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Mary Wilson, Co-Founder of The Supremes, Dead at 76
ABC News ^ | February 9, 2021 | Megan Stone

Posted on 02/09/2021 11:35:26 AM PST by nickcarraway

The popular Motown group recently celebrated its 60th anniversary.

The Motown legend's death takes place just days after the legendary girl group, of whom she was...Read More The music industry is mourning the death of Mary Wilson, a Motown legend and co-founder of The Supremes. She was 76.

The legendary girl group, of which she was the longest-running member, recently celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Wilson's longtime friend and publicist, Jay Schwartz, confirmed her death early Tuesday.

Berry Gordy, founder of Motown, openly grieved the late legend in a public statement, writing, "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."

He went on, "Mary Wilson was extremely special to me. She was a trailblazer, a diva and will be deeply missed."

Wilson started her legendary career when she co-founded The Primettes alongside Florence Ballard and Diana Ross and was signed by Motown Records in 1961. As part of The Supremes, which went on to become one of the best-selling vocal groups of all time with 12 No. 1 singles, Wilson played a direct role in hits such as "Baby Love," "Stop! In The Name of Love," "Love Child" and "Someday We'll Be Together."

The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and is hailed for paving the way for future Black artists.

Exiting the group in 1977, Wilson became an advocate within the music industry and lobbied for musicians' rights. Schwartz said one of Wilson's last acts was lobbying to have Ballard, who died in 1976, commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp.

She also directed her passions into social advocacy and humanitarian outreach, such as raising HIV/AIDS awareness and partnering with UNICEF.ars."

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: 60s; berrygordy; diannaross; girlgroup; marywilson; motown; music; searchworks; thesupremes
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1 posted on 02/09/2021 11:35:26 AM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Great lady- R.I.P.


2 posted on 02/09/2021 11:36:56 AM PST by Dr. Ursus
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To: nickcarraway

Amazing voice..RIP Mary Wilson


3 posted on 02/09/2021 11:41:15 AM PST by Sarah Barracuda
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To: nickcarraway

I just read that Billy Brown the father from the TV show “Alaskan Bush People” has died too.


4 posted on 02/09/2021 11:44:26 AM PST by 4yearlurker (I am guilty of loving liberty!)
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To: nickcarraway

One long article that never mentioned the cause of her death. RIP.


5 posted on 02/09/2021 11:45:14 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: nickcarraway

The Supremes - one of the best sounds of my youth. Love their music. RIP.


6 posted on 02/09/2021 11:45:59 AM PST by colorado tanker
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To: nickcarraway
What a shame. The Supremes are my all time favorite girl group. They were part of the soundtrack to my life in my youth. I remember playing them on a 8-track in my car as I cruised Hawthorne Boulevard and others.

RIP, Mary, and thanks for the memories.

7 posted on 02/09/2021 11:48:38 AM PST by A Navy Vet (I'm not Islamophobic - I'm Islamo nauseated. Also LGBTQxyz nauseated )
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To: nickcarraway
The Supremes were originally known as the Primettes. Here they are--uncredited--singing back-up.

The Return of Stagger Lee--Don ReVels (1960)

8 posted on 02/09/2021 11:54:45 AM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: nickcarraway

I remember a radio interview in which Ms. Wilson reminisced about going to a public high school in Detroit and how wonderful the curriculum was, including music. I wonder how many poor kids in Detroit get a first-class public high school education today. Zero is my guess. RIP.


9 posted on 02/09/2021 11:56:37 AM PST by Atticus
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To: nickcarraway
My favorite song of theirs

Run! Run! Run! (1964)

10 posted on 02/09/2021 11:57:08 AM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: nickcarraway
Here, the Supremes sing about life under Communism in Red China during the rule of Mao Tse-tung.

Love Child (1968)

11 posted on 02/09/2021 12:01:02 PM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: nickcarraway

Mary Wilson was also a good writer. During the Voter Fraud drama,I needed something light and interesting to take my mind off of Washington D.C.

I bought a used book entitled: “Dreamgirl, My Life As A Supreme”. Good reading, if a little Tabloidly.
My way of buying a big box of Fiddle-Faddle Caramel Corn.
I was in need of some kind of confection during that time.
This filled the bill.


12 posted on 02/09/2021 12:09:00 PM PST by lee martell
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To: Atticus

Yep, quite a change from past decades.

I read a couple of articles recently, which seem stunning when looking at the state of public education today.

One article stated how decades ago, people wanted to live in the city limits of New York City, and not some of the suburban towns, because their public schools were so good.

Another article talked of Dunbar High School in Washington, DC, and talked of when it was a school for black students in the days of segregation. And the article mentioned the quality of that school was very good. Nowadays Dunbar is unfortunately just another inner city school.


13 posted on 02/09/2021 12:34:32 PM PST by Dilbert San Diego
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To: nickcarraway

76? Was she 10 y/o in her hayday?


14 posted on 02/09/2021 12:41:47 PM PST by Leep (Save America. Lock down Joe Biden!)
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To: SeekAndFind

must NOT be da virus.


15 posted on 02/09/2021 12:43:04 PM PST by Leep (Save America. Lock down Joe Biden!)
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To: nickcarraway

TWELVE number ones! That’s not at all easy to do.I didn’t realize they had that many. I remember wondering when they broke up why the press were making such a big story out of it.


16 posted on 02/09/2021 12:43:56 PM PST by TalBlack (We have a Christian duty and a patriotic duty. God help us.)
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To: 4yearlurker

Seizure


17 posted on 02/09/2021 12:47:42 PM PST by Eddie01
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To: Leep

huh??...she was 20 years old in 1964...


18 posted on 02/09/2021 12:52:45 PM PST by basalt
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To: basalt

I might be getting old?


19 posted on 02/09/2021 12:59:36 PM PST by Leep (Save America. Lock down Joe Biden!)
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To: nickcarraway

The Supremes were before my time, but thanks to my parents I grew up listening to them anyway. Hope she is singing in Heaven now.


20 posted on 02/09/2021 1:01:19 PM PST by FormerFRLurker
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