Mary Wilson (singer)

Mary Wilson
Wilson at Moscow's Spaso House on February 2, 2011
Background information
Born	(1944-03-06) March 6, 1944 Greenville, Mississippi, U.S.
Genres	R&B, pop
Occupations	Musician, author
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1959–present
Labels	Motown (1961–1980), Nightmare/Motorcity (1981–1991), CEO Records (1991–1992), H-D-H Records (2009 – present)
Associated acts	The Supremes
Website	www.marywilson.com

Mary Wilson (born March 6, 1944) is an American vocalist, best known as a founding member of the popular sixties group The Supremes. Wilson remained as member of the group following the departures of group mates Diana Ross and Florence Ballard until the group disbanded in 1977. Wilson has since released two solo albums and released two autobiographies, Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme and Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together, both books later released as an updated combination. Wilson has since carried on her career as a concert performer, musical activist and organizer of various museum displays of the Supremes' famed costumes. Wilson was inducted alongside Ross and Ballard as member of the Supremes to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Life and career

Early life

Wilson was born to Sam and Johnnie Mae Wilson in Greenville, Mississippi. Wilson was the eldest of Johnnie Mae's three children including a brother, Roosevelt, and a sister, Catherine. Wilson's parents divorced before she was one and she was shifted, first to St. Louis and then to Chicago before living with her aunt Ivory "I.V." and uncle John L. Pippin in Detroit. Wilson reunited with her mother and siblings soon afterwards. To make ends meet, Wilson's mother worked as a domestic worker. Before reaching her teenage years, Wilson and her family had settled at Detroit's upstart housing project, the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects.

Wilson first met Florence Ballard at a junior high school in Detroit. The duo became friends after the youngsters performed at a singing competition. In 1959, Ballard asked Wilson to audition for Milton Jenkins, who was forming a sister group to his male vocal quartet, the Primes. Wilson was soon accepted in the group known as The Primettes, with Diana Ross and Betty McGlown later added to the lineup. Wilson has said that she was the one to help recruit Ross to the group despite some biographers crediting then Primes member Paul Williams for the move. Wilson eventually graduated from Detroit's Northwestern High School in 1962. Despite her mother's insistence she go to college, Wilson instead focused on her music career.

Music career

Main article: The Supremes

The Primettes signed to Motown Records in 1961, changing their name to The Supremes. In between that period, McGlown was replaced by Barbara Martin. In 1962, the group was reduced to a trio after Martin's departure. The Supremes scored their first hit in 1963 with the song, "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes", and reached number-one on the pop charts for the first time with the hit, "Where Did Our Love Go", becoming their first of ten number-one singles in which Wilson contributed as member of the group.

By 1967, the group had become international superstars. That year, Motown president Berry Gordy changed the name of the group to Diana Ross & The Supremes and, after a period of tension, Florence Ballard was removed from the Supremes that July. Cindy Birdsong was chosen to take her place. The Supremes under their new lineup continued to sporadically record hit singles until Ross' departure in early 1970. Following their final performance with Ross, Jean Terrell was introduced as the replacement for Ross. According to Wilson in her memoirs, Berry Gordy told Wilson that he thought of having Syreeta Wright join the group as lead singer to which Wilson refused. According to Wilson, Gordy told her that he would "wash his hands of the group".

With Terrell, the Supremes continued recording hits such as "Up the Ladder to the Roof", "Stoned Love", "Nathan Jones" and "Floy Joy" through 1972. Wilson contributed partial lead vocals to Supremes songs during that period including the hit "Floy Joy".

The Supremes in 1964. Left to right: Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Diana Ross.

After 1972, the Supremes struggled with recordings and frequent lineup changes. By 1975, Jean Terrell had been replaced by Scherrie Payne while Lynda Laurence briefly replaced Cindy Birdsong, before Birdsong returned to the group in early 1974. In 1976, Birdsong left for good and was replaced by Susaye Greene. During a two-year interim in which they struggled to produce a new contract with Motown, the group kept on a stringent touring schedule. In 1976, the group scored their final hit single with "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking". A year later, Wilson left The Supremes following a performance at London's Drury Lane Theatre in late 1977. After Payne and Greene unsuccessfully lobbied to get a replacement for Wilson, the Supremes officially disbanded.

Wilson got involved in a protracted legal battle with Motown over management of the Supremes. After an out-of-court settlement, Wilson signed with Motown for solo work, releasing a disco-heavy self-titled album in 1979. The album and its singles, "Red Hot" and "Pick Up the Pieces" failed to successfully chart and midway through production of a second solo album in 1980, Motown dropped her from their roster. Throughout the 1980s, Wilson had recording struggles while focusing on performances on musical theater productions including Beehive, Dancing in the Streets and Supreme Soul. Wilson nearly reunited with Scherrie Payne and Cindy Birdsong on a proposed Supremes reunion but was reportedly talked out of it by Berry Gordy, reminding her of the hasty reunion of The Temptations.

In 1994, The Supremes were recognized with a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7060 Hollywood Blvd.

Wilson released her memoirs, Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme, in 1986, which focused on the early career of the Supremes and its success during the 1960s. Four years later, in 1990, Wilson released her second memoirs, Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together, which focused on the Supremes' later years in the seventies and her personal struggles during that period. In between this period, Wilson became a guest on several TV shows and talk shows and began regularly performing in Las Vegas casinos and resorts. In 1987, Wilson almost signed a deal with Atlantic Records but the label eventually canceled on the deal. Wilson then recorded a cover version of "Ooh Child" for the Motorcity label in 1990. A year later, she signed with CEO Records and released the album, Walk the Line, in 1992. The label went into bankruptcy after its release. Wilson continued her success as a concert performer. By 1997, she was still fighting over usage of the Supremes name, initiating a court case against Kaaren Ragland to prevent Ragland from calling her group "The Sounds of the Supremes". The court found in favor of Ragland. In 1995, Wilson released a song, "U", for Contract Recording Company and the song charted in the UK. A year later, Wilson released the song, "Turn Around" for Da Bridge Records.

By late 1999, negotiations were started to reunite the 1967–1970 lineup of the Supremes of Ross, Wilson and Birdsong under their "Diana Ross & The Supremes" moniker with SFX. After rejecting the original $2 million contract offered to her, Wilson wanted to join for $5 million, eventually settling for a figure of $4 million. In May 2000, Wilson backed out of the concert as did Birdsong and SFX replaced them with Scherrie Payne and Lynda Laurence. The tour was later canceled in 2000 for low ticket sales in the tour's theater dates. That year, Wilson released an updated version of her autobiographies as a single combined book. That year, an album, I Am Changing, was released through Duryea Entertainment.

In 2001, Wilson starred in the national tour of Leader of the Pack – The Ellie Greenwich Story. A year later, Wilson was appointed by Secretary of State Colin Powell as a "culture-connect ambassador" for the U.S. State Department, appearing at international events arranged by that agency. In 2006, a live concert DVD, Mary Wilson Live at the Sands, was released. Four years later, another DVD, Mary Wilson: Live from San Francisco... Up Close, was released. During this period, Wilson became a musical activist having been part of the Truth in Music Bill, a law proposed to stop impostor groups performing under the names of the 1950s and 1960s rock and roll groups, including Motown groups The Marvelettes and The Supremes. The law was passed in 27 states. Wilson has also toured and lectured across the United States, speaking to various groups nationwide. Her lecture series, “Dare to Dream”, focuses on reaching goals and triumph over adversity. Wilson's charity work includes the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the American Cancer Society, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, the Easter Seals Foundation, UNICEF, The NAACP, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the All-Star Network, and Figure Skaters of Harlem, a youth organization devoted to helping children towards entering the Olympics. Most recently, Wilson became the Mine Action spokesperson for the Humpty Dumpty Institute.

In April 2008, Wilson made a special appearance on 20/20 to participate in a social experiment involving pedestrians reacting to a young woman (Ambre Anderson) singing "Stop! In the Name of Love" with intentional amateurishness. Wilson approached the woman and gave her constructive criticism towards her style in contrast to the pedestrians whose reactions were positive yet dishonest. On March 5, 2009, she made a special appearance on The Paul O'Grady Show which ended in a special performance with her, Paul O'Grady and Graham Norton. Wilson has also been involved with a touring exhibition of the Supremes' former stage wear, which has been on exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, USA, and on May 12, 2008 commenced its European tour, starting at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Over 50 sets of gowns are shown in rotation, starting with early informal wear from the early 1960s, and including famous gowns worn on television specials and nightclub appearances by the group in the 1960s and 1970s.

Lead vocals with The Supremes

Wilson recorded an appreciable number of lead/co-lead vocals for the group, including the #1 dance chart hit "He's My Man" and the top 40 pop hits "Floy Joy" and "Automatically Sunshine". For a complete list of singles and albums, see The Supremes discography.

• As The Primettes
  • "Pretty Baby" – b-side to "Tears of Sorrow"
• as The Supremes
  • "(He's) Seventeen" – from the group's debut album Meet The Supremes – Mary has a brief solo on the song, saying "Ooh!" during the spoken interlude that's just before the last verse
  • "Baby Don't Go" – also from the group's debut album Meet The Supremes
  • "A Breathtaking Guy" – from the 1964 album, Where Did Our Love Go – all group members have a lead line on the song’s chorus; Mary sings "Next day heart-breaking..."
  • "(The Man With The) Rock And Roll Banjo Band" – B-Side of "A Breathtaking Guy", later issued on the 1964 album, The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop – Flo & Mary sing harmony lead vocals behind Diana's main leads
  • "Long Gone Lover" – also from Where Did Our Love Go – has the lead on the intro (and repeats her part in the break), with Florence Ballard on lead on the outro and Diana Ross leading the rest of the song
  • "Baby Love" – from Where Did Our Love Go – Diana leads but Flo & Mary each has brief solos (ad-libs) on the released (second) version of the song. Mary sings "yeah, yeah" just before the last verse.
  • "How Do You Do It" – from the 1964 album, A Bit of Liverpool – all three members of the group sing the song's lead vocal in unison.
  • "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" – also from A Bit of Liverpool. – Mary sings "the harmony co-lead vocal" with Diana Ross.
  • "It Makes No Difference Now" – from the group's 1965 album The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop – this was the first released track to feature all group members on lead vocals on a song verse
  • "Sunset" – also from The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop, as a duet with Diana Ross
  • "Come and Get These Memories" – a remake of the Martha and the Vandellas hit, featured on the group's 1966 hit album The Supremes A' Go-Go, alternate mix included on "Lost & Found – Let the Music Play: Supreme Rarities 1960–1969".
  • "Falling In Love With Love" – from the group's tribute album The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart, a duet with Diana Ross; also featured on the live album Farewell
• as Diana Ross and The Supremes
  • "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" – from the live album Farewell; first featured as a duet with Temptations singer Eddie Kendricks on the album Together
• as The Supremes (1970s)
  • "Bridge Over Troubled Water" – from New Ways but Love Stays. Shared Vocal with Jean Terrell.
  • "Touch" – the title track from Touch. A soulful duet with established lead singer Jean Terrell, this marked the first time that Mary had taken a lead on a single.
  • Nathan Jones" – also from Touch. All three members of the group (Jean, Mary, and Cindy Birdsong) sing the song's lead vocal in unison.
  • "A Heart Like Mine" – from the Smokey Robinson produced album Floy Joy
  • "Floy Joy" – another duet with Jean Terrell from the album with the same name.
  • "Automatically Sunshine" – second single from the Floy Joy album and third duet single with Jean Terrell.
  • "I Keep It Hid" – album track from the critically acclaimed album The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb.
  • "He's My Man" – from the 1975 album The Supremes, co-lead vocals with Scherrie Payne
  • "Early Morning Love" – from the 1975 album The Supremes
  • "Where Is It I Belong?" – from the 1975 album The Supremes
  • "This Is Why I Believe In You" – from the 1975 album The Supremes, co-lead vocals with Scherrie Payne
  • "You Turn Me Around" – from the 1975 album The Supremes
  • "Don't Let My Teardrops Bother You" – from the 1976 album High Energy
  • "Till the Boat Sails Away" – from the 1976 album High Energy
  • "I Don't Want To Lose You" – from the 1976 album High Energy
  • "You're What's Missing In My Life" – from the 1976 album High Energy, duet with Scherrie Payne
  • "We Should be Closer Together" – from the group's final album Mary, Scherrie & Susaye
  • "You Are The Heart Of Me" – also from the group's final album Mary, Scherrie & Susaye

• Tracks released after the group disbanded
  • "After All" – recorded in 1961 and later included on the 2000 The Supremes box set. This is the only released song to feature Barbara Martin. It also features Florence and Diana.
  • " The Tears" – recorded in 1961 during the sessions for Meet The Supremes – also released on Never-Before-Released-Masters From Today's Brightest Stars-The 1960s
  • "Not Fade Away" – a group lead with harmonies throughout, recorded in 1964 during sessions for A Bit of Liverpool, released on The Supremes Lost & Found
  • "Our Day Will Come" – recorded in 1965 for the unreleased There's A Place For Us album. It was released on The Never-Before-Released Masters in 1987.
  • "Fancy Passes" – also recorded in 1965 for the unreleased There's A Place For Us album. Diana leads but Flo & Mary each are featured on some spoken lines (and a few brief solos) in this original number. It was released on The Never-Before-Released Masters.
  • "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett" – recorded in 1967 for the unreleased Diana Ross & The Supremes Sing Disney Classics album. The song was released on The Never-Before-Released Masters CD in 1987.
  • "Got to Get You Into My Life" – released on Joined Together: The Complete Studio Duets – Shared lead vocal with Diana Ross, with The Temptations singing background.
  • "Amen"- out-take from 1968's Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations – released on Joined Together: The Complete Studio Duets – all group members share leads with Temptations members Eddie Kendricks, Dennis Edwards, and Paul Williams.
  • "Still Water (Love)" – taken from recording sessions for the proposed album Promises Kept. released on the compilation, This Is the Story: The 70s Albums, Vol. 1 (1970-1973 – The Jean Terrell Years).
  • "Can We Love Again" – out-take from the 1975 album The Supremes, released on The 70s Anthology.

• Unreleased tracks
  • "Boogie Man" – out-take from the 1975 album The Supremes

Solo discography

Studio albums

• 1979: Mary Wilson
• 1992: Walk the Line
• 2013: Life's Been Good to Me (rumored; hasn't been released as of 3-21-13)

Live album

• 2007: Up Close: Live from San Francisco

DVDs

• 2006: Mary Wilson Live at the Sands

Album guest appearances

• with Neil Sedaka on Come See About Me (one song) – "Come See About Me"
• with Paul Jabara on De La Noche Sisters (one song) – "This Girl's Back"
• on the album Sing For The Cure (one song) – "Come to Me Mother"
• with the Four Tops on From the Heart (2006) (one song) – "River Deep – Mountain High"
• with Human Nature on Get Ready (2007) (two songs) – "River Deep – Mountain High" and "It Takes Two"

Singles

Motown releases

• 1979: "Red Hot" / "Midnight Dancer"
• 1980: "Pick Up the Pieces" / "You're the Light That Guides My Way" (UK only)

Nightmare/Motorcity releases

• 1987:"Don't Get Mad, Get Even" – Nightmare Records
• 1989:"Oooh Child" – Nightmare Records

CEO releases

• 1992: "One Night With You"
• 1992: "Walk the Line"

Other releases

• 1995: "U" – Contract Recording Company
• 1996: "Turn Around" – Da Bridge Records
• 2000: "It's Time to Move On"
• 2011: "Life's Been Good to Me"
• 2013: "Darling Mother (Johnnie Mae)"

Unreleased

• 1980: Gus Dudgeon produced master tracks for Motown – "Love Talk", "Save Me", "You Danced My Heart Around the Stars", "Green River"
• 1986: "My Lovelife is a Disaster" (unreleased demo)
• "Sleeping in Separate Rooms" (Atlantic c.1987)
• "Stronger in a Broken Part" (Atlantic c.1987)
• "The One I Love" (Atlantic c.1987)
• "Can We Talk About It"
• "Show Me"
• "Love Child" (out-take from Walk the Line album)

Autobiographies

• Wilson, Mary with Patricia Romanowski and Ahrgus Juilliard (1986). Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme. New York: St. Martin's Press.
• Wilson, Mary and Romanowski, Patricia (1990). Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-016290-2
• Wilson, Mary (1999). Dreamgirl & Supreme Faith: My Life as a Supreme. New York: Cooper Square Press. ISBN 0-8154-1000-X.

DVD appearances

• T.A.M.I. Show – performer, with the Supremes (1964)
• Beach Ball – performer, with the Supremes (1965)
• Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever – performer, with the Supremes (1983)
• Girl Groups: The Story of a Sound – herself (1994)
• Jackie's Back (movie) – Vesta Crotchley (2002)
• Rhythm, Love and Soul – herself (2003)
• Tiger Town (movie) – National Anthem singer (2004)
• Only the Strong Survive – performer (2004)
• From the Heart: The Four Tops – 50th Anniversary Concert – performer (2005)
• Mary Wilson Live at the Sands – herself (2006)
• Greatest Hits: Live in Amsterdam – performer, with the Supremes (2006)
• Reflections: The Definitive Performances (1964–1969) – singer (2006)
• Mary Wilson; Up Close: Live from San Francisco (2010)

Other notable appearances

• Brenda Russell: "Walkin' in New York" – cameo in music video
• Motown 40: The Music is Forever – herself (1998)
• Motown 45 – performer (2004)
• Motown: The Early Years: PBS Special (2005)
• My Music: Motown Memories: PBS Special – hostess (2009)
• Unsung: Florence Ballard – interviewee (2009)
• Unsung: The Marvelettes - interviewee (2012)
• Tavis Smiley – interviewee (2012)
• Unsung: Eddie Kendricks – interviewee (2013)

External links

• Official site
• Mary Wilson interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' May 2009
• Endorsed site
• Mary Wilson on the Internet Movie Database
• Interview by Daiana Feuer, L.A. Record, August 2009
• Mary Wilson interview with Going Thru Vinyl (Part 1)
• Mary Wilson interview with Going Thru Vinyl (Part 2)