Rock Hall Anniversary: Supremes’ Florence Ballard Passes

[marv2]

It is considered to be one of the greatest tragedies in rock history.....


http://www.examiner.com/article/rock-hall-anniversary-supremes-florence-ballard-passes

[franjoy56]

It is considered to be one of the greatest tragedies in rock history.....


http://www.examiner.com/article/rock-hall-anniversary-supremes-florence-ballard-passes
This is a to the point and wonderful tribute to a original supreme who will always be supreme florence ballard who loved to sing, dress up and play records.

[franjoy56]

flo will never be fogotten. Tomorrow is the day she passed away 40 yrs ago.

[marv2]

flo will never be fogotten. Tomorrow is the day she passed away 40 yrs ago.

Franjoy, right now the weather is mild and no snow on the ground in February 2016 exactly how it was that week of February 1976 when Flo passed! It is more than a bit interesting to me.

[Jimi LaLumia]

i remember hearing about it and being totally rattled by the whole idea/reality of it all

[luke]

How did Nas remember Florence?

[marv2]

How did Nas remember Florence?

He included her in the lyrics to his "Blunt Ashes"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuTN2Q9ao3k

[marv2]

Nas - Blunt Ashes

Yo, I wonder if Langston Hughes and Alex Haley
Got blazed before they told stories
I'm a get blazed before I tell y'all stories
I saw on t.v today, this man lost his son, his son died
So he had him cremated, took his ashes, and then made it to a Diamond ring
Now he watches his son shine everyday
I just thought about that, while I sit here ashing in this ash tray, yea

The makin' of a mad band
Intricate stories of DeVante Swing
Ava Gardner, the crashin' of James Dean
Bobby Brown influenced by Rick James and it goes..

Prince wanted Alexander O'Neal to be Morris Day or Jerome
But Alex was puttin' coke in his nose, nigga whylin'
Could be a myth but I swear that the source was close, Phyllis Hyman
Killed herself, it was crazy, mommy was bad they say
Donny Hathaway freefall from a balcony, he swings

As the blunt ash falls into the ash tray
I could see my whole life fly past me
Did I?, did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?
And will the money and fame out last me?

The blunt's ash falls down in the ash tray
Will I see my whole life fly past me?
I'm askin' did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?
Did I?... anything else you wanna know, just wanna ask me?

Sam trusted Womack with his main lady
He tossin' in the grave, like, "this is how you repay me"?
A change gon' come, wish you didn't trust me so much
Marvin said "no mountain's high enough, fly stuff"

David Ruffin was punchin' Tammy Terrell, gave her concussions
While the Funk Brothers was layin' down the percussion
When Flo from the Surpremes died, Diana Ross cried
Many people said that she was laughin' inside

As the blunt ash falls into the ash tray
I could see my whole life fly past me
Did I?, did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?
And will the money and fame out last me?

The blunt's ash falls down in the ash tray
Will I see my whole life fly past me?
I'm askin' did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?
Did I?... anything else you wanna know, just wanna ask me?

John F. Kennedy's, enemies dealt with treachery
It interests me, Judy Campbell in Gucci sandals
She's what a temptress be
The death of Ennis Cosby, what a mystery

Or the Chicagoan Harold Washington
Someone is sabotaging them
Watch out for the traps
Larry Troutman killed his brother Roger Troutman

Then he killed himself, that's the end of Zapp
And I wouldn't change a thing, mistakes of the greats
This is what came from their pain
From their hurt we gain, an unfair exchange

As the blunt ash falls into the ash tray
I could see my whole life fly past me
Did I?, did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?
And will the money and fame out last me?
The blunt's ash falls down in the ash tray
Will I see my whole life fly past me?
I'm askin' did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?

I could smell old bogey cigars
Long record perfumes, smellin' just as sweet, ha-ha
Me and my wife K, flyin' in a drop-top like Ruby and Ottis Davis baby
Knaw'mean?, yo man, I get smoked out, and start thinkin' about

Patty McDaniels got a Oscar, for playin' Mami in 'Gone With The Wind'
And she didn't get allowed, wasn't even allowed to go to the premier
Could'ya'believe that?, couldn't go to premier to her joint
Tssk. man, you know they were strong back then man
Blunt from my ash tray, nothin' gon' to live past me, yea, yea, yea

Songwriters: MARK WEBBER, NASIR JONES
© Universal Music Publishing Group
For non-commercial use only.
Data From: LyricFind

[marv2]

This gentleman, Steve Forbert dedicated his 1980 album "Jackrabbit Slim" to Florence Ballard:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE79UxDu7Xc

[marv2]

English singer/songwriter Billy Bragg wrote the song "King James Version" which contained these lyrics referencing Florence Ballard :


He was trapped in a haircut he no longer believed in
She said, "I'm a teacher here, I teach the children"
And he wondered to himself there and then
All the things he could learn from her
A great mighty wonder

Think of the names you once called me in anger
Remember the sadness in Florence Ballard's eyes
Imagine all the melancholy you could find
In the arms of a stranger
Bread, bread of Heaven

Seems like nothing goes right
In the world that we were born in
But the horizon is bright
Yonder comes the morning

Upstairs they're buying a stairway to Heaven

image: http://static.urx.io/units/web/urx-unit-loader.gif

Down in the garden, they're changing sticks into snakes
And the jangle of religious medals would
Put the fear of God into an angel
Come, come all ye faithful

Their baby came home to them, an unmarried mother
They wished that she would turn into a pillar of salt
But in the end compassion has to be the greatest family value
Hope of the helpless

Looks like a drift to the right
For the world we were born in
But the horizon is bright
Yonder comes the morning
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/billy-bragg/king-james-version-lyrics/#xSYvEIuViM1efVy2.99

[marv2]

flo will never be fogotten. Tomorrow is the day she passed away 40 yrs ago.

I remember the day so clearly that it is almost impossible for me to believe that it has been 40 years.

[johnny_raven]

Driver X "Florence Ballard's Ghost"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faxvbENknWY

[marv2]

Driver X "Florence Ballard's Ghost"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faxvbENknWY


I didn't know about this one. Thank you
Johnny Raven for sharing it.

[luke]

I had no idea. Makes me feel she is even more remembered. Thanks Marv and JR

[marv2]

and then there was this :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA7tnU8-lZ8

[luke]

Oh yes. I sure remember that!!

[marybrewster]

The Beloved - "Hello"

So welcome to the world, yeah
All you late-comers, just step on board
I'm happy, glad you came
So welcome home again

Sometimes I feel we must be going mad
Hello Peter, hello Paul
Saints and sinners, welcome all
Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball
Hello, hello, hello, hello

Consider, if you will
This great big question, unanswered still
Oh, can you spot the difference that lies between
The color blue and the color green?

Sometimes I feel we must be going mad
Little Richard, Little Nell
Willy Wonka and William Tell
Salman Rushdie and Kym Mazelle
Hello, hello, hello, hello

So welcome to the team
Oh, have you worked it out yet?
Yeah, the riddle, I mean, what's the answer?
It's plain to see, blue is blue and it always will be

Sometimes I feel that the whole world's going mad
Mork and Mindy, Brian Hayes
Barry Humphries and Paris Grey
Little Neepsie, Chris and Do
Hello, hello, hello, hello

Billy Corkhill, Vince Hilaire
Freddie Flintstone, Fred Astaire
Desmond Tutu, Steve and Claire
Hello, hello, hello, hello

Charlie Parker, Charlie Brown
Leslie Crowther, come on down
Mary Wilson, Di and Flo
Hello, hello, hello, hello

Sir Bufton Tufton, Jean Paul Sartre
Zippy, Bungle, Jeffrey Archer
Andre Previn and the ISO
Hello, hello, hello, hello
Hello

[marv2]

Wow, Mary Brewster I never knew of that one either. Thank you!

[marv2]

http://wtop.com/entertainment/2016/02/today-in-entertainment-history-68/

[marv2]

http://www.mysask.com/portal/site/main/template.MAXIMIZE/home/?javax.portlet.tpst=26487bb925e1b653d484bd1088215a e8_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_26487bb925e1b653d484bd1088215ae8 _viewID=story&javax.portlet.prp_26487bb925e1b653d484bd1088215ae8 _topic_display_name=Today%20in%20History&javax.portlet.prp_26487bb925e1b653d484bd1088215ae8 _WT.cg_s=History&javax.portlet.prp_26487bb925e1b653d484bd1088215ae8 _WT.cg_n=News&javax.portlet.prp_26487bb925e1b653d484bd1088215ae8 _topic_name=History&javax.portlet.prp_26487bb925e1b653d484bd1088215ae8 _news_item_id_key=36469733

[marv2]

http://blackamericaweb.com/playlist/february-22-this-day-in-black-history/item/103695/

[marv2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAseG032Q-M

[marv2]

Here is a nice tribute to Florence:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0laswp3jGQE

[marv2]

The two songs WKLR played the day after in tribute................


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YIolMEin8s

[marv2]

and...........


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6CZvPcDHQo

[stingbeelee]

Nice videos Marv. I remember this so well. It seems like all of Detroit was in shock; the black radio stations, instead of saying "Flo is gone" were saying "OUR Flo is gone". It was an incredible sadness...

[marv2]

Nice videos Marv. I remember this so well. It seems like all of Detroit was in shock; the black radio stations, instead of saying "Flo is gone" were saying "OUR Flo is gone". It was an incredible sadness...

So do I. Detroit and Toledo were in complete shock. People everywhere were either talking about or in complete silence.

[luke]

I just wish a good music lawyer would work with the Ballard children to get them royalties.

[luke]

What happened to the $ 30000 ? Was tommy chapman involved?

[marv2]

I just wish a good music lawyer would work with the Ballard children to get them royalties.

That would be great. The children and the grandchildren deserve it

[marv2]

What happened to the $ 30000 ? Was tommy chapman involved?

What $30,000?

[luke]

In the interview they said the $30000 trust fund Diana set up for them was empty !

[marv2]

In the interview they said the $30000 trust fund Diana set up for them was empty !


Here are the facts. There was never any real trust fund for the girls. What happened was this. During the week of Florence's funeral Diana Ross issued a press release stating that she would be setting up trust funds for each of Florence's daughters. What was actually done was she put up $10,000 for each girl. The stipulation was that they were only to receive the interest off of the money once each turned 21. The principle amounts were to revert back to Diana. She got her money back, they got nothing. No one ever spoke about what the interest amounted to.

[TheMotownManiac]

I just wish a good music lawyer would work with the Ballard children to get them royalties.

That will never happen because Flo willingly signed away her royalties for a one time payment that her atty stole. Motown owes her nothing legally and they did advise her against signing the deal. It's all so sad.

[marv2]

That will never happen because Flo willingly signed away her royalties for a one time payment that her atty stole. Motown owes her nothing legally and they did advise her against signing the deal. It's all so sad.

You never know what could happen.

[luke]

Martha signed her royalties away and then got them back. How did Motown advise her not to sign when they gave her the deal?? She had no lawyer present and later when she sued the judge said her case could proceed but she had to pay back the money she had gotten first. One lawyer absconded with and he or another one dropped dead. This kind of case could be won!

[luke]

OMG. She didn't give them the principal?!!

[marv2]

OMG. She didn't give them the principal?!!



No she did not, which caused many people to label what she did, a publicity stunt. Berry Gordy, did however pay for the funeral.

[luke]

I better not say anything only that Florence started the group which really built Motown.

[Roberta75]

Here are the facts. There was never any real trust fund for the girls. What happened was this. During the week of Florence's funeral Diana Ross issued a press release stating that she would be setting up trust funds for each of Florence's daughters. What was actually done was she put up $10,000 for each girl. The stipulation was that they were only to receive the interest off of the money once each turned 21. The principle amounts were to revert back to Diana. She got her money back, they got nothing. No one ever spoke about what the interest amounted to.

You dont know when to stop do you. On the 40th aniversary of Florence Ballads passing you've taken yet another opportunity to trash Diane Ross with your distortions and made up cr+p.

Youve posted 23 postings about Flos passing and the better part of them have been trashing her old freiend and Supreme sister Diane Ross. Shame on you.

[midnightman]

40 years on... :[[

[marv2]

You dont know when to stop do you. On the 40th aniversary of Florence Ballads passing you've taken yet another opportunity to trash Diane Ross with your distortions and made up cr+p.

Youve posted 23 postings about Flos passing and the better part of them have been trashing her old freiend and Supreme sister Diane Ross. Shame on you.

Go back to sleep!

[marv2]

I better not say anything only that Florence started the group which really built Motown.

You asked me a question and I answered. You have the right discuss things here if you like. It is true, Florence was instrumental in Motown's success.

[TheMotownManiac]

Martha signed her royalties her way and then got them back. How did Motown advise her not to sign when they gave her the deal?? She had no lawyer present and later when she sued the judge said her case could proceed but she had to pay back the money she had gotten first. One lawyer absconded with and he or another one dropped dead. This kind of case could be won!

Your info is incorrect. Flo had an atty, Leonard Braun negotiated who her separation from Motown - Motown did not "give her a deal." He did everything he could to get as much money up front as he could - even though he knew they would be heavily taxed that way because he knew Flo & Tommy were naive and he could rob them blind - and he did take it all. Motown advised Flo not to take the deal because it was bad for her to do it this way, but she didn't trust them and didn't listen. She asked for money upfront against future royalties, was given the money and the deal was done as agreed. She has no case. That's why she tried to sue Berry, Diana, Mary & Cindy for conspiracy in order to nullify the deal, but had to return all monies first in order to TRY to get a case going, but there was no money. Then Flo sued her atty who had been or soon would be disbarred and nothing came of that. Her estate is S.O.L. and it sucks, but that's how it went down.

[marv2]

Your info is incorrect. Flo had an atty, Leonard Braun negotiated who her separation from Motown - Motown did not "give her a deal." He did everything he could to get as much money up front as he could - even though he knew they would be heavily taxed that way because he knew Flo & Tommy were naive and he could rob them blind - and he did take it all. Motown advised Flo not to take the deal because it was bad for her to do it this way, but she didn't trust them and didn't listen. She asked for money upfront against future royalties, was given the money and the deal was done as agreed. She has no case. That's why she tried to sue Berry, Diana, Mary & Cindy for conspiracy in order to nullify the deal, but had to return all monies first in order to TRY to get a case going, but there was no money. Then Flo sued her atty who had been or soon would be disbarred and nothing came of that. Her estate is S.O.L. and it sucks, but that's how it went down.

You have it wrong! They did conspire before Michael Roshkind ever left the office to go meet Florence at Northland and force that triffilin' separation agreement on her! You took bits and pieces and tried to make a point, but you failed. It doesn't matter now though does it? The clock is ticking and God will surely sort it out.

[marv2]

I have an original of this, Florence Ballard's funeral program. Someone put this one up on Ebay:

11125

11126

11127

[TheMotownManiac]

Here are the facts. There was never any real trust fund for the girls. What happened was this. During the week of Florence's funeral Diana Ross issued a press release stating that she would be setting up trust funds for each of Florence's daughters. What was actually done was she put up $10,000 for each girl. The stipulation was that they were only to receive the interest off of the money once each turned 21. The principle amounts were to revert back to Diana. She got her money back, they got nothing. No one ever spoke about what the interest amounted to.

That is not how Lisa and Michelle tell it. The trust did exist and they learned that it was empty including interest. Only Tommy Chapman could have gained access to it, he denied it to the girls and they didn't make an issue out of it because Diana had been so good to them over the years. Every Christmas they received great gifts including cash, plus, she helped them out in times of need, paid for medical needs including an operation, begged them to do well in school as she would pay for their college in full [[ none took her up on it) always saw them when in Detroit and they believe that she truly cares about their well being. They still see her and continue to be helped out. The girls have had nothing but nice things to say about both Mary & Diana.

FYI: Diana never issued a press release about the trust fund. Tommy Chapman leaked word about the trusts and Berry paying for the funeral and was asked by Diana's atty to keep future dealings private. I don't think she has ever mentioned it, nor her other folks she has or still helps such as Mary Wells, Cindy and many others. I haven't read her book in decades, but I don't think she mentions her good deeds in it either - not even her loan to Mary although she did refer to "contributing to her life" on 20/20 - but could have been a few things.

[captainjames]

What happened to the $ 30000 ? Was tommy chapman involved?

Out of respect to the Ballard girls and their father this should be left alone.

[luke]

I hear you but the Ballard girls said it in interview.

[marv2]

That is not how Lisa and Michelle tell it. The trust did exist and they learned that it was empty including interest. Only Tommy Chapman could have gained access to it, he denied it to the girls and they didn't make an issue out of it because Diana had been so good to them over the years. Every Christmas they received great gifts including cash, plus, she helped them out in times of need, paid for medical needs including an operation, begged them to do well in school as she would pay for their college in full [[ none took her up on it) always saw them when in Detroit and they believe that she truly cares about their well being. They still see her and continue to be helped out. The girls have had nothing but nice things to say about both Mary & Diana.

FYI: Diana never issued a press release about the trust fund. Tommy Chapman leaked word about the trusts and Berry paying for the funeral and was asked by Diana's atty to keep future dealings private. I don't think she has ever mentioned it, nor her other folks she has or still helps such as Mary Wells, Cindy and many others. I haven't read her book in decades, but I don't think she mentions her good deeds in it either - not even her loan to Mary although she did refer to "contributing to her life" on 20/20 - but could have been a few things.

With all due respect, Lisa and Michelle weren't even born at that time. I am not into arguing what I already know is the truth, especially on this day the 40th Anniversary of Florence Ballard's passing. So do not expect anymore responses from me to you.

[marv2]

I hear you but the Ballard girls said it in interview.

Luke these guys are baiting you. They are looking for fights and arguments. They are not worth destroying this memorial thread to Florence Ballard.

[luke]

Well said Marv.