Mary Wilson, one of the original members of the Supremes, the 1960s group that helped establish the Motown sound and propelled Diana Ross to superstardom, has died. She was 76.
Wilson died Monday night at her home in Nevada and the cause was not immediately clear, said publicist Jay Schwartz.
Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard made up the first successful configuration of The Supremes, MotownB次元官网网址檚 first and most commercially successful girl group. Ballard was replaced by Cindy Birdsong in 1967, and Wilson stayed with the group until it was officially disbanded in 1977.
The groupB次元官网网址檚 first No. 1, million-selling song, B次元官网网址淲here Did Our Love Go,B次元官网网址� was released June 17, 1964. Touring at the time, Wilson said there was a moment when she realized they had a hit song.
B次元官网网址淚 remember that instead of going home on the bus, we flew,B次元官网网址� she told The Associated Press in 2014. B次元官网网址淭hat was our first plane ride. We flew home. We had really hit big.B次元官网网址�
It would be the first of five consecutive No. 1s, with B次元官网网址淏aby Love,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淐ome See About Me,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淪top! In the Name of LoveB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淏ack in My Arms AgainB次元官网网址� following in quick succession. The Supremes also recorded the hit songs B次元官网网址淵ou CanB次元官网网址檛 Hurry Love,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淯p the Ladder to the RoofB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淟ove Child.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 just woke up to this news,B次元官网网址� Ross tweeted on Tuesday, offering her condolences to WilsonB次元官网网址檚 family. B次元官网网址淚 am reminded that each day is a gift,B次元官网网址� she added, writing B次元官网网址淚 have so many wonderful memories of our time together.B次元官网网址�
Berry Gordy, who founded the Detroit-based Motown Records, said he was B次元官网网址渆xtremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes.B次元官网网址� His statement Monday night, according to Variety, said B次元官网网址淭he Supremes were always known as the `sweethearts of Motown.B次元官网网址滲次元官网网址�
Wilson, Ross and Ballard were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
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B次元官网网址淭he world has lost one of the brightest stars in our Motown family. Mary Wilson was an icon,B次元官网网址� Motown Museum Chairwoman and CEO Robin Terry said in a statement.
Wilson, in a recent YouTube video posted Saturday, said she was excited to celebrate Black history month, her upcoming birthday (March 6) and teased fans with the announcement that Universal Music had plans to release some of her music.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to be talking about the Supremes, yeah, 60th anniversary, and IB次元官网网址檓 going to be talking a lot about that mainly because IB次元官网网址檝e finally decided how to work with Universal and theyB次元官网网址檙e going to release new recordings, Mary Wilson recordings,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵es! At last!B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淗opefully some of that will be out on my birthday,B次元官网网址� she continued. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l see. IB次元官网网址檝e got my fingers crossed here. Yes I do.B次元官网网址�
Several celebrities mourned WilsonB次元官网网址檚 death on social media, including Viola Davis, Questlove, Andy Cohen, Janet Mock, Ledisi, Richard Marx and KissB次元官网网址� Paul Stanley, who said he was in touch with Wilson last week.
B次元官网网址淥MG! Mary Wilson of the Supremes has died suddenly. I was just on a Zoom call with her Wednesday for about an hour & never could have imagined this,B次元官网网址� he tweeted Tuesday. B次元官网网址淪o full of life & great stories. Absolutely shocked. Rest In Supreme Peace Mary.B次元官网网址�
Steven Van Zandt said he spoke to Wilson before the world went on lockdown because of the coronavirus, tweeting Tuesday: B次元官网网址淩IP Mary Wilson. Legendary founding member of the Supremes and fantastic solo artist. I had a wonderful conversation with her just before the quarantine. She was full of energy and plans so this is shocking as well as tragic. Our love and condolences go to her family and friends.B次元官网网址�
Following the SupremesB次元官网网址� disbandment, Wilson released the New York Times bestselling book, B次元官网网址淒reamgirl: My Life as a Supreme,B次元官网网址� in 1986. She released her second book, B次元官网网址淪upreme Faith: Someday WeB次元官网网址檒l Be Together,B次元官网网址� in 1990. Her last book, B次元官网网址淪upreme Glamour,B次元官网网址� was written with Mark Bego and was released in 2019.
Wilson also competed on ABCB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淒ancing with the StarsB次元官网网址� in 2019.
