(Photo courtesy of the NNPA Newswire)
Founding member of global girl supergroup and Motown Legend, Mary Wilson, has passed away, leaving Detroiters to mourn her life and celebrate the contributions she made to not only the city but the music world.
The 76-year-old singer was found in her Las Vegas home. No additional details surrounding Wilson’s passing have been confirmed.
Although not originally from Detroit, Wilson’s roots are deep in the city. Born in Mississippi, the budding singer moved to Detroit as a young girl, where she would later meet Ballard. The two auditioned for a girl group, meeting Ross, and signed to Motown Records in 1961 under The Primettes the becoming The Supremes, the group’s first hit helped set the stage for the Motown sound and lay the blueprint for the group’s global success.
At just 15-years-old, Wilson and group members Diana Ross and Florence Ballard formed the iconic girl group and became one of Motown Record’s top-selling artists. With hits like “Stop! In The Name of Love” and “Baby Love,” The Supremes held twelve number one hits.
All hailing from the Brewster-Douglas Projects, the largest public housing community in the city, The Supremes rose to become the best-selling girl group in history and a household name for generations to come.
In 1977, Wilson parted ways with the group after declining record sales and member changes. Releasing a solo album under Motown’s label, Wilson never saw the heights of success The Supremes garnered and would continue her career performing theater productions and penning a national bestseller about her life as a Supreme.
In 2019, Wilson appeared on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars but was eliminated the second week of the competition. The following year, the star received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Newspaper Publishers Association.
In a tweet, Motown Records pays homage to the voice that started it all:
“To a female trailblazer and forever Sweetheart of Motown, who brought many timeless records for generations to come – Thank You. Your art and your legacy will forever live on in the Motown story. From our Motown family, rest in paradise.”
Motown Museum Chairwoman and CEO Robin Terry commented about Wilson’s passing:
“In this moment of extreme sadness, the world has lost one of the brightest stars in our Motown family. Mary Wilson was an icon. She broke barriers and records as an original member of the Supremes, one of the greatest music acts of all time. She was a legend who was not only extremely talented but equally beautiful. We join Mary’s fervent fan base in remembering her life and profound cultural impact. Motown Museum will continue to honor, appreciate and celebrate her legacy for fans around the world and for generations to come.”
Motown Founder Berry Gordy also released this statement following Wilson’s death, sent to the NNPA Newswire shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday:
“I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes,” he said in the statement. “The Supremes were always known as the “sweethearts of Motown.” Mary, along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, came to Motown in the early 1960s. After an unprecedented string of number one hits, television, and nightclub bookings, they opened doors for themselves, the other Motown acts, and many, many others.
“I was always proud of Mary. She was quite a star in her own right and over the years continued to work hard to boost the legacy of the Supremes. Mary Wilson was extremely special to me. She was a trailblazer, a diva and will be deeply missed.”