TIME OUT: Supreme dream lives on
FIFTY years ago three young singers were told they were too young for a record deal by Tamla Motown guru Berry Gordy.
Fortunately, like many teenagers, Mary Wilson and her high school friends Florence Ballard and Diana Ross didn't listen.
The Primettes didn't take 'no' for an answer and they turned up at the studio every day after school until Gordy relented and signed them in 1961 – on the proviso they changed their name to The Supremes.
A generation on and a 20-date tour sends founder Mary Wilson to Sheffield City Hall on March 2.
She has done more than most to keep the 'true' spirit of The Supremes alive, including a campaign against imposter groups using the names of bands from the '50s and '60s that has led to a bill to ban these groups being passed in 27 states.
In spite of their huge confidence and exquisite voices, it was two years after Gordy signed them before The Supremes scored their first hit, with a song called When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes.
This was the start of a string of hits written by the 'in-house' team of Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Where Did Our Love Go was their first chart-topper in 1964 followed by Baby Love, Come See About Me and Stop In The Name Of Love.
When Gordy started to promote Ross as the main focus of the trio – after The Happening was a hit in 1967 the band was renamed Diana Ross and The Supremes – friction eventually resulted in Ballard being replaced by Cindy Birdsong.
In 1970, Ross left for a solo career and Jean Terrell came in for hits such as Nathan Jones and Floy Joy. By 1976, Mary's then husband Pedro Ferrer was managing the band and in 1977 The Supremes performed their farewell concert at London's Drury Lane Theatre.
Beside the occasional reunion, all members undertook solo careers with varying degrees of success.
Mary has also been a keen charity worker and in recent years involved with a touring exhibition of stage gowns worn by The Supremes.
Interest in their music has continued, thanks not least to the 2006 film Dreamgirls, based on the group's career.
While Mary undertook personal appearances at the time with some of the cast, she went on record as saying the film "did not depict their true story."
She may well make mention of it when she plays Sheffield for a celebration of her career.
"We'll probably do some of the early hits and there'll also be some of my solo material, including songs by Sting and Stevie Wonder," she says. "It's gonna be an eclectic kind of show."
Mary, who has just recorded an album of new songs written for her by the Holland brothers, remains a regular visitor to the UK.
"The audiences are so appreciative, it's one of my favourite places to tour," she confirms, recalling her 2009 trip.
"It was strange, as we were here at the time Michael Jackson died – in fact we were at Wembley that night."
On this tour she'll be sharing a stage with Chicago hit-makers The Chi-Lites.
Formed in 1959 as The Hi-Litees - Marshall Thompson is the only remaining original member - they later added the 'C' to reflect their home city. During the '70s their hits included Oh Girl, Homely Girl, Too Good To Be Forgotten, the evergreen Have You Seen Her and Are You My Woman, sampled to great effect by Beyonce for her global hit Crazy In Love.
"I've never worked with them before," Mary says. "But I know them and they're wonderful people and singers."
Following the UK shows, Mary has plenty to be getting on with still.
"Life goes on y'know and I also work as an ambassador and after the tour I'll be going to Russia. I'm also writing a coffee table book about my gown collection."
And that still doesn't leave much time to keep tabs on her former band mates.
"I'm in touch with them on occasion. It's kinda hard as we're all in different places. "But Scherrie Payne (in The Supremes 1973-1976) was at one of my shows recently."
Martin Hutchinson
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