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| Mary Wilson |
Mary Wilson died last night.
She was born March 6, 1944, in Greenville, Mississippi, and died suddenly at age 76, on February 8, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
During the Great Migration, her family moved to Detroit and she met Florence Ballard. She was a founding member of The Primettes, with Ballard, Betty McGlown and Diane Ross, the girl-group companion to The Primes. After McGlown left the remaining singers became The Supremes, while The Primes went on to become The Temptations.
Wilson was always the most dignified member of the group when tensions threatened the group because Motown president Berry Gordy changed their name to Diana Ross & The Supremes. As tensions rose, Flo Ballard left in 1967 and Ross left in 1970. Mary Wilson remained a member of every iteration of The Supremes, until the group disbanded in 1977 having become the most successful American vocal group in history with twelve #1 singles.
After her career with The Supremes, Wilson continued recording and performing, gave lectures about her experiences, toured with the musical "Leader of the Pack - The Ellie Greenwich Story," became a cultural ambassador for the United States government, and did charity work likely unparalleled by any of her peers.
After Flo Ballard's death, in 1976, Mary paid close attention to her surviving children. Flo was not afforded any financial riches from the success of The Supremes, and she struggled to support her family. When the Florence Ballard Fan Club was founded, Mary Wilson regularly participated in the group's events.
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| Flo Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross |
Just before her death, Mary announced she was planning to release new solo material.
In my opinion, Wilson was never given the accolades she deserved as a member of the world's most important, influential, and successful singing group. Her quiet dignity prevented her from receiving the publicity the media heaps on poorly behaved stars and negative situations.
Mary Wilson is an American icon and represents the beauty, strength, and perseverance of all African American women.
I wept when I originally saw Mary Wilson deliver her acceptance speech at 1988 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony of the Supremes (she introduces one of Flo's daughter, who is shown briefly, and looks exactly like her mother): https://youtu.be/nIFWg3QuX5M
#blackhistorymonth #BlackLivesMatter #WorkForChange
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