Mary Wilson (singer)
Encyclopedia
Mary Wilson is an American singer, formerlymember of the Motown female singing group
The Supremes
during the 1960s and 1970s. Wilson was the only singer to be a consistent member of the group in its eighteen-year tenure. She has published the autobiography Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme
, and two follow-up books, Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together, and an updated combination of the two entitled Dreamgirl & Supreme Faith: My Life as a Supreme.
. The Wilsons later had a son, Roosevelt, and a daughter, Catherine, who is known as "Cat". As a baby, Mary moved first to St. Louis
and then to Chicago
before settling with her aunt and uncle, Ivory ("I.V.") and John L. Pippin, in Detroit. At the age of six, she was returned to the custody of Johnnie Mae, who had spent time in Mississippi. This was a confusing time for Mary, as she had been led to believe that Ivory and John L. were her parents. By the age of twelve, Mary and her family had settled at Detroit's Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects.
while both attended junior high school. They quickly became close friends with a mutual interest in music. When Milton Jenkins, manager of male vocal group The Primes
, decided to form a female spin-off group called The Primettes
, he recruited Ballard, who recruited Wilson. Wilson then recruited a new friend of hers, Diane Ross
, and Jenkins added Betty McGlown
to complete the lineup.
By 1961, The Primettes had signed to Motown Records, replaced McGlown with Barbara Martin
, and changed their name to The Supremes
; In 1962, a pregnant Martin quit the group, reducing them to a trio. The Supremes went two years without a Top 40 hit, finally scoring with "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes
" in 1963 which began a long streak of Holland–Dozier–Holland-penned Top 10 hits, including ten US #1 hits, beginning with "Where Did Our Love Go
".
In 1967, after three years of phenomenal success, Motown chief Berry Gordy
changed the name of the group to Diana Ross & the Supremes and at Mary and Diana's request replaced Florence Ballard with Cindy Birdsong
. Although hits were less frequent during this time period, Diana Ross and the Supremes enjoyed their two biggest-selling hits in 1968 ("Love Child
") and 1969 ("Someday We'll Be Together
"), respectively.
When Diana Ross left the group in 1970 for a solo career, singer Jean Terrell
was brought in as her replacement, and the group was re-christened "The Supremes". The "New Supremes" – Wilson, Terrell, and Birdsong – continued their hit-making process from 1970 through 1972 with hits like "Up the Ladder to the Roof
", "Stoned Love
", "River Deep – Mountain High" (with the Four Tops
), "Nathan Jones
", and "Floy Joy
". Wilson began sharing leads with Terrell on several of the singles, including "Touch
", "Floy Joy", and "Automatically Sunshine
".
Cindy Birdsong temporarily left the group in April 1972 to start a family and was replaced by singer Lynda Laurence
, formerly of Stevie Wonder
's Wonderlove group. This collaboration did not last long. After the Stevie Wonder-produced "Bad Weather
" failed to ignite much interest in 1973, both Terrell and Laurence departed from the group. Wilson enlisted Scherrie Payne
, Freda Payne
's younger sister, and welcomed back Cindy Birdsong to carry on the group. It took nearly two years for Motown to produce new recording contracts for the Supremes, during which time the group concentrated on live performances, and Wilson married Dominican
businessman Pedro Ferrer.
Wilson took charge of the Supremes, assisting her husband in managing, and sharing lead vocal duties with Payne in the group. This lineup continued on until 1976, when Birdsong was replaced by Susaye Greene
, also a former Wonderlove member. With Greene, the Supremes recorded two disco
-flavored albums with some success, including the release of their final top forty hit "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking
" which also ranked number 1 on the dance charts. By the start of 1977, Wilson had finally decided to leave The Supremes and start her solo singing career. Her "farewell" performance with the group in its last line-up occurred on Sunday, June 12 of that year at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
in London, England.
was released with material produced by Hal Davis
. The album took Wilson's solo work further into a mixture of R&B and disco. The album's lead single, "Red Hot"/"Midnight Dancer", peaked at #95 on the Billboard R&B singles chart. An extended version of "Red Hot" made available as a 12-inch single earned the song a #85 spot on the disco charts in October 1979. In March 1980, Wilson released the album's second single, "Pick Up the Pieces"/"You're the Light That Guides My Way".
In mid-1980, Wilson had begun working on her second album for Motown with English record producer Gus Dudgeon
, who had produced the tracks "Love Talk", "Save Me", "You Danced My Heart Around the Stars" and "Green River" for the record. However, Wilson was later released from her contract with Motown. Also in the mid-1980s, Wilson began to concentrate on musical theater, starring in various productions throughout a 20-year period, including "Beehive", "Dancing in the Streets", "Leader of the Pack", "Mother Hubbard, Mother Hubbard", "Grandma Sylvia's Funeral", "Sister Idella's Soul Shack" "Sophisticated Ladies", "The Vagina Monologues
" and "Supreme Soul". In 1981, Wilson signed with Nightmare Records,a label that aimed to record new material with former Motown artists. In 1984, after a successful reunion of The Temptations, Wilson was approached by Motown to reform the Supremes with Scherrie Payne and Cindy Birdsong, but after careful consideration and advice from Berry Gordy Jr., Wilson declined. In 1986, Wilson released her first heavily publicized autobiography, "Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme
" concentrating on the sixties era of the original Supremes lineup. The book, actually written by Patricia Romanowski was a huge success but was also heavily criticized for constantly attacking Diana Ross
persona. In 1987, Wilson released the single "Don't Get Mad, Get Even" on Nightmare Records. Wilson racked up a long list of television appearances during this period, on talk shows and sitcom guest spots, including 227
on the episode "See You in Court" which premiered on November 21, 1987. In 1988 Wilson appeared in Dionne Warwick
's "That's What Friends Are For AIDS Concert" which aired nationwide. She performed "A Song for You", in a medley with "How Lucky Can You Get?". Wilson also became a regular performer sharing billing with top comedians such as Jay Leno
and Joan Rivers
, playing engagements at resorts and casinos.
In 1987, Wilson recorded the songs, "Sleeping in Separate Rooms", "Stronger in a Broken Part" and "The One I Love" for Atlantic Records
. Wilson had expected to have a record deal with the label, but the deal was cancelled and the songs remain unreleased.
In 1989, Nightmare Records became Motorcity Records
. Although Wilson never recorded a full album for the label, she recorded a cover version of "Oooh Child". In 1990, she released a follow-up best-selling book called "Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together", which followed the group and her life through the seventies. Her concert work also increased in the US, although she had more legal troubles with Motown over ownership of the name "Supremes" which she used to identify herself with for tour work. Wilson initaited a court case against Kaaren Ragland
, who served as a back-up singer for Wilson for several years, to prevent Ragland from calling a group she formed "The Sounds of the Supremes," but the court found in Ragland's favor.". In 1991, Wilson left Motorcity, a year before it went out of business. She then signed with the independent record label, CEO Records, and began recording her second solo album. In 1992, Wilson released a CD Walk the Line for CEO Records. It featured her cover of the Five Stairsteps song,"Ooh Child", which was originally released under Nightmare Records. The album also featured a cover of the Jennifer Holliday
classic, I Am Changing. The album's lead single,"One Night With You", was followed by "Walk the Line", which was the title track to the album. CEO Records filed for bankruptcy protection the day after releasing this work, causing the album to fall out of place on the charts. The relatively few copies made available quickly sold out. Wilson claimed she had no knowledge of the label's financial problems and was deceived into signing with them for the release. Despite this setback, Wilson continued an international concert career.
In 1995, Wilson released the song, "U" by the Contract Recording Company and in 1996, Wilson's song, "Turn Around", was released on Da Bridge Records, although Wilson never had a full recording contract with either of the labels.
In 2000, an updated version of Wilson's two autobiographies was released as a single combined book. It was released under the title,"Dreamgirl & Supreme Faith: My Life as a Supreme".Also in 2000, Wilson released a CD entitled,I Am Changing,which was released on Duryea Entertainment.
was canceled after fulfilling less than half of its scheduled dates.
In 2001, Wilson starred in the national tour of the 1986 Best Musical Tony Award winner Leader of The Pack — The Ellie Greenwich Story. In 2002, she was featured in a documentary film on American soul music, Only the Strong Survive, and 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. Motown's 45th anniversary show in 2003 featured Wilson and Birdsong with Kelly Rowland
of Destiny's Child
subbing for Ross, who chose not to appear. In 2006, Wilson released a DVD, Mary Wilson Live at the Sands
, which features many of the Supremes hits and much of her newer material. The DVD was distributed by Universal Music Group
, the now-parent company of Motown Records. Also in 2006, Wilson underwent angioplasty surgery after complaining of chest pains; she recovered quickly and resumed her engagements.
The 2007 release of the film Dreamgirls
, a work loosely based on the real-life Supremes, found Wilson sharing several appearances with the film's stars. In December 2007, Wilson released a live CD of her jazz and standards act called Up Close: Live from San Francisco
. In April 2008, the Australian singing group Human Nature
released a CD with Wilson guest-starring in a rendition of "River Deep – Mountain High" with the group, a cover of the 1970 hit by the post-Ross Supremes and the Four Tops.
In June 2010, Wilson released Mary Wilson; Up Close: Live from San Fransicso a limited edition live DVD of her "Up Close" show.
and The Supremes. The bill has now passed in 27 states. Wilson has also been touring and lecturing across the U.S., 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, a NYC-based non-profit organization forging innovative public-private partnerships designed to help solve specific international problems.
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.
Nightmare/Motorcity releases:
CEO releases:
Other releases:
Unreleased:
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
during the 1960s and 1970s. Wilson was the only singer to be a consistent member of the group in its eighteen-year tenure. She has published the autobiography Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme
Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme
Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme is the name of a 1986 autobiography that features the memoirs of Mary Wilson, one of the founding members of Motown singing trio The Supremes. It was a New York Times Best Seller for months, and remains one of the best-selling rock-and-roll autobiographies of all time...
, and two follow-up books, Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together, and an updated combination of the two entitled Dreamgirl & Supreme Faith: My Life as a Supreme.
Early life
Mary Wilson was the first child born to Sam and Johnnie Mae Wilson, a domestic worker who later became a housewife, in Greenville, MississippiGreenville, Mississippi
Greenville is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 48,633 at the 2000 census, but according to the 2009 census bureau estimates, it has since declined to 42,764, making it the eighth-largest city in the state. It is the county seat of Washington...
. The Wilsons later had a son, Roosevelt, and a daughter, Catherine, who is known as "Cat". As a baby, Mary moved first to St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and then to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
before settling with her aunt and uncle, Ivory ("I.V.") and John L. Pippin, in Detroit. At the age of six, she was returned to the custody of Johnnie Mae, who had spent time in Mississippi. This was a confusing time for Mary, as she had been led to believe that Ivory and John L. were her parents. By the age of twelve, Mary and her family had settled at Detroit's Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects.
The Supremes (1959–1977)
In 1958, Mary Wilson met Florence BallardFlorence Ballard
Florence Glenda Ballard Chapman was an American singer and a founding member of the Motown group The Supremes. From 1963 until 1967, Ballard sang on 16 Top 40 hit Supremes' singles, ten of which hit number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1967, Motown CEO Berry Gordy decided to remove Ballard from...
while both attended junior high school. They quickly became close friends with a mutual interest in music. When Milton Jenkins, manager of male vocal group The Primes
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
, decided to form a female spin-off group called The Primettes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
, he recruited Ballard, who recruited Wilson. Wilson then recruited a new friend of hers, Diane Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
, and Jenkins added Betty McGlown
Betty McGlown
Betty McGlown-Travis is an African American singer, a member of The Primettes, later known as The Supremes.In 1959, McGlown started dating future Temptations member Paul Williams who was then singing with the Primes...
to complete the lineup.
By 1961, The Primettes had signed to Motown Records, replaced McGlown with Barbara Martin
Barbara Martin
Barbara Diane Martin in Detroit, Michigan is an African-American singer; better known for being one of the original founding members of Motown singing group The Supremes. After The Primettes dropped Betty McGlown from their lineup due to McGlown's upcoming nuptials, Martin replaced her in the...
, and changed their name to The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
; In 1962, a pregnant Martin quit the group, reducing them to a trio. The Supremes went two years without a Top 40 hit, finally scoring with "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes
When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes
"When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" is a song written by Holland–Dozier–Holland and recorded in 1963 by Motown singing group The Supremes. It is notable as the Supremes' first Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 recording, following seven previous singles between January 1961 and September...
" in 1963 which began a long streak of Holland–Dozier–Holland-penned Top 10 hits, including ten US #1 hits, beginning with "Where Did Our Love Go
Where Did Our Love Go
"Where Did Our Love Go" is a 1964 song recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label.Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, "Where Did Our Love Go" was the first single by the Supremes to go to the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart...
".
In 1967, after three years of phenomenal success, Motown chief Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
changed the name of the group to Diana Ross & the Supremes and at Mary and Diana's request replaced Florence Ballard with Cindy Birdsong
Cindy Birdsong
Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Birdsong , better known by her stage name, Cindy Birdsong, is an American singer, most famous for singing with the legendary soul groups Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles and The Supremes.-Early life:...
. Although hits were less frequent during this time period, Diana Ross and the Supremes enjoyed their two biggest-selling hits in 1968 ("Love Child
Love child
"Love child" is a euphemism for a child born out of wedlock. See Legitimacy .Love child may also refer to:In music:* Lovechild , an indie rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland...
") and 1969 ("Someday We'll Be Together
Someday We'll Be Together
"Someday We'll Be Together" is a song made popular as the last of twelve number-one singles for Diana Ross & the Supremes on the Motown label. It is the final Supremes song featuring Diana Ross, who left the group for a solo career in January 1970...
"), respectively.
When Diana Ross left the group in 1970 for a solo career, singer Jean Terrell
Jean Terrell
Jean Terrell is an American R&B and jazz singer. She replaced Diana Ross as the lead singer of The Supremes in January 1970.-Early life and career:...
was brought in as her replacement, and the group was re-christened "The Supremes". The "New Supremes" – Wilson, Terrell, and Birdsong – continued their hit-making process from 1970 through 1972 with hits like "Up the Ladder to the Roof
Up the Ladder to the Roof
"Up the Ladder to the Roof" is a 1970 hit single recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label. It was the first Supremes single to feature new lead singer Jean Terrell in place of Diana Ross, who officially left the group for a solo career two weeks before the recording of this song in January 1970...
", "Stoned Love
Stoned Love
"Stoned Love" is a 1970 hit single recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label. It was the last Billboard Pop Top Ten hit for the group, peaking at number seven, and their last Billboard number-one R&B hit as well, although the trio continued to score top ten hits in the UK into 1972...
", "River Deep – Mountain High" (with the Four Tops
Four Tops
The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, hard rock, and showtunes...
), "Nathan Jones
Nathan Jones (song)
"Nathan Jones" is a hit single recorded by The Supremes, released in spring 1971 on the Motown label. Produced by Frank Wilson and written by Leonard Caston - aka Leonard Caston, Jr...
", and "Floy Joy
Floy Joy (song)
"Floy Joy" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and released as a single in December 1971 by popular Motown female singing group The Supremes....
". Wilson began sharing leads with Terrell on several of the singles, including "Touch
Touch (The Supremes song)
"Touch" is a soft ballad written by Pamela Sawyer and Frank Wilson, who also produced it as a single for Motown recording group The Supremes, who issued it as a single in 1971....
", "Floy Joy", and "Automatically Sunshine
Automatically Sunshine
"Automatically Sunshine" is a single written by Smokey Robinson and released as a single by Motown singing group The Supremes as the third single off their popular album Floy Joy in 1972....
".
Cindy Birdsong temporarily left the group in April 1972 to start a family and was replaced by singer Lynda Laurence
Lynda Laurence
Lynda Laurence is an American singer. She is best known for being a part of two Motown acts: Stevie Wonder's backup group Wonderlove, and one of the post-Diana Ross versions of The Supremes...
, formerly of Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's Wonderlove group. This collaboration did not last long. After the Stevie Wonder-produced "Bad Weather
Bad Weather
"Bad Weather" is a song recorded and released as a single by Motown vocal group The Supremes in 1973. It was composed and produced by Stevie Wonder The song was then-lead singer Jean Terrell's last charted single as a member of the Supremes and the second and last time brief group member Lynda...
" failed to ignite much interest in 1973, both Terrell and Laurence departed from the group. Wilson enlisted Scherrie Payne
Scherrie Payne
Scherrie Payne is an American singer. The younger sister of singer/actress Freda Payne, Scherrie Payne was the co-lead singer of The Supremes from 1973 to 1977, after Jean Terrell left the group in the fall of 1973...
, Freda Payne
Freda Payne
Freda Charcilia Payne Some sources give a birth year of 1945, but this appears to be an error as all sources agree that she is older than her sister Scherrie, born 1944. is an American singer and actress best known for her million selling, 1970 hit single, "Band of Gold". She was also an actress in...
's younger sister, and welcomed back Cindy Birdsong to carry on the group. It took nearly two years for Motown to produce new recording contracts for the Supremes, during which time the group concentrated on live performances, and Wilson married Dominican
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
businessman Pedro Ferrer.
Wilson took charge of the Supremes, assisting her husband in managing, and sharing lead vocal duties with Payne in the group. This lineup continued on until 1976, when Birdsong was replaced by Susaye Greene
Susaye Greene
Susaye Greene , is an African-American singer, best known for being the last official member to join Motown girl group The Supremes, remaining in the group during its final years of existence from 1976 to 1977.-Early life and career:...
, also a former Wonderlove member. With Greene, the Supremes recorded two disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
-flavored albums with some success, including the release of their final top forty hit "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking
I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking
"I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking" is a disco-styled soul single composed by the Holland brothers Eddie and Brian, members of the former Holland–Dozier–Holland team and was released as a single by Motown vocal group The Supremes in 1976 on the Motown label. It was the first single since "Your...
" which also ranked number 1 on the dance charts. By the start of 1977, Wilson had finally decided to leave The Supremes and start her solo singing career. Her "farewell" performance with the group in its last line-up occurred on Sunday, June 12 of that year at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
in London, England.
Solo artist
In 1979, Wilson became involved in a protracted legal battle with Motown over their management of the Supremes. After an out-of-court settlement, Motown signed Wilson to the label. In August 1979, Wilson's debut solo album entiltled Mary WilsonMary Wilson (album)
Mary Wilson is the self-titled debut solo album of founding Supremes member Mary Wilson, released on the Motown label in 1979.The album was Wilson's first solo album after the last Supremes lineup of Wilson, Scherrie Payne and Susaye Greene had broken up in 1977...
was released with material produced by Hal Davis
Hal Davis
Harold Edward "Hal" Davis was an African American songwriter and record producer, best known as the key figure in the latter part of the Motown career of The Jackson 5....
. The album took Wilson's solo work further into a mixture of R&B and disco. The album's lead single, "Red Hot"/"Midnight Dancer", peaked at #95 on the Billboard R&B singles chart. An extended version of "Red Hot" made available as a 12-inch single earned the song a #85 spot on the disco charts in October 1979. In March 1980, Wilson released the album's second single, "Pick Up the Pieces"/"You're the Light That Guides My Way".
In mid-1980, Wilson had begun working on her second album for Motown with English record producer Gus Dudgeon
Gus Dudgeon
Angus Boyd Dudgeon , most commonly known as Gus Dudgeon was an English record producer, most notable for production of many of Elton John's recordings.-Early career:...
, who had produced the tracks "Love Talk", "Save Me", "You Danced My Heart Around the Stars" and "Green River" for the record. However, Wilson was later released from her contract with Motown. Also in the mid-1980s, Wilson began to concentrate on musical theater, starring in various productions throughout a 20-year period, including "Beehive", "Dancing in the Streets", "Leader of the Pack", "Mother Hubbard, Mother Hubbard", "Grandma Sylvia's Funeral", "Sister Idella's Soul Shack" "Sophisticated Ladies", "The Vagina Monologues
The Vagina Monologues
The Vagina Monologues is an episodic play written by Eve Ensler which ran at the Off Broadway Westside Theatre after a limited run at AFRICA in 1996. Ensler originally starred in the production which was produced by David Stone, Nina Essman, Dan Markley, The Araca Group, Willa Shalit, Mike Skipper...
" and "Supreme Soul". In 1981, Wilson signed with Nightmare Records,a label that aimed to record new material with former Motown artists. In 1984, after a successful reunion of The Temptations, Wilson was approached by Motown to reform the Supremes with Scherrie Payne and Cindy Birdsong, but after careful consideration and advice from Berry Gordy Jr., Wilson declined. In 1986, Wilson released her first heavily publicized autobiography, "Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme
Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme
Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme is the name of a 1986 autobiography that features the memoirs of Mary Wilson, one of the founding members of Motown singing trio The Supremes. It was a New York Times Best Seller for months, and remains one of the best-selling rock-and-roll autobiographies of all time...
" concentrating on the sixties era of the original Supremes lineup. The book, actually written by Patricia Romanowski was a huge success but was also heavily criticized for constantly attacking Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
persona. In 1987, Wilson released the single "Don't Get Mad, Get Even" on Nightmare Records. Wilson racked up a long list of television appearances during this period, on talk shows and sitcom guest spots, including 227
227 (TV series)
227 is an American situation comedy that originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, until May 6, 1990. The series starred Marla Gibbs as a sharp-tongued, inner-city resident gossip and housewife, Mary Jenkins...
on the episode "See You in Court" which premiered on November 21, 1987. In 1988 Wilson appeared in Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
's "That's What Friends Are For AIDS Concert" which aired nationwide. She performed "A Song for You", in a medley with "How Lucky Can You Get?". Wilson also became a regular performer sharing billing with top comedians such as Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
and Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
, playing engagements at resorts and casinos.
In 1987, Wilson recorded the songs, "Sleeping in Separate Rooms", "Stronger in a Broken Part" and "The One I Love" for Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. Wilson had expected to have a record deal with the label, but the deal was cancelled and the songs remain unreleased.
In 1989, Nightmare Records became Motorcity Records
Motorcity Records
Motorcity Records is a British record label formed by producer Ian Levine in 1989. The label aimed to record new material with former Motown artists.-History:...
. Although Wilson never recorded a full album for the label, she recorded a cover version of "Oooh Child". In 1990, she released a follow-up best-selling book called "Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together", which followed the group and her life through the seventies. Her concert work also increased in the US, although she had more legal troubles with Motown over ownership of the name "Supremes" which she used to identify herself with for tour work. Wilson initaited a court case against Kaaren Ragland
Kaaren Ragland
Kaaren Ragland is the founder of a group called The Sounds of the Supremes.-Biography:Kaaren Ragland was born in Richmond, Virginia. She studied acting at Boston University’s School of Fine Arts...
, who served as a back-up singer for Wilson for several years, to prevent Ragland from calling a group she formed "The Sounds of the Supremes," but the court found in Ragland's favor.". In 1991, Wilson left Motorcity, a year before it went out of business. She then signed with the independent record label, CEO Records, and began recording her second solo album. In 1992, Wilson released a CD Walk the Line for CEO Records. It featured her cover of the Five Stairsteps song,"Ooh Child", which was originally released under Nightmare Records. The album also featured a cover of the Jennifer Holliday
Jennifer Holliday
Jennifer-Yvette Holliday is an African-American singer and Tony Award-winning actress. She started her career on Broadway in musicals such as Dreamgirls, and later became a successful recording artist...
classic, I Am Changing. The album's lead single,"One Night With You", was followed by "Walk the Line", which was the title track to the album. CEO Records filed for bankruptcy protection the day after releasing this work, causing the album to fall out of place on the charts. The relatively few copies made available quickly sold out. Wilson claimed she had no knowledge of the label's financial problems and was deceived into signing with them for the release. Despite this setback, Wilson continued an international concert career.
In 1995, Wilson released the song, "U" by the Contract Recording Company and in 1996, Wilson's song, "Turn Around", was released on Da Bridge Records, although Wilson never had a full recording contract with either of the labels.
In 2000, an updated version of Wilson's two autobiographies was released as a single combined book. It was released under the title,"Dreamgirl & Supreme Faith: My Life as a Supreme".Also in 2000, Wilson released a CD entitled,I Am Changing,which was released on Duryea Entertainment.
Later years
In late 1999, Diana Ross arranged a Supremes reunion tour scheduled to begin in the summer of 2000. Both Ross and Wilson publicly acknowledged that Wilson was not contacted about the tour until late December 1999. Offered two million dollars and no artistic control, Wilson counter-offered to join the tour for five million dollars, eventually settling for a figure of four million. Reports as to why vary between the two singers, but Ross decided to do the tour with two singers who had joined The Supremes after Ross had left the group, Lynda Laurence and Scherrie Payne. Intense media scrutiny of the disagreement between Wilson and Ross and the tour itself ensued, and many fans of the original Supremes felt that the tour could not rightly be described as a "reunion". The Return to Love TourReturn to Love Tour
"The Return to Love Tour" is a 2000 concert tour by American singing group Diana Ross and the Supremes.-Origins:In 1999, Diana Ross released her final album on Motown Records, "Every Day is a New Day"...
was canceled after fulfilling less than half of its scheduled dates.
In 2001, Wilson starred in the national tour of the 1986 Best Musical Tony Award winner Leader of The Pack — The Ellie Greenwich Story. In 2002, she was featured in a documentary film on American soul music, Only the Strong Survive, and was appointed by Secretary of State Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
as a Culture-Connect Ambassador for the U.S. State Department, appearing at international events arranged by that agency. Motown's 45th anniversary show in 2003 featured Wilson and Birdsong with Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
of Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
subbing for Ross, who chose not to appear. In 2006, Wilson released a DVD, Mary Wilson Live at the Sands
Mary Wilson Live at the Sands
Live at the Sands is a live DVD by Mary Wilson, recorded at the Copa Room of the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and released in 2006.-Track listings:#"I'm Every Woman"#"Love Child"#"My World Is Empty Without You"#"Reflections"...
, which features many of the Supremes hits and much of her newer material. The DVD was distributed by Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
, the now-parent company of Motown Records. Also in 2006, Wilson underwent angioplasty surgery after complaining of chest pains; she recovered quickly and resumed her engagements.
The 2007 release of the film Dreamgirls
Dreamgirls (film)
Dreamgirls is a 2006 musical drama film, directed by Bill Condon and jointly produced and released by DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures. The film debuted in three special road show engagements beginning December 15, 2006 before its nationwide release on December 25, 2006...
, a work loosely based on the real-life Supremes, found Wilson sharing several appearances with the film's stars. In December 2007, Wilson released a live CD of her jazz and standards act called Up Close: Live from San Francisco
Up Close: Live from San Francisco
Up Close: Live from San Francisco is a live set of standards recorded at the Plush Room in San Francisco in December 2005, and released as an album in 2007 by singer Mary Wilson.-Track listing:#"Here's to Life"#"Smile"#"Body and Soul"...
. In April 2008, the Australian singing group Human Nature
Human Nature (band)
Human Nature are an Australian pop vocal group. The group was originally formed as a doo-wop band in 1989 while the current members were at school together in Sydney. So far, the band has had 17 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits in Australia since 1996 when their first album Telling Everybody was...
released a CD with Wilson guest-starring in a rendition of "River Deep – Mountain High" with the group, a cover of the 1970 hit by the post-Ross Supremes and the Four Tops.
In June 2010, Wilson released Mary Wilson; Up Close: Live from San Fransicso a limited edition live DVD of her "Up Close" show.
Other work
In recent years, Wilson has made headlines for proposing a bill to ban impostor groups from performing under the names of 1950s and 1960s rock groups, including Motown groups such as The MarvelettesThe Marvelettes
The Marvelettes were an American singing girl group on the Tamla label. Motown's first successful female vocal group, the Marvelettes are most notable for recording the company's first #1 Pop hit, "Please Mr...
and The Supremes. The bill has now passed in 27 states. Wilson has also been touring and lecturing across the U.S., 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
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, often referred to as simply Komen, is the most widely known, largest and best-funded breast cancer organization in the US....
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, a NYC-based non-profit organization forging innovative public-private partnerships designed to help solve specific international problems.
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
Ambre Anderson
Ambre Michele Anderson is an American model and actress. Anderson has appeared in national and international television commercials, print ads for national magazine publications and national point of sale posters for cigarette and beverage companies....
) singing "Stop! In the Name of Love
Stop! In the Name of Love
"Stop! In the Name of Love" is a 1965 song recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label.Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, "Stop! In the Name of Love" held the number-one position on the Billboard pop singles chart in the United States from March 21, 1965...
" 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
The Paul O'Grady Show
The Paul O'Grady Show was a BAFTA award-winning British comedy chat show hosted by Birkenhead-born comedian Paul O'Grady. The format was originally devised by Granada Television and was broadcast on ITV before moving to Channel 4...
which ended in a special performance with her, Paul O'Grady and Graham Norton
Graham Norton
Graham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton , is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist...
.
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
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
. 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 BabyPretty Baby (Primettes' song)"Pretty Baby" is the B-side to "Tears of Sorrow" by The Primettes . This is the last known recording of Betty McGlown, and the last single that The Primettes recorded for Lu Pine Records, and it also features Mary Wilson on lead....
" – b-sideA-side and B-sideA-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to "Tears of SorrowTears of Sorrow"Tears of Sorrow" is the very first single by The Primettes, later known as The Supremes, released in 1960. This single was their first single from Lu Pine Records, and their last. "Tears of Sorrow," along with "Pretty Baby", are the only known recordings that feature the vocals of Betty McGlown....
"
- "Pretty Baby
- as The Supremes
- "(He's) Seventeen" – from the group's debut album Meet The SupremesMeet the SupremesMeet the Supremes is the debut album by The Supremes, released in late 1962 on Motown. The LP includes the group's earliest singles: "I Want a Guy", "Buttered Popcorn", "Your Heart Belongs to Me" and "Let Me Go the Right Way"...
– Mary has a brief solo on the song, saying "Two" 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 GuyA Breathtaking Guy"A Breathtaking Guy" is a 1963 song written and produced by Smokey Robinson and released by Motown singing group The Supremes. The single was originally released under the title "A Breath Taking, First Sight Soul Shaking, One Night Love Making, Next Day Heartbreaking Guy", but was shortened after...
" – from the 1964 album, Where Did Our Love GoWhere Did Our Love Go (album)Where Did Our Love Go is a 1964album by Motown singing group The Supremes. The album, their second studio LP, includes several of the group's singles and B-sides from 1963 and 1964...
– all group members have a lead line on the song’s chorus - "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 LoveBaby Love"Baby Love" is a 1964 song recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label.Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland ,...
" – 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 LiverpoolA Bit of LiverpoolA Bit of Liverpool is an album by singing group The Supremes, released in the fall of 1964 on the Motown label.-Track listing:#"How Do You Do It?" #"A World Without Love"...
– 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 PopThe Supremes Sing Country, Western and PopThe Supremes Sing Country, Western & Pop is an album recorded by The Supremes, issued by Motown in February 1965 . The album was presented as a covers/tribute album of country songs, as Ray Charles had done with his album Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music...
– 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 VandellasMartha and the VandellasMartha and the Vandellas were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963–1967...
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 & HartThe Supremes Sing Rodgers & HartThe Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart is a 1967 album recorded by The Supremes for Motown. The album is wholly composed of covers of show tunes written by the songwriting duo of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart...
, a duet with Diana Ross; also featured on the live album FarewellFarewell (Diana Ross & the Supremes album)Farewell is a 1970 live album by Diana Ross & the Supremes. The album was recorded over the course of the group's final engagement together at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, including the final night on January 14, 1970. The show marked Diana Ross' final performance with...
- "(He's) Seventeen" – from the group's debut album Meet The Supremes
- 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 KendricksEddie KendricksEddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
on the album Together
- "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" – from the live album Farewell; first featured as a duet with Temptations singer Eddie Kendricks
- as The Supremes (1970s)
- "Bridge Over Troubled Water" – from New Ways but Love StaysNew Ways but Love StaysNew Ways But Love Stays is a 1970 album by the Jean Terrell-led version of The Supremes. Building on the foundation of the group's first LP, Right On, New Ways was produced by Frank Wilson and features The Supremes' most successful single with Terrell, "Stoned Love"...
. 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 RobinsonSmokey RobinsonWilliam "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
produced album Floy JoyFloy JoyFloy Joy is a 1972 album released by The Supremes on the Motown label. This was the only Supremes album solely produced and arranged by Smokey Robinson and included the U.S. top 20 hit, "Floy Joy" and the U.S... - "Floy Joy" – another duet with Jean TerrellJean TerrellJean Terrell is an American R&B and jazz singer. She replaced Diana Ross as the lead singer of The Supremes in January 1970.-Early life and career:...
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 WebbThe Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy WebbThe Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb is a 1972 album released by The Supremes on the Motown label. The album was the only Supremes LP produced by a non-Motown producer, successful songwriter and producer Jimmy Webb, and was the last album to feature early-1970s Supremes lead singer...
. - "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 & SusayeMary, Scherrie & SusayeMary, Scherrie & Susaye is the final studio album by The Supremes, released in 1976 on the Motown label.The album featured the final line-up for the Supremes, composed of original Supreme Mary Wilson and latter-day members Scherrie Payne and Susaye Greene. All three Supremes take leads on the...
- "You Are The Heart Of Me" – also from the group's final album Mary, Scherrie & Susaye
- "Bridge Over Troubled Water" – from New Ways but Love Stays
- 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 MartinBarbara MartinBarbara Diane Martin in Detroit, Michigan is an African-American singer; better known for being one of the original founding members of Motown singing group The Supremes. After The Primettes dropped Betty McGlown from their lineup due to McGlown's upcoming nuptials, Martin replaced her in the...
. 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 & FoundThe Supremes Lost & FoundLet the Music Play: Supreme Rarities 1960-1969 is a 2-CD set of The Supremes music released by Hip-O Records on March 25, 2008.-Overview:...
- "Our Day Will Come" – recorded in 1965 for the unreleased There's A Place For UsThere's a Place for UsThere's a Place for Us is an album recorded by Motown girl group The Supremes in 1965, for many years the most famous of the trio's unreleased albums...
album. It was released on The Never-Before-Released MastersThe Never-Before-Released MastersThe Never-Before-Released Masters is 1987 compilation album containing unreleased recordings recorded by Motown girl-group The Supremes from 1961 to 1969. It was the second CD release of unreleased recordings by The Supremes, the first being disc two of the 2 disc "25th Anniversary" compilation...
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 TemptationsThe TemptationsThe Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
singing background. - "Amen"- out-take from 1968's Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The TemptationsDiana Ross & the Supremes Join the TemptationsDiana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations is, as the title implies, a collaborative album combining Motown's two best selling groups, Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations. Issued by Motown in late 1968 to coincide with the broadcast of the Supremes/Temptations TCB television special,...
– released on Joined Together: The Complete Studio Duets – all group members share leads with Temptations members Eddie Kendricks, Dennis EdwardsDennis EdwardsDennis Edwards is a soul and R&B singer, most noted for being one of Motown act The Temptations' lead singers replacing David Ruffin. He is the father of Issa Pointer, whose mother is Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.-Career:...
, and Paul WilliamsPaul Williams (The Temptations)Paul Williams was an American baritone singer and choreographer. Williams is noted for being one of the founding members and original lead singer of the Motown group The Temptations...
. - "Still Water (Love)" – taken from recording sessions for the proposed album Promises KeptPromises Kept (The Supremes album)Promises Kept is an unreleased album by The Supremes, recorded during the latter half of 1971 with multiple producers. Ultimately, the project was shelved by Motown in favor of a set "Floy Joy" produced by entirely by Smokey Robinson the following year. The idea to the title came from Supreme Mary...
. 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 AnthologyThe 70s AnthologyThe '70s Anthology is a 2002 two compact disc set of many of the songs recorded by the 1970s groupings of The Supremes. The set features 42 tracks, of which 10 had never been released, and 6 were appearing in extended or unedited forms....
.
- "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
- Unreleased tracks
- "Boogie Man" – out-take from the 1975 album The Supremes
Studio albums
- 1979: Mary WilsonMary Wilson (album)Mary Wilson is the self-titled debut solo album of founding Supremes member Mary Wilson, released on the Motown label in 1979.The album was Wilson's first solo album after the last Supremes lineup of Wilson, Scherrie Payne and Susaye Greene had broken up in 1977...
- 1992: Walk the Line
- 2000: I Am Changing
- 2011: Life's Been Good to Me (Release date pending)
Album guest appearances
- with Neil SedakaNeil SedakaNeil Sedaka is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard...
on Come See About Me (one song) – "Come See About Me" - with Paul JabaraPaul JabaraPaul Jabara was an American actor, singer, and songwriter of Lebanese ancestry. He wrote Donna Summer's "Last Dance" from Thank God It's Friday and Barbra Streisand's song "The Main Event/Fight" from The Main Event...
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 TopsFour TopsThe Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, hard rock, and showtunes...
on From the Heart (2006) (one song) – "River Deep – Mountain High" - with Human NatureHuman Nature (band)Human Nature are an Australian pop vocal group. The group was originally formed as a doo-wop band in 1989 while the current members were at school together in Sydney. So far, the band has had 17 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits in Australia since 1996 when their first album Telling Everybody was...
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"
Unreleased:
- 1980: Gus DudgeonGus DudgeonAngus Boyd Dudgeon , most commonly known as Gus Dudgeon was an English record producer, most notable for production of many of Elton John's recordings.-Early career:...
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 SupremeDreamgirl: My Life As a SupremeDreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme is the name of a 1986 autobiography that features the memoirs of Mary Wilson, one of the founding members of Motown singing trio The Supremes. It was a New York Times Best Seller for months, and remains one of the best-selling rock-and-roll autobiographies of all time...
. 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 BallBeach ballA beach ball is an inflatable ball for beach and water games. Their large size ball and light weight take little effort to propel; they travel very slowly and generally must be caught with two hands, making them ideal for lazy games and for children...
– performer, with the Supremes (1965) - Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, ForeverMotown 25: Yesterday, Today, ForeverMotown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever is a 1983 television special produced by Suzanne de Passe for Motown Records, to commemorate Motown's twenty-fifth year of existence. Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever is a 1983 television special produced by Suzanne de Passe for Motown Records, to...
– performer, with the Supremes (1983) - Girl Groups: The Story of a Sound – herself (1994)
- Jackie's BackJackie's BackJackie's Back is a 1999 television movie directed by Robert Townsend. It premiered on the Lifetime Television Network on June 14, 1999.-Plot:...
(movie) – Vesta Crotchley (2002) - Rhythm, Love and Soul – herself (2003)
- Tiger TownTiger TownTiger Town is the first made-for-TV movie produced for the Disney Channel, produced in 1983. It was awarded a CableACE Award in 1984 for Best Dramatic Film. The film stars Roy Scheider as Billy Young, an aging baseball player for the Detroit Tigers, and Justin Henry as Alex, a young fan who...
(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 SandsMary Wilson Live at the SandsLive at the Sands is a live DVD by Mary Wilson, recorded at the Copa Room of the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and released in 2006.-Track listings:#"I'm Every Woman"#"Love Child"#"My World Is Empty Without You"#"Reflections"...
– herself (2006) - Greatest Hits: Live in AmsterdamGreatest Hits: Live in AmsterdamGreatest Hits: Live in Amsterdam is a DVD by The Supremes released in 2006.-Background:In 1968 Diana Ross and The Supremes made a lengthy European tour, playing to capacity audiences at prestigious nightclubs and theatres across the continent. Many of these shows were filmed by the local...
– 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 RussellBrenda RussellBrenda Russell is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter and keyboardist. Known for her eclectic musical style, her recordings have encompassed several different genres, including pop, soul, dance, jazz and adult contemporary...
: "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 BallardFlorence BallardFlorence Glenda Ballard Chapman was an American singer and a founding member of the Motown group The Supremes. From 1963 until 1967, Ballard sang on 16 Top 40 hit Supremes' singles, ten of which hit number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1967, Motown CEO Berry Gordy decided to remove Ballard from...
– interviewee (2009)