dozier / holland
'Where        Did Our Love Go' went on to reach number one on the U.S. pop charts,and        was the first song to appear on the U.K. pop charts, where it reached number        three.
at        hitsville studio's
The        follow-up releases, 'Baby Love' (which was was nominated for the 1965 Grammy        Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording), 'Come See About Me', 'Stop!        In The Name Of Love' and 'Back In My Arms Again', all topped the U.S. singles        charts, whilst 'Baby Love' became the only record by an American group to        reach number 1 in Britain in 1964.
with        holland / dozier / holland
In 1966, 'You Keep        Me Hangin' On" was awarded the 1966 Grammy for Best Pop single.
Unlike        many of her R & B contemporaries, Diana        Ross sang the songs, note for note, with little elaboration, allowing        her fragile delivery to carry the song into a radio friendly environment.
Along        with the Motown hit machine behind the group, the women had also become        fashion role models for many young Black Americans.
maxine        powell
Much        of this was accomplished under the instruction of Motown chief Berry        Gordy and Maxine Powell, who ran Motown's in-house finishing school        and Artist Development department.
The Supremes had,        by now become household names, as well as international stars.
By        the end of 1966, the group had scored further success on the national charts        with the singles, 'I Hear a Symphony', 'You Can't Hurry Love' and 'You Keep        Me Hangin' On'.
i        hear a symphony / supremes a' go go - both 1966
An album entitled        'The Supremes A' Go-Go', became the first album by an all-female group to        reach number one on the U.S. Billboard 200.
The        Supremes recorded albums of Broadway standards, played residencies at expensive        nightclubs, and were groomed by Motown staff as all-round entertainers.
A        1967 single, 'The Happening', saw the group attempt to become part of the        psychedelic movement.
All        was not well within the group, as Florence        Ballard had grown increasingly unhappy in the supporting role into which Berry Gordy had repositioned her into.
Floence        began to drink heavily, she put on weight, and at times could no longer        comfortably wear many of her stage outfits.
Resentful        of the attention given to Diana Ross , Florence        Ballard relied heavily upon the advice of fellow Supreme Mary        Wilson , imparting her belief that Diana and Berry Gordy were intent        upon her dismissal from the group.
That        belief saw fruition in 1967, with Florence becoming replaced by Cindy Birdsong        (a former member of the Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles group)
Florence        Ballard was, eventually, removed in February 1968, when she received        a one off payment of $139,804.94 in royalties and earnings.
it        doesn't matter how i say it / love ain't love
Florence        pursued a short lived solo career with ABC Records.
She        eventually sank into poverty and died abruptly on 22nd of February 1976        from coronary thrombosis at the age of 32.
The        Supremes name became changed to Diana Ross and the Supremes, seemingly validating Ballard's concerns.
Several        other Motown acts followed suit regarding the name changes, with The Vandella's        becoming Martha Reeves and the Vandella's being one example.
'Reflections'        was released, moving the Supremes into a new musical area, incorporating        social commentary.
love        child - 1968 / right on - 1970
Examples        of this manifested themselves in the songs 'Love Child' and 'I'm Livin'        In Shame' (the first of which was another U.S. number 1).
The        Supremes also formed a successful resurrected partnership / recording partnership        with the Temptations , highlighted by        the hit single 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me'.
During        1969, there were persistent rumours that Berry        Gordy was about to launch Diana Ross on a solo career (the pair were rumoured at the time to have become an item).
These        fears were confirmed at the end of the year, when the Supremes staged a        farewell performance.
Diana        Ross said her goodbyes to the Supremes with the song 'Someday We'll Be Together',        a U.S. chart hit on which, ironically, she was the only member of the Supremes        to appear.
Diana        Ross & The Supremes gave their final performance on the 14th of        January 1970 at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas.
jean        terrell (solo: 'i had to fall in love') / ernie terrell on cassius clay        bill
Diana        was replaced by Jean Terrell , the sister        of the heavyweight boxer Ernie Terrell.
The        new line-up, with Jean and Mary Wilson alternating lead vocal duties, found immediate success with 'Up The Ladder        To The Roof' in 1970, whilst 'Stoned Love', became the group's biggest U.K.        hit for over four years.
The        Supremes then recorded a series of albums with The        Four Tops .
The        songwriting and production team of Nickolas        Ashford & Valerie Simpson produced another Top 20 hit for the group,        a Supremes and Four Tops collaboration duet        version of Ike & Tina Turner's ,        'River Deep - Mountain High'.
Lynda        Laurence (a former member of Stevie Wonder's group Wonderlove) replaced Cindy Birdsong in the line-up in 1972.
Jimmy Webb was hired        to produce the group's next LP, 'The Supremes'.
The albums single        'I Guess I'll Miss the Man' failed to make an impact on the Billboard pop        chart, although the set was notable for the cross cultural song 'When Can        Brown Begin'.
Cindy        returned in 1974 when Laurence became pregnant.
This        precipitated the departure of Jean Terrell ,        whose place was taken by Scherrie Payne .
Cindy        Birdsong then left again, leaving Mary Wilson as the leading singer, allowing her to recruit Susaye        Greene in Cindy's place.
The        Supremes did make some dancefloor inroads with 1975's 'He's My Man', taken        from the album 'The Supremes', reaching number one on Billboard's disco        singles chart.
high        energy / mary, scherrie and susaye - both 1976
This        trio recorded the self titled 'Mary, Scherrie and Susaye' in 1976, also        releasing 'Hi Energy' the same year, before disbanding the following year.
The Supremes then        released 'I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking', their final Top 40 hit        on the Billboard Hot 100 and their third number-one single on        the disco singles chart.
On the 12th of June        1977, The Supremes performed their farewell concert at the Drury Lane Theatre        in London.
Mary        Wilson attempted to assemble a new set of Supremes for recording purposes,        and toured Britain in 1978 with Karen Rowland and Karen Jackson in the line-up.
This        did not come to fruition as the name 'the Supremes' had become the legal        ownership of Motown Records.
Jean        Terrell , Scherrie Payne and Lynda        Laurence won the rights, however, to use the Supremes' name in the UK.
Scherrie        began recording disco material with producer Ian Levine in 1989, for the        Nightmare and Motor City labels.
Levine        also signed Laurence, Wilson and ex Supreme Susaye        Greene to solo contracts and recorded Terrell, Lawrence and Greene for        a remake of 'Stoned Love'.
In        1988 the Supremes were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
The        career of Mary Wilson has also continued        with a starring role in the Toronto, Canada production of the stage musical        'The Beehive' in 1989 and the publication of the second volume of her autobiography        in 1990.
In        2006, the Dreamworks movie vehicle 'Dreamgirls', saw Beyonce and Jennifer        Hudson taking on the female lead parts in a movie, allegedly (and loosely),        based upon the Supremes recorcding career.
mary        wilson in 2008
In        2009, Mary Wilson appeared on the Paul        O'Grady show, in the U.K., as part of a Motown Special, celebrating the        50 years of Motown Records .
Albums:
Meet        The Supremes (Motown Records 1963)
Where        Did Our Love Go? (Motown  Records 1964)
A        Bit Of Liverpool (Motown Records  1964)
The        Supremes Sing Country, Western And Pop (Motown  Records 1964)
We        Remember Sam Cooke (Motown  Records 1965)
More        Hits By The Supremes (Motown Records  1965)
Merry        Christmas (Motown  Records 1965)
The        Supremes At The Copa (Motown  Records 1965)
I        Hear A Symphony (Motown Records  1966)
The        Supremes A-Go-Go (Motown Records  1966)
The        Supremes Sing Holland, Dozier Holland (Motown  Records 1967)
The        Supremes Sing Rodgers And Hart (Motown  Records 1967)
Right        On (Motown  Records 1970)
with the Four Tops:
The        Magnificent Seven (Motown  Records 1970)
New        Ways But Love Stays (Motown  Records 1970)
Touch        (Motown Records  1971)
The        Return Of The Magnificent Seven (Motown Records  1971)
Dynamite        (Motown  Records 1971)
Floy        Joy (Motown  Records 1972)
The        Supremes (Motown  Records 1975)
High        Energy (Motown  Records 1976)
Mary,        Scherrie And Susaye (Motown  Records 1976)
as        Diana Ross and the Supremes:
Reflections        (Motown Records  1968)
Diana        Ross And The Supremes Sing And Perform 'Funny Girl' (Motown Records  1968)
Diana        Ross And The Supremes Live At London's Talk Of The Town (Motown  Records 1968)
with        The Temptations:
Diana        Ross And The Supremes join The Temptations (Motown  Records 1968)
as        Diana Ross and the Supremes:
Love        Child (Motown  Records 1968)
with        The Temptations:
as        Diana Ross and the Supremes:
Let        The Sunshine In (Motown Records  1969)
with        The Temptations:
as        Diana Ross and the Supremes:
Cream        Of The Crop (Motown  Records 1969)
Diana        Ross And The Supremes On Broadway (Motown  Records 1969)
Farewell        (Motown  Records 1970)