Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Supreme’s Court: Mary Wilson brings wide-ranging show to Suncoast

A note to eligible bachelors: the supreme Mary Wilson would like to fall in love again and re-marry.

Those interested might want to catch her show this weekend at the Suncoast. "I'm looking. Come to the show. Bring your resume," laughed the still-beautiful, energetic 59-year-old vocalist who enjoys roller skating and skiing with her grandchildren.

If Wilson were serious about her quest, she wouldn't have any major problems finding a taker. After more than 40 years of singing about the subject, she probably knows as much about love as anyone.

Among the Top 40 hits produced by the Supremes in the '60s before lead singer Diana Ross left the group in 1969 were "You Can't Hurry Love," "Stop! In The Name Of Love" and "Where Did Our Love Go?"

Those songs and more won't be forgotten in Wilson's show, "The Supremes starring Mary Wilson."

But Wilson doesn't classify her show as one focusing on Supreme nostalgia.

"I love doing the Supremes songs," Wilson said during a recent telephone interview from her Las Vegas home. "But we have a very mixed bag. I'm a very complex person. We do some great ballads, a lot of Sting, Motown, Rolling Stones."

The name of the game is fun, not memories, which may be one reason why Wilson doesn't like to discuss Ross and their feud.

"By the time people leave the show they will have had so much fun they won't think about nostalgia," Wilson said. "I want people to enjoy themselves. That's what my show is all about. Music is almost secondary."

She channels her onstage experience into making sure everyone has a good time.

"It's a very uplifting experience," Wilson said. "I really love it. I love being onstage. I love to see my fans smile."

She's been supplying smiles since the mid-'50s when, during her high school years in Detroit, she, Ross and Florence Ballard formed the Primettes.

The Primettes became the Supremes in 1961 when they signed a recording contract with Motown Records.

Ballard left the group in 1967 -- the year the group's name was changed to Diana Ross and the Supremes -- due to health-related reasons, and was replaced by Cindy Birdsong. Ballard was reportedly upset that Ross had been given star billing.

When Ross left, Wilson became the lead singer of the new Supremes, which included Birdsong and Jean Terrell. Ballard died in 1976 of a heart attack.

Wilson, Birdsong and Terrell turned out million-selling records that included "Up The Ladder To The Roof," "Stoned Love," "Nathan Jones" and "Floy Joy."

The Supremes' second generation disbanded in '77 but Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne and Terrell continued to perform, using the Supremes' name.

In 1983 Motown attempted to reunite Ross, Wilson and Birdsong in a taping of "Motown 25," but the reunion ended badly when Wilson put her microphone up to Ross' face, and Ross pushed the mike away. Five years later the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ross didn't attend the induction ceremony.

An attempt by Ross to put together a reunion tour in 2000 featuring herself, Wilson and Birdsong fell through when Ross demanded $25 million and offered Wilson and Birdsong only $3 million.

Instead, Ross signed on Laurence and Payne and attempted to conduct a nonreunion tour as the Supremes. The tour was axed after just a few dates.

Still, since the Supremes broke up, Wilson has lead an active life that has included concerts, recordings, acting and writing.

Her 1986 autobiography, "Dreamgirl: My Life As A Supreme," made the New York Times' best-seller list and prompted her to write a sequel, 1990's "Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together."

Wilson moved to Las Vegas in 1983.

"I had three small children and I just wanted to get out of the inner cities," she said.

Her manager at the time was Chip Lightman, who manages impressionist Danny Gans, today a headliner at The Mirage.

In 1986, interest in the Supremes was re-sparked when the Broadway hit "Dreamgirls" was released -- based on Wilson's autobiography.

After her children were grown, Wilson moved back to New York in '93 and enrolled in New York University, where she earned an associate's degree in liberal arts in 2001.

She returned to Vegas full time two years ago, buying a home in Anthem Country Club.

Although Wilson lives in Vegas, most of her work is elsewhere.

"Locally, I do some corporate events, some private functions," Wilson said, "but I don't perform here as much as I would like to."

She has about 100 road engagements a year.

"I worked Vegas for years," Wilson said. "But I found out once you're out of the clique, it's hard to get back in."

Wilson misses the old Vegas.

"The diamonds, limousines, Rolls Royces, fur coats," Wilson said. "You used to be able to tip the maitre d' and get the best seat in the house. Not anymore. The showrooms don't have tables. People wear little shirts, and no ties."

She recalled that being a celebrity used to mean something.

"There was something about it," Wilson said. "You were a little special. Now, you're not. There's not much special about anything anymore. I do miss it. A lot of others do too."

She says she loves to see shows, and used to like to go backstage to visit with the performers.

"Now, I can't even get backstage," Wilson said. "They say, 'Mary who?' "

Now that is a supreme insult.

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