Kaaren Ragland

Kaaren Ragland is the founder of the group The Sounds of The Supremes.

Biography

Kaaren Ragland was born in Richmond, Virginia. She attended the Northfield School in Massachusetts, Brown University (BA) and studied acting at Boston University’s School of Fine Arts (MFA) where she also took classes in the Music Department. Ragland's later education included a JD from UCLA. She states that her mother, a well known Virginia educator, always stressed the importance of a well-rounded education.

Career

Ragland appeared in the National Touring production of "Eubie" with Cab Calloway, and in productions of “Little Shop of Horrors” and "Balm in Gilead" in Los Angeles. She was the first African-American ingenue] hired by the National Shakespeare Company in New York City in the mid 70’s while she was still a student at Boston University. In addition Kaaren Ragland appeared in several productions of the play “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow is Enuf” in Los Angeles at the Mark Taper Forum, the Huntington Hartford, and at the Buffalo Studio Arena Theatre. Over the years she appeared in more than 20 National Television Spot Commercials.

In 1977, last original and founding member Mary Wilson decided to disband The Supremes and forge a solo career. Wilson hired Ragland for concert tours in the United Kingdom, Europe, South East Asia and Australia." However, Wilson had numerous contracts for the group worldwide with major promoters and therefore contracted Kaaren as a group member. (See Fed Ct Rulings)

Late in 1989, Ragland formed a group called “The Sounds of the Supremes” with whom she has appeared in over 70 countries around the world. Wilson attempted to prevent her using the name "The Sounds of the Supremes” in a US Federal Court action in 1996. But, based on extensive contractual evidence and her concert performance history that began in the UK in 1978 the court found in Ragland’s favor, granting her the right to use her own name: “The Sounds of the Supremes".

In point of fact Universal owner of Motown and the moniker The Supremes has supported and hired The Sounds of the Supremes on numerous occasions. (See Fed Ct rulings in which all Wilson contracts and Universal/ Sounds of the Supremes contracts were included)

'Sounds of the Supremes' Personnel

Kaaren Ragland, Althea Burkhalter, Angel Rose
Former members: Roberta Freeman, Van Jewel, Wendy Smith, Hollis Payseur, Kathy Merrick, Amy Keys

Albums

Live At The Highclere Castle (2007)

1. Symphony
2. You Keep Me Hanging On
3. Where Did Our Love Go
4. Love Child
5. Love Is Here And Now You're Gone
6. Reflections
7. Stoned Love
8. "You Can't Hurry Love"
9. Come See About Me
10. Back In My Arms Again
11. Baby Love
12. Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart
13. Stop In The Name Of Love
14. Someday We'll Be Together
15. "I Hear a Symphony"
16. Symphony Reprise

External links

References