LAS VEGAS 鈥� 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, Motown鈥檚 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 group鈥檚 first No. 1, million-selling song, 鈥淲here Did Our Love Go,鈥� was released June 17, 1964. Touring at the time, Wilson said there was a moment when she realized they had a hit song.
鈥淚 remember that instead of going home on the bus, we flew,鈥� she told The Associated Press in 2014. 鈥淭hat was our first plane ride. We flew home. We had really hit big.鈥�
It would be the first of five consecutive No. 1s, with 鈥淏aby Love,鈥� 鈥淐ome See About Me,鈥� 鈥淪top! In the Name of Love" and 鈥淏ack in My Arms Again鈥� following in quick succession. The Supremes also recorded the hit songs 鈥淵ou Can鈥檛 Hurry Love,鈥� 鈥淯p the Ladder to the Roof鈥� and 鈥淟ove Child.鈥�
鈥淚 just woke up to this news," Ross tweeted on Tuesday, offering her condolences to Wilson's family. 鈥淚 am reminded that each day is a gift,鈥� she added, writing 鈥淚 have so many wonderful memories of our time together."
Berry Gordy, who founded the Detroit-based Motown Records, said he was 鈥渆xtremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes.鈥� His statement Monday night, according to Variety, said 鈥淭he Supremes were always known as the 鈥榮weethearts of Motown.鈥欌��
Wilson, Ross and Ballard were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
鈥淭he world has lost one of the brightest stars in our Motown family. Mary Wilson was an icon,鈥� 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.
鈥淲e're going to be talking about the Supremes, yeah, 60th anniversary, and I'm going to be talking a lot about that mainly because I've finally decided how to work with Universal and they're going to release new recordings, Mary Wilson recordings," she said. 鈥淵es! At last!"
鈥淗opefully some of that will be out on my birthday," she continued. 鈥淲e'll see. I've got my fingers crossed here. Yes I do."
Several celebrities mourned Wilson's death on social media, including Viola Davis, Questlove, Andy Cohen, Janet Mock, Ledisi, Richard Marx and Kiss' Paul Stanley, who said he was in touch with Wilson last week.
鈥淥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," he tweeted Tuesday. 鈥淪o full of life & great stories. Absolutely shocked. Rest In Supreme Peace Mary."
Steven Van Zandt said he spoke to Wilson before the world went on lockdown because of the coronavirus, tweeting Tuesday: 鈥淩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."
Following the Supremes' disbandment, Wilson released the New York Times
Wilson also competed on ABC's 鈥淒ancing with the Stars" in 2019.
The Associated Press
