R.I.P.: Mary Wilson, Co-Founder Of The Supremes

Mary Wilson (March 6, 1944 – February 8, 2021)

Mary Wilson, a founding member of The Supremes, died Monday at her home in Henderson, Nevada, according to her longtime friend and publicist Jay Schwartz. She was 76.

Just two days ago, she had announced on YouTube that she was planning to release new solo material with Universal Music Group, and hoped it would come out before March 6, her birthday. Motown founder Berry Gordy said he was "extremely shocked and saddened" by the news of her death and said Wilson was "quite a star in her own right and over the years continued to work hard to boost the legacy of the Supremes."

Wilson helped change the face of pop music as an original member of The Supremes by breaking down social, racial and gender barriers. Founded in Detroit as The Primettes in 1959, the group was Motown’s most successful act of the 1960s with 12 number one singles.

“I was always proud of Mary,” Berry Gordy, Motown founder, said in a statement. “She was quite a star in her own right and over the years continued to work hard to boost the legacy of the Supremes. … she was a trailblazer, a dive and will be deeply missed.”

The Supremes disbanded following Wilson’s 1977 departure. She later became a New York Times bestselling author in 1986 with the release of her autobiography, “Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme.”

She also became a musicians’ rights activist as well as a musical theater performer and organized museum displays of the Supremes’ famed costumes.

She, along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

This video of Wilson was posted on YouTube this past Friday...

Wilson remained with the group following the departures of other original members, Florence Ballard in 1967 and Diana Ross in 1970, though the group disbanded following Wilson's own departure in 1977. Wilson later became a New York Times best-selling author in 1986 with the release of her first autobiography, Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme, which set records for sales in its genre, and later for the autobiography Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together.

Continuing a successful career as a concert performer in Las Vegas, Wilson also worked in activism, fighting to pass Truth in Music Advertising bills and donating to various charities. Wilson was inducted along with Ross and Ballard (as members of the Supremes) into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

She is survived by her two children, Turkessa and Pedro Antonio Jr., siblings, Kathryn and Roosevelt, and numerous grandchildren. The family said services would be private due to COVID restrictions.