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Thread: Co-Founder of The Supremes, Mary Wilson Dies

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    Unhappy Co-Founder of The Supremes, Mary Wilson Dies

    Lamont Dozier Remembers Mary Wilson: 'She Was the Glue That Kept the Supremes Together'

    "Everybody loved Mary, and everybody appreciated her optimism and her drive," says famed producer-songwriter behind 10 Supremes Number Ones


    From 1964 to at least 1967, the Supremes helped define the sound of Motown and, by extension, the sound of mainstream American pop. The trio worked closely with the songwriter-producer team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland to perfect a musical blueprint; an ideal blend of hard and soft — drums like jackhammers, cymbals like sword fights, and harmonies like whipped cream. Diana Ross sang lead, of course, while Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard handled backup, pulling from a formidable, constantly shifting arsenal of "whoa-ohs," "whoo-oohs," "yeah-yeahs," "baby-baby's," and "help, help me's" to accentuate their singles' pearly melodies and soften all that clobbering percussion.
    After Wilson's death on Monday at age 76, Dozier spoke with Rolling Stone about meeting the Supremes, arguing with Wilson over "Where Did Our Love Go," and her role as "the glue" in the group.
    I got the call this morning early about Mary Wilson. It shocked me, of course. Mary has always been one of those types working and thriving; she's always up and going at 'em, looking for the next hill to climb.

    She was the glue that kept the Supremes together when we had problems in the studio. We had times we used to argue about the songs or whatever parts we should sing. She would always look at the big picture and try to get everyone to settle down and do the job; thinking about our careers more than all this noise you're making. She was good at that, getting everyone together. And she had a good-sounding voice; a sound of her own. She was the sexy one of the group, you might say. I recorded her voice on a couple of songs. She was in the background, holding her own; holding up whatever background we came up with.

    Motown Songwriter Lamont Dozier Remembers Supremes' Mary Wilson - Rolling Stone

    Mary was my favorite Supreme for a long time. I always thought she was the prettiest of the three. Not taking anything from Diana and Florence. But Mary was the one IMO, whose looks were more elegant, and refined.
    When your praise match your prayers, the answer will come.
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    I've been a Supremes fan since their first number one hit "Where Did Our Love Go?" in 1964. Mary had a hard time of it, but Florence Ballard suffered the worst and died an early death due to addiction.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bookman View Post
    I've been a Supremes fan since their first number one hit "Where Did Our Love Go?" in 1964. Mary had a hard time of it, but Florence Ballard suffered the worst and died an early death due to addiction.
    You're right Bookman. Florence Ballard suffered greatly. It's sad she had no one to mentor her. She was only 32 when she died from a blood clot in her arteries. She had entered rehab a few years before for alcoholism, and from all accounts treatment was successful. So I don't know that she died due to addiction.
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    They were part of my childhood memories and of course, Diana Ross. She too had a rough go of it with fame and drugs.

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    The 60's - those were the days - carrying a six-transistor radio in my pocket and listening to groups like the Supremes on AM radio. And they had to be able to sing; no way to mask poor voice quality.

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    Quote Originally Posted by FireBrand View Post
    They were part of my childhood memories and of course, Diana Ross. She too had a rough go of it with fame and drugs.
    Alcohol was Diana Ross' problem for a short time in the early 2000s, not drugs.
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    Senior Member diakonos777's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by njtom View Post
    The 60's - those were the days - carrying a six-transistor radio in my pocket and listening to groups like the Supremes on AM radio. And they had to be able to sing; no way to mask poor voice quality.
    Did the same thing, WLS Chicago AM Radio here.

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