Supremes Grouping with Jean and Flo

**marybrewster** · 04-01-2021, 09:27 AM

Can someone refresh my memory?

There was a RUMOR [[in Jet?) that Jean and Florence were going to create a group of former Supremes; this was prior to the actual formation of the FLOs obviously. I don't recall if the 3rd member was supposed to be Cindy or Lynda?

Would this have worked? Having a "competing" group of Supremes while the "real" Supremes were still out on the road? Flo being an original member MIGHT have given Mary a run for her money.....

**reese** · 04-01-2021, 09:29 AM

After Flo's death, there was mention of this in RIGHT ON! magazine as well.

This JET blurb says the third member would have been Cindy.
https://books.google.com/books?id=Y8...allard&f=false

An old thread
https://soulfuldetroit.com/archive/i...p/t-19652.html

**RanRan79** · 04-01-2021, 12:29 PM

While I don't believe this was ever a thing, I will say that it could've worked [[in answer to the question regarding competing groups of "Supremes"). By this point "nobody" cared about the real Supremes anyway. This new grouping probably would have gotten some great publicity because it was three former Supremes, and three of the most famous Supremes at that [[aside from Diana and Mary).

But I'll reiterate my words from the post Reese references, to sum up my thoughts:

I call bullshit on this story. It took Flo awhile to decide to do the benefit concert and I do believe it was that show that reminded Flo that her place was on the stage and she was on her way to a comeback. Jack Ashford says that he and Flo talked about doing something together but the plans never materialized. Diana Ross says that in her last conversation with Flo that Flo said she was ready to get back into singing. If not for that heart attack, Florence Ballard would have most certainly added to her musical legacy. But there is no way in hell I buy that either she or Jean were interested in a group situation, not with one another or anyone else.

**BayouMotownMan** · 04-03-2021, 11:14 AM

This was probably planted by a fan. The truth is while this rumor was playing out, Jean was signed to Tentmakers and Bobby Martin as a soloist and Cindy was signed to Motown. So neither lady was available to work with anyone else. After being terminated by Mary and Pedro, Cindy was only interested in an acting career. It didn't happen for her unfortunately but that was her goal.

Jean had been approached in or around 1974 by Ron Townsend to replace Marilyn McCoo in the 5th Dimension. She was adamant that she didn't want to be in a group again and was only interested in a solo career. Jean was also offered big bucks to duet with Lynda Laurence from Richard Perry's new record label. She turned that down as well. Perry then concentrated on the Pointer Sisters. Jean was happily married and having kids, singing was merely a sideline for her now.