THE SUPREMES

What’s better than a group of guys sharing their gift of singing together? A group of talented female singers! A perfect example would be the “Supremes”

It all started in Detroit in 1960. Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross and Betty McGlown had a band called the “Primettes”. They started their way performing at social clubs, talent shows and sock hops for teenagers. They covered hits of different singers, for example, Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles

After being turned down by “Motown records” in 1960, the label decided to sign the girls a year after under one condition- changing the name of the band. And so, the “Primettes” became the “Supremes”. Marry Wilson says that the first time they got their “no”, they said: “He (Berry Gordy- The producer of “Motown”) can’t be that great if he doesn’t know how good we are!”

“You can’t hurry love” just like you can’t hurry success! The Supremes didn’t just blow up overnight. It wasn’t until 1963 that the Supreme really started receiving love from the public. Thanks to the song “When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes “, written by the songwriting team “Holland-Dozier-Holland”, The “No hit Supreme” as the public would call them, became THE SUPREMES”.

In 1964, 5 of their songs reached number 1 on the billboard hot 100 charts! “Where did our love go”, “Baby love”, “Come See About Me”, “Stop! In The Name of Love” and “Back In My Arms Again”

On August 1965, The Supremes released their ninth album “The Supremes A’ Go-Go”. This was actually the first album by an all-female group to ever reach number 1 on the billboard 200 album charts in the U.S!

Why did I choose to talk about the Supremes?

Besides having a “happy-go-lucky” vibe, I think the Supremes believed in their value and talent and didn’t let no-one make them give up on their dream. Despite not having the means and coming from a poor background, they really showed the world that anything is possible if you’re willing to put in the work and you don’t take no for an answer.

A very similar message is conveyed in Cynthia Erivo’s beautiful performance of the song “You Can’t Hurry Love” in the movie “Bad Times at the El Royal”.