Wilson - Dreamgirl and Supreme Faith: My Life as a Supreme

My Life as a Supreme

by Mary Wilson

[Supreme Faith co-written with Patricia Romanowski]

Copyright 1986, 1990, 1999 by Mary Wilson
New afterword copyright 1999 by Mary Wilson

First Cooper Square Press edition 1999

This Cooper Square Press paperback edition of Dreamgirl & Supreme Faith: My Life as a Supreme is an unabridged republication of Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme first published in New York in 1986 and Supreme Faith: Someday Well Be Together, [co-written with Patricia Romanowski] first published in New York in 1990, with the addition of eight pages of color photographs and a new afterward by the author. It is reprinted by arrangement with the author.

All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permissions from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.

Published by Cooper Square Press,
An Imprint of Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
150 Fifth Avenue, Suite 911
New York, New York 10011

Distributed by National Book Network

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wilson, Mary, 1944

[Dreamgirl]

Dreamgirl; &, Supreme faith : my life as a Supreme / by Mary Wilson.

p. cm.

Reprint. First work originally published : New York : St. Martins Press, cl986. 2nd
work originally published : New York : HarperCollins, cl990.

ISBN 978-0-8154-1000-3

1. Wilson, Mary, 1944 2. Supremes (Musical group) 3. Women singersUnited StatesBiography. I. Title: Dreamgirl; &, Supreme faith. II. Wilson, Mary, 1944

Supreme faith. III. Title: Supreme faith. IV. Title.

ML420.W553 A3 1999

782.421644092dc21

DREAMGIRL

My Life as a Supreme

Dedicated
to
my mom, Johnnie Mae Wilson, whose eyes have always shown love,
to
my aunt and uncle, I.V. and John L. Pippin,
and to the memory of
Florence Blondie Ballard

There is one person who must be thanked
apart from all the rest, the person who is
responsible for pulling this book together
and making it happen. Thank you,
Patty Romanowski.

I am grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to live the life of a Supreme. This story has all the elements of a classic opera, the comedy, the tragedy, and finally the will to survive. And like all good theater the stage must be shared with a multitude of co-stars, supporting cast, and bit players. I must sing their praises.

Once the Primettes came into being, Milton Jenkins did everything in his power to make our dreams come true; I am only sorry he didnt reap the benefits of his initial hard work. Jesse Greer, Richard Morris, and John ODen are among the many who saw the same bright potential and tried to help us achieve our goals.

Thoughout those early days we had the support of the Primes, including Eddie Kendricks, Kel Osborne, and the late Paul Williams.

Berry Gordy, Jr., orchestrated and directed the whole fairy-tale. I would have no story to tell if it were not for Berry making us his girls.

My deepest gratitude must go to John L. Pippin, my aunt I.V., my cousin Josephine, and Jackie Burkes for traveling down Memory Lane with me to the days when I was just little Mae-Mae in a starched dress and pigtails.

Florence Ballards sisters, Barbara, Pat, and Maxine were invaluable in helping me piece together Florences life after the Supremes.

There are too many members of the Motown family to name in this small space. But I want to especially mention Janie Money Bradford, who spent hours laughing and reminding me of the good old days, and Thomas Beans Bowles, Choker Campbell, Joe Hunter, and Teddy Harris, who helped me reminisce about the Motown days. And, of course, we must also remember the likes of James Jamerson, Benny Papa Zita Benjamin, and Hank Cosby, just a few of the musicians who provided the sound that inspired so many voices to sing their hearts out.

Brian and Eddie Holland and Lamont Doziers music gave the Supremes the perfect vehicles to ride. I thank you, gentlemen. Among our early songwriter/producers were also Freddy Gorman and Smokey Robinson.

The Temptations have always been some of my staunchest allies, especially Melvin Franklin (who always believed in me) and Richard Street. And lets not forget Joe Billingslea of the Contours, Bobby Rogers of the Miracles, Gladys Horton of the Marvelettes, Rosalind Ashford of the Vandellas, Clarence Paul, Joe Shaffner, Kim Weston, who continues to encourage the young voices of Detroit to sing out, Cholly Atkins, who made the moves possible, and his beautiful wife, Maye Mom Atkins, Esther Edwards who tried to lead us down the straight and narrow path of life, Maurice King and Gil Askey for their musical support and guidance, Nate McAlpine, Norris Patterson, Eddie Bisco, Winnie Brown, Shelly Berger, Don Foster, Weldon McDougle, and Sylvia Moy, just to name a few of the people who laughed, cried, and relived our past.

Dick Clark helped to launch the Supremes and he continues to be one of Motowns greatest supporters and admirers. I also would like to thank so many of the other artists on the Dick Clark tour who shared their memories of those crazy tours with me, especially singer Mike Clifford.

Mark Bego was the first to help me try to compile my memoirs and I thank him for setting me on the right path. Bart Andrews and Sherry Robb of Andrews and Robb Agency were the first to set the wheel in motion so that this book could become a reality.

Because of the grace of God, the Supremes have touched many lives, so it is with great passion that I thank our many fans, who have shared our dream and made it a reality. Without the help of the fans, this manuscript could never have come into being. The clippings, photos, and stories they provided were an invaluable part of its creation. I must thank Carl Feuerbacher, president of the Supremes fan club, who at his own expense has continued to publish the monthly newsletter and gather materials and information for Dreamgirl, and also Tom and Barbara Ingrassia and the many fans who helped. His help and continued support is worth more than words can ever express. Allen Poe, my godson and personal assistant, gave me a supporting hand throughout the writing of this book and I shall not forget it.

I must also thank my New York research team, Jim Lopes, andagainMark Bego, John Christe, Edmund Grier, Tony Turner, and Mark Case, my Los Angeles research team, David Horii and John Wyman, my Detroit research team, Martha Harris and Alice Fletcher, and my European research team.

To my attorney, Robert P. Kragulac, Esq.: Thanks for keeping me afloat and my corporation together.

Esther Gilmores busy fingers transferred hours of chatter into legible transcripts. Constance Pappas Hillman gave me access to her library and Brother Prince was a patron when I needed him. Each of these people is an integral part of the book.

A thank-you to Ahrgus Juilliard, who sat and worked with me for a year and a half, pulling my diaries, scrapbooks, transcripts, and thoughts together for this book. Thanks, girl.

And a special thank-you to Pedro Ferrer, my ex-hubby, for telling me to get started on writing this book.

None of this could have been possible without my main sister, Hazel Bethke Kragulac, who since 1972 has been much more than my secretary, friend, and Executive Assistant.