Mary Wilson, a founding member of The Supremes, the trailblazing group from the 1960s that spun up a dozen No. 1 singles on the musical charts and was key to Motown’s legendary sound, died on Monday at her home in Henderson, Nev. She was 76.
Ms. Wilson’s death was confirmed by her publicist, Jay Schwartz. No cause of death was given.
Formed in Detroit as the Primettes in 1959, the Supremes originally included Florence Ballard and Diana Ross, and released a string of hits in the early 1960s like “Baby Love” and “Stop! In the Name of Love.”
Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, said in a statement that the Supremes had opened doors for other Motown acts. “I was always proud of Mary,” Mr. Gordy said. “She was quite a star in her own right, and over the years continued to work hard to boost the legacy of the Supremes.”
Ms. Wilson, who grew up in the Brewster-Douglass Projects in Detroit, had been a singer in her childhood. Milton Jenkins, who in 1959 was the manager of the Primes, a male singing group, moved to form a female version of the act. Betty McGlown was first to join, then came Ms. Ballard, who invited Ms. Wilson, and Ms. Ross was the fourth. To get Mr. Gordy’s attention, they frequented the Hitsville USA recording studio after school — and they were eventually signed by the record executive. The group later changed its name from the Primettes to The Supremes and became a trio in 1962.
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The Supremes were known for hits such as Baby Love and You Can’t Hurry Love.
The group was founded in Detroit as The Primettes in 1959 when Wilson was 15 years old.
Lead singer Diana Ross tweeted: “My condolences to Mary’s family, I am reminded that each day is a gift, I have so many wonderful memories of our time together. The Supremes will live on, in our hearts 💕.”
Singer Beverley Knight said: “Mary Wilson along with Florence Ballard and Diana Ross changed the game permanently. Hit after hit after hit, on a regular rotation to this day. A Supreme Titan may have left us but that legacy will never be surpassed.”
The founder of Motown Records, Berry Gordy, said in a statement: “I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes.
Wilson continued performing with Cindy Birdsong and Jean Terrell as the “new” Supremes, better known today as the “70s Supremes”.
The group disbanded following Wilson’s 1977 departure.
Wilson became a New York Times bestselling author in 1986 with the release of her autobiography, Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme.
The Supremes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Interest in the group’s legacy was renewed after the release of the film Dreamgirls in 2006, which starred Beyoncé Knowles and Jennifer Hudson.
The movie was based on the story of The Supremes, although Wilson said it did not depict their true story.
In 2019, Wilson took part in Dancing With The Stars, the US version of Strictly Come Dancing.
Just two days before her death, Wilson uploaded a video on YouTube announcing that she was working on releasing new solo material.
