The Supremes

In 1959, the success of the Detroit, MI-based male singing group The Primes-itself a predecessor of the cultural phenomenon The Temptations-spawned a sister group known as The Primettes. Making up the band were singers Florence Ballard and Betty McGlown, both personal affiliates of Primes members, as well as Mary Wilson and Diana Ross. Over the two years to follow, the quartet accrued a fandom by performing with a number of big name artists, going onto make their recording debut with the single "Tears of Sorrow" (1960). Shortly afterward, McGlown left the band and was replaced by Barbara Martin. Ultimately, the Primettes earned a record deal with Motown executive Berry Gordy, who prompted the change of their name to "The Supremes." Under this new handle, the band got off to a rocky start, underperforming with a slew of singles and their first album, Meet the Supremes (1962). The Supremes lost Martin before their follow-up release, Where Did Our Love Go (1964), which became a colossal hit. Further successes amounted over the years to follow; More Hits by the Supremes (1965), The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966), and The Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland (1967) were among their top-charting albums. Ross' rising popularity shifted the focus toward Ross as the star of the band, which led to conflict between her and Ballard; Ballard left the band in the late '60s, leading to a rebranding of the band as Diana Ross & The Supremes. Ross herself left the group a few years later to explore a solo career. Again known simply as The Supremes, the band went through a series of personnel shifts over the course of the next few years-notable members included Cindy Birdsong, Jean Terrell, and Sherrie Payne. After a period of releases whose reception paled in comparison to those from their earlier period, The Supremes disbanded in 1977.