The Supremes founding member Mary Wilson has died
The music icon was 76.
Mary Wilson, founding member of legendary group The Supremes, has died at the age of 76. No cause of death has been reported.
Wilson founded the chart-topping girl group, originally called the Primettes, in 1959 alongside original members Florence Ballard and Diana Ross. The group would sign to Motown Records in 1961, going on to enjoy a string of hits throughout the decade including “Where Did Our Love Go,” "Baby Love," "Come See About Me," "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "Back in My Arms Again."
Today, the group leaves behind a legacy as the best-charting female group in U.S. history, inspiring countless other girl groups from En Vogue to Destiny's Child.
After several lineup changes, including a brief name change to Diana Ross and the Supremes before Ross left the group in 1970 to pursue a solo career, Wilson continued on as the group's longest-serving original member. Wilson later released her own self-titled debut album in 1979 and a second album, Walk the Line, in 1992.
In more recent years, Wilson competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2019 and released her fourth book, Supreme Glamour, detailing the group's most iconic gowns.
Wilson is survived by two siblings, three children, 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.