Diana Ross and The Supremes was the new name used by The Supremes from 1967… Read Full Bio ↴Diana Ross and The Supremes was the new name used by The Supremes from 1967 to 1970. It was Motown boss Berry Gordy's idea to explicitly make Diana Ross the group's front woman.
The Supremes were a hugely successful Motown all-female singing group active from 1959 until 1977, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway showtunes, psychedelia and disco. Second only to The Beatles in terms of records sales and chart success, The Supremes were the most successful American musical act of the 1960s, delivering twelve #1 hits between 1964 and 1969, many of them written and produced by Motown's main songwriting and production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1959, The Supremes began as a quartet called The Primettes. Founding members Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown, all from the Brewster-Douglas public housing project in Detroit, were the sister act to The Primes (later The Temptations). In 1960, Barbara Martin replaced McGlown, and the group signed with Motown in 1961 as The Supremes.
Martin left at the end of 1961, and Ross, Ballard, and Wilson carried on as a trio. After they achieved success in 1964 with Ross as the lead singer, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross and the Supremes in 1967. Ballard left the group that same year because of personal differences and was replaced by Cindy Birdsong.
Diana Ross left the group for a history-making solo career in 1970 and was replaced by Jean Terrell. After 1972, the lineup of The Supremes changed frequently, with Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene all becoming members before the group ended its eighteen-year existence in 1977.
The Supremes were a hugely successful Motown all-female singing group active from 1959 until 1977, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway showtunes, psychedelia and disco. Second only to The Beatles in terms of records sales and chart success, The Supremes were the most successful American musical act of the 1960s, delivering twelve #1 hits between 1964 and 1969, many of them written and produced by Motown's main songwriting and production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1959, The Supremes began as a quartet called The Primettes. Founding members Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown, all from the Brewster-Douglas public housing project in Detroit, were the sister act to The Primes (later The Temptations). In 1960, Barbara Martin replaced McGlown, and the group signed with Motown in 1961 as The Supremes.
Martin left at the end of 1961, and Ross, Ballard, and Wilson carried on as a trio. After they achieved success in 1964 with Ross as the lead singer, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross and the Supremes in 1967. Ballard left the group that same year because of personal differences and was replaced by Cindy Birdsong.
Diana Ross left the group for a history-making solo career in 1970 and was replaced by Jean Terrell. After 1972, the lineup of The Supremes changed frequently, with Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene all becoming members before the group ended its eighteen-year existence in 1977.
Medley: Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
Aquarius, was born the night
The shining stars, needed brighter shining light
Aquarius, was my savior
It came along, like a blast from out of sight
When I was weak, you came along
Enlightened me, covered the sun
You seduced me, I can never ever run
'Cause I, can only lose
When I'm, Aquarius
You're the power that I need
To make it all succeed, can hear me call?
Aquarius, is the stardust
It kills the faith, and the only one I trust
It calls your name, and you listen
It steals your soul, and your hunger and your lust
For life, and being free (it's killing me, it's killing me)
It's dragging you, it's killing me (it's killing me, it's killing me)
You seduced me, I can never ever run
'Cause I, can only lose
When I'm, Aquarius
You're the power that I need
To make it all succeed, can you hear me call? Can you hear me call?
I wish the stars would turn you in, and leave me standing in the wind
I wish the devil gave you up, and all the snow would melt and stop
This is it, I can't run away
You're controlling my life, and I can hear me say
'Cause I, can only lose
When I'm, Aquarius
Your the power that I need
To make it all succeed
I wish the stars would turn you in, and leave me standing in the wind
I wish the devil gave you up, and all the snow would melt and stop
The shining stars, needed brighter shining light
Aquarius, was my savior
It came along, like a blast from out of sight
When I was weak, you came along
Enlightened me, covered the sun
You seduced me, I can never ever run
'Cause I, can only lose
You're the power that I need
To make it all succeed, can hear me call?
Aquarius, is the stardust
It kills the faith, and the only one I trust
It calls your name, and you listen
It steals your soul, and your hunger and your lust
For life, and being free (it's killing me, it's killing me)
It's dragging you, it's killing me (it's killing me, it's killing me)
You seduced me, I can never ever run
'Cause I, can only lose
When I'm, Aquarius
You're the power that I need
To make it all succeed, can you hear me call? Can you hear me call?
I wish the stars would turn you in, and leave me standing in the wind
I wish the devil gave you up, and all the snow would melt and stop
This is it, I can't run away
You're controlling my life, and I can hear me say
'Cause I, can only lose
When I'm, Aquarius
Your the power that I need
To make it all succeed
I wish the stars would turn you in, and leave me standing in the wind
I wish the devil gave you up, and all the snow would melt and stop
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ACUM Ltd., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Rado, Gerome Ragni, Galt Mac Dermot
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Raffael W.
Yes her voice was/is light and not especially powerful...
But the thing about the small range is not true at all.
Where do people get this from?
Both her belting range and even her total range are bigger than that of Whitney Houston for example, that's just a fact.
Diana could effortlessly belt above E5 way up to A5 and even Bb5.
With headvoice up to C#6/D6.
If you count in her exclamations (as people seem to have no problems with as long as it's Michael Jackson or Beyonce or Whitney - and hers are just as controlled and on purpose!)
They are frequently around G#6
The highest are way up at C#7.
Her lowest note is C#3 or C3.
Where is this a small range??
It's not Nina Hagen or Diamanda Galas, I get that, but it's still big.
artbeau
I can listen to the 15 seconds of Marvin over and over.... and I have. I had the albums until my ex sold my entire collection for $20. SORRY... sidetracked... Until just now, I never really appreciated how well the band responded to the singers. In the case of Marvin Gaye, them made it all just pop. They start out tambourines, drums, light instruments... then the drum pumps him up and the horns come in... and all too soon it ended. WOW.
TheReturnofStephan1
This is a master class in how to handle an audience! Diana's vocals are on fire, too! Anyone who thinks her voice is "slight", especially after hearing this album, really needs their hearing checked. Thanks for posting.:)
Maxi Pazz
Her meek voice is just irritating thatโs all, apart from that love her
jaime de sousa
Patiently waiting for the video footage of this performance... I mean itโs almost been 50 years.
And Marvin Gaye... butter. That moment gives me the chills! To have been alive at this time and run in these circles, a dream!
S.R Hockenhull
Love Mary and Cindy's solo moments
Ujima Jame
Please go to 12:40 to hear Cindy's solo (Mary's is at 8:11) - my favorite moment of the whole song! I never knew, before this, she had such a powerful voice!
Jack Jules
@Ujima Jame You never knew Cindy had such a powerful voice because Motown and Ross did not want you to know.
Kelly Richardson
Marvin killed it!
sophisticated MM
I crazy about Marvin Gaye
Charles Jahn
I was at the final show (49 yrs ago.... Ouch!!!!) It was phenomenal! The recording does not do them justice!!! Great show!!!!