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1J 49,> {ff Â¥ wh l Page 8 The Link June/1986 It was 17 years ago on the glittering stage of Las Vegas‘ plush Frontier Hotel that the sweethearts of pop music, The Supremes, bid bon voyage to their heart and soul, Diana Ross. It was an emotional event immersed in all the pomposity generally bestowed upon royalâ€" The Supremes were gorgeous Mary Wilson, _ lovely Cindy Birdsong and sultry lead singer Diana Ross. Each was ~dressed in a shimmering nightgown and long wig; each was laughing, sobbing and cooing their way deeper into the hearts of their multitude of fans while promisâ€" ing that someday they‘d be together again. But as long as I‘m living, the Spyder will be forgiving. You see, you ladies were my first love. I was infatuated with you precious foxes long before I1 knew about the birds and the bees. As a matter of fact, it was in the back seat of a ‘57 Chevy in the summer of 1962 that I| lost my heart to you. We were cruising along Windsor, Ontario‘s main drag cool as a breeze, doing as we please, digging the jams on the car radio. Suddenly this D.J. from Detroit‘s WCHB _ says, ‘"‘Here‘s some homeâ€"grown talent called The Supremes with a song that should go all the way to the top of the charts." He was wrong. The song, My Heart Belongs To You, never got into Billboard‘s top 80. But from that moment on you were No. 1 in my heart. Call it karma, intuition or anything you please, 1 just Well, ladies, I‘m here to tell you that your promise is about as good as the one that says the cheque‘s in the mail. Because to the disappointment of literalâ€" ly millions of fans all over the world, a Supremes reunion seems about as likely as Eddie Murphy becoming the Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. The group‘s grand finale was comprised of a tear jerking six minute version of the trio‘s 12th and final No. 1 hit, Some:â€" day We‘ll Be Together. WE BUY, SELL, REFINISH @ Dressers @ Tables @ Hoosiers @ Collectables FOR APPOINTMENT 5 JOHN STREET CALL PAUL or LIZ WESTON ONT. 249â€"0882 249â€"9401 Precious foxes Tear jerking DUCK‘S The Supremes: By Chuck ‘"Spyder‘‘ Jones Yet, by conventional stanâ€" dards, who could predict that three fragile kids from Detroit‘s infamous Brewster projects would become the most proâ€" lific and popular female group the world has yet to produce? Encouraged by _ the phenomenal success of rock‘s original wonder boy Frankie Lymon, who had a smash hit with Why Do Fools Fall In Love a few years earlier, plus the proliferation of female groups beginning to inundate the charts in the late ‘50s, The Supremes began as a quartet called The Primettes in 1960. knew you ladies were the real deal and would go all the way. 1 1 Q y It‘s no secret that their long, tedious voyage out of Detroitâ€"â€" better known as Murder City, USAâ€"â€"was anything but glamorous. But these were three gritty, determined kids. The only luggage they carried was their hopes, fears and an infinite dream of stardom. It got rough along the way, and one of The Primettes turnâ€" ed back, leaving the group as a trio. Undaunted by the hardâ€" ships, the fragile looking teenagers sang on street corâ€" ners, in school halls, at dances and in talent contests, flaunting their vocal talents throughout the Motor City. If that wasn‘t enough, lead singer Ross lived close to Motown‘s aceâ€"inâ€"theâ€" hole, Smokey Robinson, and constantly pestered him for auditions. But according to rumor their action wasn‘t to his satisfaction. At any rate, he took a pass. But the ladies were not to be denied. They began making a nuisance of themselves hangâ€" ing out in front of 2648 West Grand Blvd., which happened to be Hitsville, USAâ€"â€"the home of Motown recording studios. They spent countless hours performing for anyone who‘d listen. This eventually led them to a Motown recording conâ€" tract. Of course, there is another version that says Motown President Berry Gorâ€" dy, Jr. was so impressed with the girls after they‘d won a Murder city Hitsville, USA talent contest that he promised them a recording contract after all three had graduated high school. During that interim the girls paid their share of dues around Hitsville, USA, clapping their hands in the background of some productions and singing backâ€"up on Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells recordings. In 1962, Motown decided to change The Primettes name, and Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Diana Ross became The Supremes. By then they‘d all graduated from high school, and Gordy, Jr., true to his word, signed them to a recorâ€" ding contract. After a couple more moderate hits, Gordy, Jr. put their future in the hands of a hit making machine called Holland, Dozier and Hollans. H.D.H. had already made maâ€" jor stars of Martha and the Vandellas and The Four Tops. The rest is history. Together they carved a piece out of music history that few have yet to equal. Between 1964 and 1969 America‘s sweethearts topped the No. 1 slot 12 times. Only Elvis (18) and The Beatles (20) have surpassed that feat. 1 songs entitled Where Did Our Love Go, Baby Love, Come See About Me, Stop! In The Name Of Love and Back in My Arms Again. It was the first and only time an American group had accomplished such an amazing feat. Within a year they‘d gone coast to coast like buttered toast with five consecutive No. In 1967 they were renamed Diana Ross and The Supremes. It came as no surprise to those in the know. It fit in with Gorâ€" dy, Jr.‘s long range plan to make Ross a solo superstar. P 7z==. P s=â€" Ni err d sites sls You were my first love The Primettes Solo superstar Cosmopolitan Opera Music Studio wil For the Beginner and for advanced students VOICEâ€"PIANOâ€"GUITARâ€"VIOLIN _ for more information call MUSIC STUDIO VOICE & INSTRUMENT > LESSONS The move caused some resentment. Personally, 1 don‘t know how Wilson took it. Yet she was in the centre of a storm. Ballard disliked Ross‘ top billâ€" ing. Eventually she left the group in search of a solo career. But success eluded her, and she died tragically and prematurely a pauper‘s death in 1976 at 32 years of age. Ballard was replaced in the group by Cindy Birdsong, formerly of Pattie LaBelle and the Blue Belles. In 1970, as anâ€" ticipated, Ross split the scene for a solo career, replaced by Jean Terrell, sister of former The Supremes had 12 No. 1 hits before their lead singer, Diana Ross, left the group to pursue a solo career. Blue belles tA t t t x Â¥x Â¥ heavyweight boxing champion Ernie Terrell. Though it‘s been over a decade since they have scored a hit, there remains something inherently special about the name The Supremes. It still conjures up goose pimples all over me, bringing back memories of yesterday‘s youth. The group never tasted another No. 1 song. But they still managed eight more chart busters, and that‘s still a lot of hits in anybody‘s book. Their first album, Meet The Supremes, was written and produced by the legendary Smokey Robinson of The Miracles. It yielded a couple of local hits entitled Your Heart Belongs To Me and Let Me Go The Right Way. But neither cut managed to make much noise on the national scene. Today, original Supreme Wilson still carries on the sweet sounding tradition . with two backâ€"up singers. . io 2:00 a.m. The Miracles * x *Â¥ _ d