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Mary Wilson, Motown Legend and Co-Founder of the Supremes, Dies at 76 by Derrick Bryson Taylor

Singer Mary Wilson, co-founder of the Supremes, dies Singer Mary Wilson, a founding member of the legendary group the Supremes, has died at the age of 76. She passed away suddenly at her home in Las Vegas on Monday night, her publicist Jay Schwartz was quoted as saying by Variety. The cause of death has not been revealed. “I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supreme,” said record executive Berry Gordy in a statement Monday night. “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 No. 1 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.” Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Wilson’s funeral will be private, with a public memorial to be held later this year.

Mary Wilson, a founding member of the Supremes, the trailblazing group from the 1960s that spun up 12 No. 1 singles on the musical charts and was key to Motown’s legendary sound, died on Monday at her home in Henderson, Nev. She was 76. 

Ms. Wilson’s death was confirmed by her publicist, Jay Schwartz. No cause of death was given.

From 1964 to 1965, the Supremes, whose original members included Florence Ballard and Diana Ross as the lead singer, released hit songs such as “Where Did Our Love Go?” “Baby Love,” “Come See About Me” and “Stop.”

Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, called Ms. Wilson a “trailblazer” who will be missed. He said in a statement that the Supremes had opened doors for other Motown acts.

“I was always proud of Mary,” Mr. Gordy said in the 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.” To read more go to the link below:

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