The Diana Ross/Mary Wilson feud

No one?

No husband, boyfriend, spouse was safe if Diana was around...Diana relished breaking up couples.

It was our own dear Miss Warwick who said it all when she said Diane managed to build an entire career because she said four words at just the right time....

"It's so big, Berry!"

Mary Wilson should've know she was doomed after Diane beat the shit out of the Crystals, the Shirelles and the Ronettes and then said to Mary, "Feeling lucky?" It was only by the use of psychic powers that Dionne Warwick(e) was able to stay healthy.

....

The spin on this is so tedious. Twenty something singers were an unsuccessful group (“No Hit Supremes”). Lead singer was changed and it popped (Twelve #1 songs, no girl group has repeated). They had squabbles, jealousies and probably dumb things were said/done.

Mary Wilson benefited from the success Diana led. I think she’s duplicitous and a victim, who benefits from her background position. When Diana left, Mary didn’t rise to lead the Supremes. Several other women did. Why didn’t she become the star?

Diana Ross went on to earn six more top hits (more than contemporaries like Streisand, Cher, Midler...). That’s a total of 18 in her career. Berry Gordy didn’t make the public buy into her talent and stardom. There are singers like Whitney, Beyoncé and others who’ve attributed Diana’s trailblazing ways.

It is odd that Mary is so bitter when she was never the lead. Flo Ballard was the one who was pushed aside (at least if Dreamgirls is accurate.)

Mary never had the voice or talent, she couldn't even make it as a backup singer.

[quote]Why'd Cindy Birdsong not participate in the tour either?

Cindy had pretty much retired by then and had become a minister. She would do the tour only if Mary was doing it, so she left it to Mary's people to do her bidding. TNA/SFX's initial offer to Mary was $1 million, and less than that for Cindy. Mary rejected, requesting fairer pay for both and creative input. TNA/SFX upped Mary's offer to $2 mil but nixed the creative input. She said no. Diana upped it $4 mil from her own earnings, and $1 mil to Cindy, but still no creative input. Mary mulled it over and finally said yes, but TNA/SFX said, "Nope, too late" and ceased negotiations.

I don't think Mary was being greedy. I think as a founding member, she felt she deserved to have creative input or more of a say on certain matters.

Mary was like Andrew Ridgeley. Imagine if Andrew told George all that.

R8 She must have had something because that "Supremes" tour flopped so badly without Mary and Cindy that it got cancelled after just a few shows due to poor sales.

Mary got great reviews during her recent stint at the Carlyle.

Mary spearheaded the '70s Supremes when Barry Gordy was no longer was interested. She shared lead vocal duties with Jean Terrell, then after Terrell's departure, she shared lead with Scherrie Payne. Mary kept the Supremes name going long after the hits stopped coming. It's as if she couldn't stop beating a dead horse. So, of course she wanted a bigger role in a reunion tour.

Is it true Ross said "stand back Mary" on some TV show when Mary got to close and out of formation?

[quote]Is it true Ross said "stand back Mary" on some TV show when Mary got to close and out of formation?

Start at 1:02 in this video and you'll find an answer to your question.

[quote]She must have had something because that "Supremes" tour flopped so badly without Mary and Cindy that it got cancelled after just a few shows due to poor sales.

It would've flopped anyway. By that time 70s singers like Diana Ross and Olivia Newton-John had already peaked and starting their downward spiral

[quote]It would've flopped anyway.

Wrong. Many people said they would have gone if it had been the original members. People like nostalgia acts, but it has to be the same original members to be successful.

Mary’s second career is that of a victim. She was part of a historic group. She could not have delivered the way Ross did and she had her chance with the post-Ross Supremes. Like it’s said above, they were young kids in a big bad business world. Businesses have to deal with failure; calibrate. Gordy gambled with Ross and it was GOLDEN. That lady is a legend.

The other girls just weren't as barracuda-ambitious as Diana. What was she to do, stay The Supremes and fade into 1960s history, do oldies shows?

No, it would've flopped. By that time, no one cared about Diana Ross and few remembered anything by the Supremes.

The only reason anyone would have gone to a true reunion (as true as it could be without Flo Ballard) is to watch to see if Diana and Mary would throw down and beat ass on stage.

“Mary got great reviews during her recent stint at the Carlyle.”

MARY!!?