The Supremes Overview
The Supremes were an American female singing group and the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960’s. The group was originally founded as the “Primettes” in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959. The Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown’s acts and are, to date, America’s most successful vocal group. Because of their success they made it possible for future African American R&B and soul musicians to find success in the music business.
The founding members of the group were Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown, all from Brewster-Douglass public housing project in Detroit. Barbara Martin replaced McGlown in 1960, and the group signed with Motown the following year as the Supremes. In 1962, Martin left the group and the remaining members carried on as a trio.
Here is the rest of their story…
The Group’s Origins
In 1958, Florence Ballard—a junior high school student living in the Brewster-Dougless housing projects in Detroit—met Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks, two members of a Detroit male singing group known as the Primes. Since Ballard sang, as did Paul Williams’ girlfriend Betty McGlown, the Primes’s manager Milton Jenkins created a sister group called the Primettes. Ballard recruited her best friend Mary Wilson, who in turn recruited classmate Diane Ross.
Mentored and funded by Jenkins, the Primettes began by performing hit songs by artists such as Ray Charles, and the Drifters as sock hops, social clubs and talent shows around the Detroit area. After winning a prestigious local talent contest, the Primettes’ sights were set on making a record.
In hopes of getting the group signed to the local upstart Motown label, Ross asked an old neighbor, Smokey Robinson, to help the group audition for Motown executive Berry Gordy. arranged for the Primettes to audition a cappella for Gordy – but Gordy, feeling the girls too young and inexperienced to be recording artists, encouraged them to return upon graduating from high school.
Undaunted, later that year the Primettes recorded a single for LuPine Records entitled “Tears of Sorrow” and was not successful as it failed to find an audience. Shortly thereafter, McGlown became engaged and left the group. Local girl Barbara Martin was McGlown’s quick replacement.
Music Career History
The group’s first single for Motown was “Your Heart Belongs To Me” released in August, 1962, peaking on the Hot 100 chart at #95. The group’s first top 40 hit was released in November of 1963 titled “When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes” and peaked at #23. In July of 1964, the group released “Where Did Our Love Go” which became their first #1 hit song and stayed at the top of the chart for 2 weeks. Their next single was “Baby Love” which became their most popular hit song as it became the group’s second #1 hit and stayed at number one for four weeks, in October. In November, they released “Come See About Me” which went to #1 for two weeks. They followed that hit single with “Stop! In The Name Of Love”, released in February, 1965, and became the group’s fourth #1 hit for two weeks and third consecutive #1 song on the charts. They followed that single with “Back In My Arms Again” in May, and it went to #1 for one week, for their fourth consecutive #1 hit single and the fifth overall.
In July of 1965, they released “Nothing But Heartaches” which broke their consecutive #1 hits as it peaked at #11 on the chart. In October, they released a single titled “I Hear A Symphony” which peaked at #1 for two weeks and became their sixth #1 hit. In January 1966, they released “My World Is Empty Without You” and peaked at #5. They had a second top-ten hit that year in April with a song titled “Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart” which peaked at #9. In August of 1966, they went to #1 with “You Can’t Hurry Love” for 2 weeks for the group’s seventh #1 hit. That song was followed in October with “You Keep Me Hanging On” which went to #1 for 2 weeks for their 8th #1 hit.
In January of 1967, they released “Love Is Hear And Now You’re Gone” and peaked at #1 for one week to become their ninth #1 hit. In April of the same year, they released “The Happening” and peaked at #1 for one week to become the group’s tenth #1 single. In 1967, the group’s name changed to Diana Ross And The Supremes. The next single released with that new name was “Reflections” which peaked at #2 for two weeks, in August of 1967. In November, they released “In And Out Of Love” peaking at #9 for four top-ten singles in the year with three of them peaking at #1.
In October of 1968, they released “Love Child” which went to #1 for two weeks to become their eleventh #1 hit song. In December, they released “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” and peaked at #2 for two weeks.
In January 1969, “I’m Livin’ In Shame” was released and peaked at #10. This year also saw the group hit number one for the twelfth and last time with a song titled “Someday We’ll Be Together” staying at #1 for one week in November.
Diana Ross left the group in 1970 for a very successful solo career with six #1 hits and six top-ten hits and was ranked the #13 artist of 1970’s, #16 artist of the 1980’s and #39 of all-time from 1955-2010. The group’s name changed back to “The Supremes” after Diana Ross left the group. In March of 1970, the group had a top-ten hit with “Up The Ladder To The Roof” peaking at #10. The group’s last top-ten hit song was “Stoned Love” released in November of 1970 and peaked at #7.
The Supremes last top forty hit single was “I’m Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking” in March, 1976, peaking at #40. Their last charted single on the Hot 100 chart was “You’re My Driving Wheel” in December of 1976, peaking at #85.
All told the Supremes had 46 singles on the Hot 100 chart with 12 #1’s, 20 Top 10, 24 Top 20, and 33 Top 40 hits. They also had 8 top-ten albums. Billboard ranks the Supremes as the #5 artist from 1960-1969 and the #24 artist of all-time from 1955-2010.
On the R&B Chart, the Supremes had 43 singles, with 8 #1’s, 24 T10, 29 T20, and 36 T40 hits. The Supremes are ranked as the #7 artist from 1960-1969 and the #35 artist of all-time from 1942-2010.
Awards
The Supremes with Ross, Wilson, and Ballard were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. In 1994, they received a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1998, they entered the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. The group was named by Rolling Stone as the #97 artist on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Top Ten & Number One Songs
The following will be a complete listing of all of The Supremes top-ten and number one hits in chronological order with title, date song went to #1 or debut date for all others, peak position, weeks at peak position in () for #1, #2, and #3 hit songs on the Hot 100 chart. The Number one songs will be in bold.
Hot 100 Chart
- Where Did Our Love Go – August 22, 1964 #1 (2)
- Baby Love – October 31, 1964 #1 (4)
- Come See About Me – December 19, 1964 #1 (2)
- Stop! In The Name Of Love – March 27, 1965 #1 (2)
- Back In My Arms Again – June 12, 1965 #1 (1)
- I Hear A Symphony – November 20, 1965 #1 (2)
- My World Is Empty Without You – January 15, 1966 #5
- Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart – April 30, 1966 #9
- You Can’t Hurry Love – September 10, 1966 #1 (2)
- You Keep Me Hangin’ On – November 19, 1966 #1 (2)
- Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone – March 11, 1967 #1 (1)
- The Happening – May 13, 1967 #1 (1)
- Reflections – August 12, 1967 #2 (2)
- In And Out Of Love – November 11, 1967 #9
- Love Child – November 30, 1968 #1 (2)
- I’m Gonna Make You Love Me – December 7, 1968 #2 (2)
- I’m Livin’ In Shame – January 25, 1969 #10
- Someday We’ll Be Together – December 27, 1969 #1 (1)
- Up The Ladder To The Roof – March 7, 1970 #10
- Stoned Love – November 7, 1970 #7
R&B Chart
-
- When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes – November 30, 1963 #2 (1)
- Where Did Our Love Go – August 29, 1964 #1 (2)
- Baby Love – November 14, 1964 #1 (3)
- Come See About Me – December 5, 1964 #2 (2)
- Stop! In The Name Of Love – February 20, 1965 #2 (4)
- Back In My Arms Again – May 29, 1965 #1 (1)
- Nothing But Heartaches – August 14, 1965 #6
- I Hear A Symphony – November 6, 1965 #2 (2)
- My World Is Empty Without You – January 29, 1966 #10
- Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart – May 7, 1966 #7
- You Can’t Hurry Love – September 3, 1966 #1 (2)
- You Keep He Hangin’ On – November 26, 1966 #1 (4)
- Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone – March 11, 1967 #1 (2)
- Reflections – August 19, 1967 #4
- Love Child – October 26, 1968 #2 (3)
- I’m Gonna Make You Love Me – December 14, 1968 #2 (3)
- I’m Livin’ In Shame – February 8, 1969 #8
- I’ll Try Something New – March 22, 1969 #8
- Someday We’ll Be Together – December 13, 1969 #1 (4)
- Up The Ladder To The Roof – March 14, 1970 #5
- Stoned Love – December 26, 1970 #1 (1)
- River Deep – Mountain High – December 12, 1970 #7
- Nathan Jones – May 22, 1971 #8
- Floy Joy – January 15, 1972 #5
Baby Love #1 Song for Four Weeks
Shop The Supremes Greatest Hits
If you are a huge fan of the Supremes, I highly recommend the Ross and the Supremes – The Ultimate Collection (25 Tracks)
Now, you can shop for individual songs of The Supremes Greatest Hits
As an Amazon associate I earn from qualified purchases.
Go back to the top 100 songs of all time home page.