Lies, lies and more lies...
http://livebrum.co.uk/2012/05/30/the-sounds-of-supremes
All of the tour dates:
http://www.pollstar.com/resultsArtis...92&SortBy=Date
Take a look at this clip just posted on YouTube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcAaQWz-iHs
I would really appreciate your comments. If you can reach any of these venues - please let them know the truth. Thanks.
"featuring 70’s / 80’s Supreme Kaaren Ragland" [[http://www.thejamhouse.com/birmingha...s-may-2012.htm). 80's Supremes??? What is it??
When I first saw the picture, I thought it was an advertisement for a Bollywood movie :-)
And all the songs listed are from the Ross-era. Who would go to concerts like those? Who would pay to hear songs sung by somebody else than the original singer? If I want to hear songs by the Supremes, I go to a Diana Ross concert. It is logical since she was the lead singer of the group.
But the worse of it is that all this crap began with some of the actual Supremes that were not the lead singers, but that did not prevent them of doing concerts singing "Baby Love" or "Love Child", songs in which they were not the original lead singer or sometimes they did not sing at all, even in the background.
The blatant lies in her resume are wrong wrong wrong. But with that said, they are the only group that is legally sanctioned by Motown to officially salute the Supremes. Aside from the exaggerations in her bio, I don't see what the problem is.
[QUOTE=ivyfield;93903]Lies, lies and more lies...
http://livebrum.co.uk/2012/05/30/the-sounds-of-supremes
All of the tour dates:
http://www.pollstar.com/resultsArtis...92&SortBy=Date
Take a look at this clip just posted on YouTube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcAaQWz-iHs
Based on Pollstar's list, it seems that SOS are playing a lot of the same venues that Mary Wilson played last year. You'd think each venue would know better. I mean last year you had an original Supreme and this year you're booking fakes. What gives?
Roberta
Not sure the venues care.....as long as there's a buck to be made.
I have a feeling those venues won't be rolling in the dough. If Mary Wilson couldn't fill some of those venues I can't see Kaaren filling them.Quote:
Originally Posted by blueskies
Roberta
The Sounds of the Supremes should just hire Shantel Baker. At least that way they would be a bit more legitimate and their performance fees would go up as well.
Why don't the FLOS get some of these dates?
I'm curious too as to why the FLOS don't perform in the US. Or, if they do, I haven't heard about it. I'd love to see them.
Ok. Real talk. If all this woman is doing is embellishing on her resume, what is the problem? Do you know how many people are guilty of doing this in interviews and on their resumes? No I don't have any affiliation with this group, but I don't understand the hatred by some Supreme Fans. Unless one of us is directly affected by her touring as SOS- I don't see why we are involving ourselves with calling promoters, management companies etc. These woman have the OK from MOTOWN RECORDS. Who are we to do anything? The extent of our involvement should be whether or not we buy a ticket. What is the the real problem people have regarding this group- besides the inaccurate statement that she was an actual Supreme?
Years ago I posted on this topic when a friend was going to see the SOS at a casino in Washington state when I lived in Seattle. I told her they weren't really Supremes and she said that she knew that and that the venue didn't try to hide that fact as they were advertised as a tribute group BUT she was going anyway because she loved the music.
Ironically, she had seen The Supremes in the mid-sixties with Stevie Wonder as their opening act in Seattle and shared her experience with me.
In the end SOS is a tacky tribute group with some dubious promotional materials that play small venues for clueless crowds looking for some cheap nostalgia. They're worthy of disdain, but not hatred. I find the way they sell themselves and their performances very camp. If anyone is ultimately to blame for their continued presence,it's audiences who are looking for a stoll down memory lane at a bargain price.
Back in December I went to see a cabaret show by the music/performance collective that a tribute to the music of Diana Ross and The Supremes. It was very enjoyable so I get what your friend was looking for. IN the end, all the official Supremes will eventually retire and pass away. It's up to future generations of performers to keep the songs alive by continuing to perform them. I don't think anyone would have a problem with SOS if they would just stop implying they were something more than a tribute act.Quote:
Originally Posted by motownlover1964
I've no problem if Mary Wilson or The FLOS sing songs Diana recorded lead on. Unless they do them badly. Though it's much more interesting if they give their own take on it rather than do the song exactly like the hit recording.Quote:
Originally Posted by Constantin
Also by your standard you express above, I take it then that you don't like it when Diana Ross sings I Will Survive in concert or the Billie Holliday songs or What About Love from The Color Purple musical?
The Sounds of the Supremes do most of their gigs here in the U.S.
Go see the real deal sing the real songs instead of this.........while we can.
How much are Diana tickets compared to SOS tickets? And where is the SOS performing?
I'm a bit surprised she is sanctioned by Universal. Is the idea that she will sell a few CDs and is billed as a tribute group......so what's the harm????
I wonder what the real distinction is between Otis and his young guy Tempts vs. Karen and her plastic Supremes. One original and some decent singers vs. a quasi Supreme for a while with a couple of other women. To a lot of the public, they won't see any distinction at all if they can put on a decent show.
The FLOS should have the sanction of Universal; they have the name in Great Britain. And the FLOS aren't going to be singing many more years without new voices either.
Exactly smark21. Who has the time or energy to e-mail 20 venues to inform them that Kaaren was never a real Supreme?Quote:
Originally Posted by smark21
Roberta
I suggest Diane, Kaaren and Shantel team up and go on tour as "The Voices of THE SUPREMES. This way all three acts can maximize their earning potential since they all are having hard economic times right now.Quote:
Originally Posted by jobeterob
Of course, all artist can do covers. What bothers me with all this Supremes stuff is that all these women say they were "the Supremes" when they weren't the lead singer actually. What is the point hearing a background singer singing lead if in the original record the lead singer is another person? Would you go to a Cissy Houston concert if she says "I'm Elvis Presley"? What bothers me is that they just try to make some money on something they are loosely related with. It's time for all these women to do somethig else, to sing other songs than Diana Ross's. But no, their entire "career" is based on that. And it's a lie.Quote:
Originally Posted by smark21
I applaud the stand that The four Tops took and I fully supported their Legal Team in London with as much help as I could and I contacted venues using the fakes to warn them of the High Court Case and then the result when The Four Tops WON!
That's an excellent post Constantin. If it isn't the lead singer singing the song, it's a tribute song or no different than Ralph and Russ singing lead or me.
Does everyone have to play up the connection to Diana Ross? Or Whitney Houston? Can they not just go on their own devices? Shantal knows Diana. Karen knows Diana. Christ............they all love Diana. Everyone loves Diana but Marv; and we can't even be sure he doesn't.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jobeterob
I don't love Diane....... I hope that answers your question. hehehehehehehe.........
Legally sanctioned? PLEASE don't believe everything you read! That's just another lie.
Fact is, you either were or were not a Supreme. She definitely WAS NOT.
Well, they can keep on gigging as a cheap tribute act - because that's all they are. Just stop LYING.
Karen knows Diana? Are you kidding? That's just another of her delusions.
- and yes, I'm happy with that. Ragland is just a third-rate singer who really has a major delusional problem that can easily be treated. People need to keep telling her she isn't, she wasn't and ain't ever gonna be a member of The Supremes.
Good points. I would never go to an SOS concert. They are a tribute group, but insist on being called The Supremes and claim to have a link to the group. DECEPTIVE, but based a little on truth since after the group broke up , Mary billed herself as Mary Wilson and the Supremes and Kaaaren was one of the "Supremes". The fans know that there was no such thing as the Eighties Supremes. I have been to Mary Wilson concerts , but I go to hear her sing non-Supreme songs which she does very well. If I want to hear Baby Love, or Stop, we thankfully still have Diana with us and she still is in amazing form and voice. I saw her last year and expect to see her again. Although, I better hurry. It was implied in another thread that she will not be with us much longer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Constantin
No it isn't.........Quote:
Originally Posted by ivyfield
Quote:
Originally Posted by ivyfield
It isn't ?? We all knew that she had a connection to Mary and has worked it to death but I did not know that she had any connection at all to Diana until you posted "No, it isn't" above. What is - or was her connection to Diana?Quote:
Originally Posted by marv2
Embellishing is one thing, downright LYING is another matter entirely.
I think I'm going to go out as Levi Stubbs with my own Four Tops. Okay, so I'm a white guy with an British accent and I can't sing but if I tell everybody that's who I am, will I get away with it?
I wonder what happens 10 years from now because there won't be any Supremes or Temptations or Four Tops from the original groups that are going to be able to tour; I'm not sure they'll even be able to do a concert.
Is the future Kaaren? Or our old records, cassettes and CDs.
10 or 20 years from now people on this forum will be wondering if their beloved Motown acts are being forgotten. They will be complaining saying it's not fair that acts like the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles have tribute acts but none for Motown artist. Racism may even be used as an argument. I understand part of the whole "tribute" act controversy, but I have never and will never understand why some people take it all so personal. It will be a sad day. Motown will always remain popular, but not as popular as it may be now. Even now on radio- "oldies" are considered songs from the 80's. The sixties is so ancient. Because of all the lawsuits and phone calles to concert halls, there will be no one left paying tribute to Motown in the coming years.
Who knows! But I am very surprised by the numbers of these tribute groups. They seem to be all over recently. I remember the group of Marvelettes was booked for months as I recall.
I do feel that some of the knowledge of Motown acts is slipping away; but I know many others don't agree. My kids tell me that many of their friends don't really know who Diana Ross is and have no knowledge at all of who else may have been in the Supremes or Temptations or Four Tops.
I don't understand why Universal would sanction this group. Do they help sell CDs?
You're missing the point here. Yes, it is something I take personally because Ragland is CONNING the ticket buying public. She insists on being billed as 'featuring 70's/80's Supreme' and THAT lie is what I [[and many others) object to. Their act is just a tribute - NOT featuring anyone who was a Supreme in any way, shape or form.
That is right on point. Nothing wrong with tribute acts. They keep the music we love alive. I went to a dinner theatre show last year that had a Motown Revue Tribute show. It was pretty good , but no one there thought that they were seeing any of the original acts. Kaaren promotes her group as if she was a Supreme. An eighties Supreme??? No such thing. Mary left the group in the seventies and the group ceased to exist.Quote:
Originally Posted by ivyfield
But I went to see Mary a few times in the eighties and nineties and had to walk under a marquee that said Mary Wilson & The Supremes. Kaaren was one of "The Supremes". I guess she feels that if an original Supreme can call her a Supreme, then she can too. Well she is wrong. I've made no secret that I didn't like the way that Mary was billing herself then. She has since changed it to The Supremes' Mary Wilson and now Mary Wilson of the Supremes. Those are much better and not deceptive. I bet if Mary knew all the trouble that Kaaren would cause she never would have billed herself [[or allow to have herself billed) as Mary Wilson and The Supremes
[QUOTE=milven;94660]That is right on point. Nothing wrong with tribute acts. They keep the music we love alive. I went to a dinner theatre show last year that had a Motown Revue Tribute show. It was pretty good , but no one there thought that they were seeing any of the original acts. Kaaren promotes her group as if she was a Supreme. An eighties Supreme??? No such thing. Mary left the group in the seventies and the group ceased to exist.
After the farewell show on Sunday June 12th 1977 I sat front row for The Supremes final performance. When Mary came to the UK again MOTOWN made Wilson bill her group as 'The Supremes' Mary Wilson with Karen Jackson and Karen Ragland. At least then, the public knew they were seeing ONE Supreme with a couple of 'whoever' backups. Mary did a TV interview during the tour and the guy closed the interview saying 'The Supremes' and Mary immediately corrected him saying it was The Supremes' Mary Wilson with blah blah... she had to set the record straight.
You guys are right. Those are good points and accurate.
Such little things done in the past can cause such grief later on.
Does Universal really sanction Kaaren Ragland's tribute act? Does anyone really know or are we just speculating or is she just embellishing like so many of them???
It's already been done - and not by me I might add. The fans here in the UK know what's what and that she's a dillusional Supremes wannabe that never will be...Quote:
Originally Posted by Roberta75