Singer of Rhythm and Blues, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Dies
2021-02-10
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1U.S. rhythm and blues singer Mary Wilson has died at the age of 76.
2Wilson rose to fame as a member of the female, three-person singing group The Supremes in the 1960s.
3Wilson started The Supremes with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard while living in Detroit, Michigan in 1959.
4The group signed a business deal with local R&B music company Motown Records two years later.
5But they did not have their first popular song until 1964 with "Where Did Our Love Go."
6The Supremes would go on to sing a record 12 number one popular songs, including "Baby Love," "Come See About Me," "Stop! In the Name of Love," "I Hear a Symphony," and "You Can't Hurry Love."
7Their songs, many television appearances and live performances made them one of most popular musical groups of the 1960s.
8The group helped turn Motown Records into an important part of American popular culture.
9Florence Ballard was replaced by Cindy Birdsong in 1967.
10Diana Ross left the group in 1969 for a solo career.
11But Wilson remained with The Supremes with different singers until the group officially broke up in 1976.
12She remained active for many years as a solo performer, motivational speaker and U.S. cultural ambassador.
13The Supremes members Wilson, Ross and Ballard were admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
14Her friend and spokesman Jay Schwartz said Wilson died suddenly Monday at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada.
15Motown Records founder Berry Gordy praised Wilson in a statement.
16He said she was "quite a star in her own right" who worked hard over the years "to boost the legacy of The Supremes."
17"She was a trailblazer, a diva and will be deeply missed," Gordy said.
18I'm Jonathan Evans.
1U.S. rhythm and blues singer Mary Wilson has died at the age of 76. Wilson rose to fame as a member of the female, three-person singing group The Supremes in the 1960s. 2Wilson started The Supremes with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard while living in Detroit, Michigan in 1959. The group signed a business deal with local R&B music company Motown Records two years later. But they did not have their first popular song until 1964 with "Where Did Our Love Go." 3The Supremes would go on to sing a record 12 number one popular songs, including "Baby Love," "Come See About Me," "Stop! In the Name of Love," "I Hear a Symphony," and "You Can't Hurry Love." 4Their songs, many television appearances and live performances made them one of most popular musical groups of the 1960s. The group helped turn Motown Records into an important part of American popular culture. 5Florence Ballard was replaced by Cindy Birdsong in 1967. Diana Ross left the group in 1969 for a solo career. But Wilson remained with The Supremes with different singers until the group officially broke up in 1976. She remained active for many years as a solo performer, motivational speaker and U.S. cultural ambassador. The Supremes members Wilson, Ross and Ballard were admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. 6Her friend and spokesman Jay Schwartz said Wilson died suddenly Monday at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. 7Motown Records founder Berry Gordy praised Wilson in a statement. He said she was "quite a star in her own right" who worked hard over the years "to boost the legacy of The Supremes." 8"She was a trailblazer, a diva and will be deeply missed," Gordy said. 9I'm Jonathan Evans. 10Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English from a VOA News report. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 11_______________________________________________________________ 12Words in This Story 13solo -adj. something done without another person 14boost -v. to increase the power of something; to push or lift up 15legacy -n. something from the past or that happened in the past 16trailblazer -adj. a person who makes, does or discovers something new and makes it acceptable and popular 17diva -n. a famous, successful female performer