They were the most commercially successful Motown acts then and still are to this day, with 12 number one singles. In the mid-1960s, the Supremes rivalled the Beatles and their success made it possible for todays R&B musicians to find mainstream success.
Mary Wilson one of the band’ forming members:
1) What do you have planned for the next year?
For the next year I will continue with acting classes, working on my coffee table book and I’m also working on a new project: a reality show based on professional Afro-American women; and continue to tour. I have more shows at the start of 2016.
2) What made you want to do Legends Live?
Promoters asked me if I would do it. They were putting together the show and I immediately said ‘yeah I’m interested’ and of course the women participating in it intrigued me so much, so when I heard those names I said ‘yes’.
3) What do you want to do after you have finished the tour?
After I’ve finished the tour in the UK, I’m coming back to the States and doing more shows. I’m doing shows with Freda Payne performing Band of Gold and some jazz shows.
4) What do you think of the changing music business?
I think it sucks. I’m sure people who are making music now don’t think it sucks cos they are making money but we have lost a lot of things like radio, record shops, you don’t have DJs spinning records, and generally the whole thing is different – a different business. U have to be your own manager so to speak, making records is different – people go online to listen and I don’t do that, so there are a lot of different things. But I’m sure there are some good things.
5) What would you change about it?
What I would change is that there are a lot of people who have been in the business who are still relevant, so I would add somewhere for those people to record and put their music out today, older artists can’t get records played on radio. They are still touring but they can’t get Okayed for radio.
Mary Wilson will be appearing on the Legends Live tour with Roberta Flack, Dionne Warwick and The Drifters. (Tickets on sale here –
http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Legends-Live-Tour-tickets/artist/2108083#!
