Legendary singer Mary Wilson, best known as one of the co-founding members of The Supremes, passed away Monday evening on Feb. 8, at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada, multiple outlets reported. She was 76.
Jay Schwartz, Wilson’s longtime publicist, revealed that she “died suddenly.” Her cause of death has not yet been made public. However, her funeral will be private because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be a public memorial later in the year.
Born on March 6, 1944, in Greenville, Mississippi, Wilson moved to Detroit when she was just three years old. At 15, the soul singer met Florence Ballard, and the pair served as a “sister act” to the Primes, a male quintet that included future Temptations members Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks.
The two ladies were later joined by Diana Ross and ultimately fourth member Betty McGlown followed by her successor Barbara Martin. The girl group would perform as the Primettes until they introduced themselves as the Supremes in 1961. Two years later, Martin left the group.
With Ross as lead, the trio became one of Motown’s most successful groups of the ’60s with songs such as “Baby Love” and “Where Did Our Love Go.” The Supremes officially called it quits with a farewell show in London in June 1977.
Wilson went on to release three memoirs about her time with the Supremes. The songstress released her album “Walk the Line” in 1992 and her last single, “Time to Move On,” in 2015, which reached number 23 on the billboard dance chart.
Schwartz noted that Wilson’s legacy went beyond singing. “She became a bestselling author, motivational speaker, businesswoman, and U.S. Cultural Ambassador,” the publicist told CNN. He added, “Wilson used her fame and flair to promote a diversity of humanitarian efforts, including ending hunger, raising HIV/AIDS awareness and encouraging world peace.”
The songstress also played a vital role in the passing of the Music Modernization Act in 2018. MMA aimed to modernize copyright-related issues for new music and audio recordings in the face of new technology like digital streaming, which did not protect music recorded before Feb. 15, 1972, the statement said.
Tributes for the late star flooded the internet, including one from fellow bandmate Ross, who wrote on Twitter, “I just woke up to this news, my condolences to you Mary’s family, I am reminded that each day is a gift, I have so many wonderful memories of our time together ‘The Supremes’ will live on, in our hearts 💕.”
Motown founder Berry Gordy also spoke highly of Wilson, saying in a lengthy statement that he was shocked and saddened to hear of her passing. “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.”
Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph posted an emotional tribute on her Instagram page, reflecting on her time knowing Wilson. “Ohhhhhhh Mary!” she captioned the tearful video. “The founding member and original Supreme Miss Mary Wilson has transitioned.” Lee Ralph is best known for her breakout role as Deena Jones in the Broadway musical “Dreamgirls,” which was said to have been loosely based on The Supremes.
Wilson is survived by her daughter, Turkessa, and her son, Pedro Antonino Jr. Wilson’s third son Rafael was killed in a tragic car accident in 1994. Wilson is also survived by seven grandchildren, a sister and a brother.
