G R E E N V I L L E , M I S S I S S I P P I
Mary Wilson, an original member of the iconic Motown trio, the Supremes, passed away Monday, February 9th. While we mourn the loss of the trailblazing vocalist, we also want to celebrate her life and her triumphs.
 | Ms. Wilson was born in Greenville, Mississippi, on March 6th, 1944, and she began singing as a child. It wasn’t until her family moved to Detroit that she hit the music scene. In 1959, she was inducted as an official member of the girl group the Primettes which later became famously known as the Supremes. From 1962 to 1977, Mary Wilson was seen on stages, televisions, and arenas alongside Florence Ballard and Diana Ross singing hit after hit. In 1963 the Supremes released their breakout song “When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes.” Shortly after, they had five consecutive No. 1 singles, all of which are still adored today. You can’t tell us that when “Stop! In the Name of Love” or “Baby Love” come on, you don’t crank it. |
When the Supremes disbanded in 1977, Mary Wilson stepped out as a solo artist and led a very successful career as such. She released several albums and singles, three books, and even competed on Dancing With the Stars. Mary left a tremendous legacy behind having inspired black girls and women across the country particularly in the 60’s. “You never saw anything like it in the 1960s — three women of color who were totally empowered, creative, imaginative,” Oprah Winfrey shared in “Diana Ross: A Biography” by J. Randy Taraborrelli. Because of her boldness in pursuit of her musical career, we were able to catch her influence on many musical acts that followed including Destiny’s Child. *plays “Say My Name” instantly
| “We, the Supremes, can’t take all the credit,” Ms. Wilson told The Guardian in 2019. “The writers and producers at Motown gave us the music and sound that people loved. And then there was the glamour. My whole life is like a dream. I tell you — if I were not a Supreme, I would want to be a Supreme.” Mary Wilson is survived by her daughter, Turkessa; her sons, Pedro Antonio Jr. and William; her sister, Kathryn; her brother, Roosevelt; 10 grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. |  |
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