‘She was a trailblazer’: Motown legend Mary Wilson of The Supremes dies aged 76 at home in Las Vegas
- The singer died suddenly at home in Las Vegas, her long-term publicist Jay Schwartz has confirmed
- Wilson’s funeral service will be held privately in accordance with current health and safety guidelines
- Along with band-mates Diana Ross, Wilson was at the forefront of the Motown sound after signing with the label in 1961
Legendary Motown singer Mary Wilson has died aged 76, her publicist has confirmed.
The star, an integral member of soul pioneers The Supremes, died suddenly at her home in Las Vegas on February 8th. A cause of death is yet to be announced.
Long-term publicist Jay Schwartz confirmed to Fox that Wilson’s funeral service will be held privately in accordance with current health and safety guidelines, but a public memorial will be scheduled for later in the year.
Tragic: Legendary Motown singer Mary Wilson has died aged 76, her publicist has confirmed.
Along with band-mates Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, Wilson was at the forefront of the Motown sound after signing with the label in 1961, originally as a member of The Primettes before the group changed their name.
Paying tribute to Wilson in a statement on Monday night, Motown founder Berry Gordy said: ‘I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes.
‘The Supremes were always known as the “sweethearts of Motown.” Mary, along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, came to Motown in the early 1960s.
Trailblazers: Wilson was at the forefront of the Motown sound after signing with the label in 1961, originally as a member of The Primettes before the group changed their name to The Supremes( pictured L-R: Band-mates Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard)
Success: The Supremes became international stars after scoring a string of hits throughout the 1960s and into the ’70s (pictured in London, 1968)
‘After an unprecedented string of No. 1 hits, television and nightclub bookings, they opened doors for themselves, the other Motown acts, and many, many others. … I was always proud of Mary.
‘She was quite a star in her own right and over the years continued to work hard to boost the legacy of the Supremes. Mary Wilson was extremely special to me. She was a trailblazer, a diva and will be deeply missed.’
Only two days before her death the singer had shared a YouTube post in which she promised to release more material after working with Universal Music.
Legendary: Wilson has been described as a ‘trailblazer’ by Motown founder Berry Gordy
Those releases were expected to include the previously shelved album Red Hot, recorded by the singer in the late 1970s.
‘So much has happened to me in the month of February,’ she told subscribers. ‘Mainly because I’m working with Universal Music and they are going to release new recordings – Mary Wilson recordings.’
She added: ‘Hopefully some of that will be out on my birthday, March 6.’
Poignant: Taking to Twitter on January 2nd Wilson asked fans what they were doing to make 2021 ‘a better year’
Born in rural Greenville, Mississippi in 1944, Wilson became an international star with The Supremes as the band racked up a string of hits throughout the 1960s and ’70s.
However there were dramatic changes to the line-up, with Ballard leaving in 1967 and Ross – around whom Gordy renamed the band – embarking on what would be a successful solo career in 1970.
The group finally disbanded following a farewell tour in 1977, with Wilson going on to release two studio albums; her last, Walk The Line, was released in 1992.