Jun 13, 2025
The Primettes, early The Supremes, with Barbara Martin, Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, probably 1960/61
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The Primettes, early The Supremes, with Barbara Martin, Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, probably 1960/61
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Founding member of The Supremes, Florence Ballard, promo photos for ABC Records in 1968
Florence Ballard was born in Detroit on June 30, 1943, the ninth of fifteen children. She was friends with doo-wop trio The Primes (two of whom would later form The Temptations). When the group’s manager decided to create a sister act called The Primettes, he made Florence its founding member. She recruited Mary Wilson, Diane Ross, and Betty McGlown to form the quartet in 1958. Soon after, Florence was raped at knife point by a high school basketball player. She went into seclusion for a while and dropped out of high school, but eventually rejoined The Primettes.
By 1960, they signed to Berry Gordy’s Tamla Records (later Motown) and were relaunched as The Supremes. Their first few singles didn’t chart and they were jokingly referred to as “the no-hit Supremes.” Finally, they topped the charts with “Where Did Our Love Go” in 1964. Their next four singles all reached No. 1 and within a year The Supremes were international stars. But there was tension in the group because Berry Gordy considered Diane (now going by Diana) the star. He was having an affair with Diana and gave her all the songs to sing lead. Florence became depressed and struggled with her weight and alcohol. She began missing shows and recording dates. Berry Gordy groomed another singer, Cindy Birdsong, to replace her. After Florence got drunk before a show at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas in 1967, she was kicked out of the group and sent back to Detroit. For her tenure with The Supremes which included ten No. 1 singles, she was given a one-time payment of $139,804. As part of the agreement, she wasn’t allowed to promote herself as a former Supreme or even mention any association with Motown Records.
Florence tried to launch a solo career, but after her two singles failed to chart in 1968, ABC Records shelved her album. She married Thomas Chapman, they had three children between 1968 and 1971. Her husband was reportedly abusive and he left her in 1971. Florence ended up on welfare and her house was foreclosed. She sued Motown for royalties but lost. Now at rock bottom, Florence entered rehab. Her situation improved when she won an insurance settlement and was able to buy house for her family in 1975. Florence reconciled with her husband and returned to singing. She was attempting to revive her career when she died from cardiac arrest (caused by a blood clot) at 32 years old on February 21, 1976.
Happy Birthday 74th Diana Ross! Black History: Special Delivery!! The legendary songstress was actually named Diane not Diana. Her name was, incorrectly printed as Diana, and that's what folks started using.
Diana Ernestine Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. The Detroit, Michigan native Is best known as the lead singer of the vocal group The Supremes,which during the 1960’s, became Mowton Records’ most successful act and the are the best charting girl group in US history as well as one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. Due to her success as the lead singer of The Supremes Ross made it possible for other African American r&b groups to go mainstream and find success. The group released an impressive and record setting twelve number one singles on the US Billboard Hot 100 with classics like “ Stop In the Name of Love”, Where Did our Love Go, “ You Can’t Hurry Love”and many others. Ross departed from the group in 1970 and released her first solo album that had found success with numerous singles. Ross also took her turn at acting with and earned a Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for her role in Lady Sings The Blues. and released successful soundtrack for the film She starred in two other films, Mahogany that had a soundtrack that did well and the star studded musical The Wiz she also did films for television. She was inducted in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as member of The Supremes.Ross’ career has lasted nearly 60 years and has received numerous awards and still influencing and inspires artists in all genres of music.
Diana Ross as "Dorthy" in the Wiz which is only a small part in her amazing and influential career.
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SUPREMES WEEK - The Early Years
Tears of Sorrow (The Primettes, 1960)
In 1958, four girls from the Detroit housing projects, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross and Betty McGlown were recruited to form the Primettes, a "sister group" to The Primes, who would later morph into The Temptations.
After Berry Gordy turned them down at Motown for being too young, they released this single with Lu Pine records. McGlown soon left The Primettes to "concentrate on her marriage." I'm not sure what that involves exactly, sitting in a corner and thinking very hard about it?
McGlown was replaced by Barbara Martin, who would also leave the band (after they'd been signed to Motown and become The Supremes) to start a family. These are really the lessons they should be teaching young girls about teen pregnancy and rushing into relationships: don't do it or you might miss out joining a world-conquering girl group.
