Telma Hopkins and the Surpemes!?

[luke]

It was mentioned in a Motown book, I believe Posner's[[which was oten inaccurate)that Telma took Diana's place -with no complaints from the public-I believe for a short tour in the midwest around 1964 maybe. He quoted somoeone from Motown. Has this story ever been verified?

[mowest]

In Mark Ribowsky's book, Jack Ashford is quoted as saying that in 1965 the "Earl Van Dyke Trio" backed Telma, Mary and Flo at a swanky affair, a "Bill Gates-type crowd." Diana did not want to do the gig, he said, and Telma "sang her buns off."

[luke]

Thx Mowest!

[Glenpwood]

Who taught her the routines and the then signature Ross Pug Eye Pop and Roll while she "Soul-ed out" hehe

[captainjames]

No where have I have found that this gig ever existed. Not saying it didn't happen I just can't find verification that it existed.

[reese]

It is an interesting story, albeit a strange one. I wonder why Diana didn't want to do the gig? I also wonder why Berry would let Diana get away with such a thing, especially in front of such a swanky crowd. The individual group members were quite well known by 1965. Maybe this happened much earlier.

[Roberta75]

No where have I have found that this gig ever existed. Not saying it didn't happen I just can't find verification that it existed.

It is a very odd story captainjames. Harder to believe when there isn't one single photo from that night.

[BobC]

I find this extremely hard to believe. Mary Wilson wouldn't have mentioned it? Randy T didn't write about it?

Also--I doubt seriously Diana's ego would have allowed her to let ANYBODY take her place at the time. Remember DR told Johnny Carson that she didn't have a stand in

[luke]

I tend to agree. Too hard to believe. Does Telma sound anything like DR?

[BobC]

That would have told everyone at Motown that Diana Ross was expendable, and no way would DR go for that.

[luke]

True though she has been known to be a bit mercurial[[dont want to start a war!) and if Berry wanted to teach her a lesson ...but I still doubt it.

[BobC]

Why would that start a fight? Berry was focusing on DR leaving the Supremes very early on, and everything was orchestrated for that, so having someone take her place and possibly upstage her--well, I just don't buy it. Berry would have canceled those shows if DR refused to do them.

[stephanie]

I agree I dont think there was any Telma Hopkins doing a gig that would have spread through the Motown history books like wildfire!

[rod_rick]

I agree I dont think there was any Telma Hopkins doing a gig that would have spread through the Motown history books like wildfire!

Telma replacing Diana as lead singer would have been a big slap in the face to Florence and Mary because remember they were also lead singers before Diana became the only lead singer

[BobC]

Another good point.

[kenneth]

In "Dream Girl," Mary tells the story about how after Diane's dogs were poisoned at the Apollo, the promoters wanted her and Flo to go on alone, and were told adamantly that there's no way they could go on without Diane. I can't believe the Telma Hopkins story, but if it were true it would seem easy enough to verify through one the ladies who were there.

[ralpht]

I've been kicking this one around and if my thoughts are correct, Telma was still quite young and in high school at this time.

[smark21]

In "Dream Girl," Mary tells the story about how after Diane's dogs were poisoned at the Apollo, the promoters wanted her and Flo to go on alone, and were told adamantly that there's no way they could go on without Diane. I can't believe the Telma Hopkins story, but if it were true it would seem easy enough to verify through one the ladies who were there.

It wasn't at the Apollo but at the Latin Casino in New Jersey. And Cindy was in the act by then, not Flo.

[kenneth]

It wasn't at the Apollo but at the Latin Casino in New Jersey. And Cindy was in the act by then, not Flo.

Thanks for clarifying. I was going from memory.

[BobC]

Still, the point remains. Berry would never allow anybody to take Diana's place. It was just too risky.

[jillfoster]

Does Telma sound anything like DR?

To answer your question [[she sounds better):

[jillfoster]

I've been kicking this one around and if my thoughts are correct, Telma was still quite young and in high school at this time.

Telma would have been 17, unless it was in October, Nov. or Dec. 1965... when she would have turned 18.

[chestersong]

i'm sure Pam and Joyce would have said something about this when MJ interviewed them extensively on his radio show about their motown involvement. they both love telma very much and stay in touch. seems mary would have definitely taken the time to write about this in her various books about digs on Diana. so glad that Joyce is now with the FLOS! what a fun group. i have plans to see them in 2012.

[marv2]

To answer your question [[she sounds better):

Darn! Thelma does sound better than Diana. Makes me wonder how these two would have done as The Supremes with Mary Wilson.

[luke]

Well we almost had a very civil discussion! Thx Jill for the Telma and Joyce video.

[marv2]

Well we almost had a very civil discussion! Thx Jill for the Telma and Joyce video.

Yep! Just almost made it Luke! hehehehehe........

[selinasian]

To answer your question [[she sounds better):

Wow!! Joyce and Telma are both great singers!

[markdtiller]

I can resolve this. I brought this up on the FLOS Yahoo group when the book came out in 2009 and coincidentally another member ran into her in Target. I found the reply:

From: Jaa <jayedsel@yahoo. com>
> > Subject: [TheFLOS] Telma Hopkins was a Supreme too!
> > To: TheFLOS@yahoogroups .com
> > Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009, 5:12 PM
> >
> >
> > ÂÂ
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Today was a Very Good Day. I saw Telma Hopkins at Target. I talked to
her and asked her did she sub for Diana during the 60's Supremes era ? She
laughed and said NO. "I was to young" she said. I gave her the name of the book
that the info came from. I asked her did she know Jack Ashford and she said yes.
She said she did do background work at Golden World and Hitsville USA.
> >
> >
> >  Jay

[chestersong]

thanks mark. it's always the same ones....

[uptight]

Uh, that's a cool video clip but... Nuh-uh. Performing that tune, Telma does not sound better than DR, LOL. Even Joyce sounds better than Telma here, while Telma has a bit more flair with the choreography. Maybe there are better clips online.

[jillfoster]

Uh, that's a cool video clip but... Nuh-uh. Performing that tune, Telma does not sound better than DR, LOL. Even Joyce sounds better than Telma here, while Telma has a bit more flair with the choreography. Maybe there are better clips online.

Nice if you think that, but I love me some Telma and Joyce. Here's another clip where all three of them sound awesome, it's the second song in the clip.... starting at 2:48-

[uptight]

Great clips! Were Telma and Joyce told to sing very plain so as not to outshine Tony? I love their presentations, though.

[kenneth]

It's always amazing to me how much Telma Hopkins resembled Cher at the time. Same hair, makeup, svelte body, but most of all her attitude and sense of humor. I'm assuming this show followed "Sonny and Cher" in time because the ribbing of Tony Orlando and Telma's one liners definitely seemed to channel the Sonny and Cher repartee from that time.

[marv2]

It's always amazing to me how much Telma Hopkins resembled Cher at the time. Same hair, makeup, svelte body, but most of all her attitude and sense of humor. I'm assuming this show followed "Sonny and Cher" in time because the ribbing of Tony Orlando and Telma's one liners definitely seemed to channel the Sonny and Cher repartee from that time.

Great observation. I have to agree. The Tony Orlando & Dawn Show ran from 1974 -76 so it was after the Sonny & Cher Show went off the air.

[captainjames]

There is no way Berry Gordy would have allowed this to happen, that's all you have to try and focus on. Unless he had plans to sign Ms. Hopkins and soar her to the top he would have canceled in a minute.

I find this extremely hard to believe. Mary Wilson wouldn't have mentioned it? Randy T didn't write about it?

Also--I doubt seriously Diana's ego would have allowed her to let ANYBODY take her place at the time. Remember DR told Johnny Carson that she didn't have a stand in