Mary Wilson, co-founder of The Supremes, dies at 76
Jessica Schladebeck
Mary Wilson, an original member of Motown’s legendary group The Supremes, has died at age 76.
The singer’s longtime publicist, Jay Schwartz, told CNN that she “passed away suddenly” in her Las Vegas home Monday evening, but did not provide further details.
Alongside pals Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Betty McGlown, Wilson, who grew up in a Detroit housing project, co-founded an act that would eventually become The Supremes at just 15 years old. On Jan. 15, 1961, the group officially changed their name from the Primettes to The Supremes, and then evolved to a trio the next year with Ross, Ballard and Wilson.
“We had no clue what was coming,” Wilson told the Detroit Free Press in 2015. “We were just doing this as fun. It was not something like, ‘Oh, we’re going to become singers,’ like today where everyone wants to be a star.”
In this Oct. 8, 1964 file photo, The Supremes, from left, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Diana Ross, perform during a reception for them in a hotel, in London. Wilson, the longest-reigning original Supreme, has died at 76 years old.
In this Oct. 8, 1964 file photo, The Supremes, from left, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Diana Ross, perform during a reception for them in a hotel, in London. Wilson, the longest-reigning original Supreme, has died at 76 years old. (Bob Dear/)
The trailblazing ’60s Motown group, now viewed as instrumental in the record company’s popularity, released countless hits including “Stop! In the Name of Love” and “Back in My Arms Again.”
“I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson. The Supremes were always known as the ‘Sweethearts of Motown,’ ” Berry Gordy, founder of the Motown record label, said in a statement.
“Mary, along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, came to Motown in the early 1960s. After an unprecedented string of No. 1 hits, television and nightclub bookings, they opened the doors for themselves, the other Motown acts and many, many, others.”
Gordy added: “She was a trailblazer, a diva and will be deeply missed.”
Wilson appeared on all 12 of The Supremes’ No. 1 pop hits between 1964 and 1969. In the same time frame, their act charted a total of 16 Top 10 pop singles and 19 Top 10 R&B 45s, according to Rolling Stone. She continued with the group after Ross’ departure in 1970, though Wilson would also eventually pursue a solo career of her own.
“I just woke up to this news,” Ross wrote in a tweet early Tuesday. “I am reminded that each day is a gift, I have so many wonderful memories of our time together.”
Mary Wilson, founding member of The Supremes, poses on the roof of Capitol Records in 2014, in Hollywood Calif. Wilson, the longest-reigning original Supreme died on Monday night at her home in Las Vegas and the cause was not immediately clear, said publicist Jay Schwartz. She was 76.
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In 1988, The Supremes were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Little Richard, who exclaimed that “there’s never been anything like them.”
Wilson had also been working her way back into the spotlight over the last several years. In 2019, she appeared on the 28th season of “Dancing with the Stars” and released her fourth book, “Supreme Glamour.”
Just two days before her death, the crooner released a video on her YouTube channel, revealing her plans to work with Universal Music to put out solo material, including the unreleased album “Red Hot,” which she recorded in the 1970s with producer Gus Dudgeon.
“Hopefully, some of that will be out on my birthday, March 6,” she said in the clip.
The singer also promised to provide upcoming interviews she had done about The Supremes’ experiences with segregation. She said they were slated for release in the near future in honor of Black History Month.
