Mary performing in Texas for 4th of July

[smark21]

[supremester]

I love that blue dress - it's cool that Mary is still looking so good and is getting new stage wear.

[R. Mark Desjardins]

Mary's been around and she still has a lot of bounce left in her! It's cool that she still keeps "The Supremes" flame burning bright. I really like her taking chances and stretching out in new musical directions. I'm hoping one day to see her in live concert!

[supremester]

I agree she is definitely taking Reflections into a new musical direction. Meanwhile, south of the equator, another Supreme is also burning bright:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd_BZuSQCe8

Mary's been around and she still has a lot of bounce left in her! It's cool that she still keeps "The Supremes" flame burning bright. I really like her taking chances and stretching out in new musical directions. I'm hoping one day to see her in live concert!

[Roberta75]

I agree she is definitely taking Reflections into a new musical direction. Meanwhile, south of the equator, another Supreme is also burning bright:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd_BZuSQCe8

Both Diane Ross and Mary Wilson sound real great these days and they also both look like a millions bucks.

Roberta

[RBTEMPSFAN]

Both Diane Ross and Mary Wilson sound real great these days and they also both look like a millions bucks.

Roberta

It has been a long time since I have joined a conversation. So I hope you will all welcome me back.

My question is while I understand that Mary loves to perform, why, after all of these years can't she get better and higher paying gigs?

Other than Martha, she is truly the queen of Motown. Is she doing it only for the money and if so, how much can she really make from a gig like this?

[Kamasu_Jr]

Cough. HmmmUmUmUmUmUm Waiting for the spin that's going to be put on that question. Whenever her name comes up for a booking in Memphis and I'm involved in some way, my vote is usually no. But I'd say no to the FLOS too. The glory days are gone. Most groups , casinos/hotels, entertainment boards or whatever don't have that much money and it often comes down to who can we get cheap? And It usually means a cheap and tacky show. The Supremes' legacy deserves better than it's getting these days. To me it seems they are taking whatever paying gigs they can get. But that's my opinion.

[RBTEMPSFAN]

What does your reply mean?

[Kamasu_Jr]

What part? I thought it was pretty clear.

[smark21]

The prime oldies market is drying up for 60s acts as their core fan base has aged. A lot of oldies type acts play fairs and family type festivals and these days it’s people who grew up on 80s and 90s acts who have the kids and go to these family events so they want to see the acts they grew up on, not those of their parents. I believe in the near future Mary is playing an RV park—which is a good venue as many of the people who drive RVs around the country and stay at these parks are baby boomer retirees—old enough to be retired, but young and relatively healthy enough not to be in the nursing home.

[marybrewster]

It has been a long time since I have joined a conversation. So I hope you will all welcome me back.

My question is while I understand that Mary loves to perform, why, after all of these years can't she get better and higher paying gigs?

Other than Martha, she is truly the queen of Motown. Is she doing it only for the money and if so, how much can she really make from a gig like this?

I don't know that Mary cares? Isn't a gig a gig? In my opinion, it keeps her performing and it keeps her happy.

I think at their ages, we should be satisfied that all of the surviving Supremes are happy and for the most part, healthy. With the exception of Cindy [[and possibbly Jean.....and of course Barbara) all are still performing in some capacity. I wish the FLOs would get more US gigs. I see they are currently overseas with Dennis Edwards Temptations Revue.

[Kamasu_Jr]

A gig is a gig and it pays, but I think playing tacky street fairs, RV Parks, VFW Parks, fairs, etc. just cheapens your brand. You get stuck and labelled as an oldie and better bookings become rarer. I have much respect for those veteran entertainers who take their money and do something else and only work a rare and good date.

[floyjoy678]

I don't think I would ever go see Mary, while I think she's very beautiful and looks fantastic, I do not like her take on those classic Supremes songs. And it seems to me from looking at clips that she's pretty much been doing the same set since the 80s. I don't know I'm weird when it comes to Mary, I like her but ever since I read "Supreme Faith" my views on her have changed and not for the better.

[Roberta75]

I don't think I would ever go see Mary, while I think she's very beautiful and looks fantastic, I do not like her take on those classic Supremes songs. And it seems to me from looking at clips that she's pretty much been doing the same set since the 80s. I don't know I'm weird when it comes to Mary, I like her but ever since I read "Supreme Faith" my views on her have changed and not for the better.

I dont mean to offend you floyjoy678 but Im going to give you the same advice I give revvy who had a real unhealthy obsession with RTL. Mary wrote Supreme faith nearly 25 years ago and while it may have change your views about Miss Wilson it isnt good or healthy to harbor a grudge. I hope my posting doesnt offend you as that isnt my intention. It's just not good for us to hold onto stuff from the past. Forgiveness is good for the soul.

imo Mary Wilson and Diane Ross both put on real great shows.

Yours, with every good wish.

Roberta

[floyjoy678]

Roberta darling I am not offended by what you had to say. But I think you misread what I wrote, nowhere did I say I had a grudge against Mary all I said was my view of her has changed since I read the book.

[Roberta75]

Roberta darling I am not offended by what you had to say. But I think you misread what I wrote, nowhere did I say I had a grudge against Mary all I said was my view of her has changed since I read the book.

Thank you kindly for clarifying dear floyjoy.

Fondly,

Roberta

[supremester]

In 2000, my brother-in-law spent bank on a surprise 50th for my sister. He wanted entertainment and I booked a fave of hers, Lesley Gore [[the Beach Boys were too expensive and I didn't think about Bobby Vee or Vinton.) The agent offered me Mary Wilson for the same price $12,500 plus hotel & air . Her usual price was 20k but I was being offered a break because Mary was west coast based. Whatever. this was just after RTL and I wasn't very pro Mary, and my sister never dug The Supremes anyway. That was 13 years ago and she was busy then. These gigs now are meat and potatoes for Mary and her peers. It sickens me that DMF didn't ave proper counsel to secure them financially. Ross lucked out, but they all worked like dogs and deserved better. Now Mary takes what she can get. The 60's, as Smark said, is over commercially. Dionne plays dumps for nothing, Gladys couldn't make her show at The Trop work, Martha's gigs are not the greatest and the rest have it much much worse. If Mary nets 5k a night, that's not so bad these days. Her house isn't worth anything, so she's stuck in Vegas and can't get gigs there. I think it's great that she still works but would prefer a better "legacy builder" that what this show was in Texas. I'd love to see her back with The Flos, doing ballads only. A true Supremes act could make decent money, after all, Mary is a FLOS also.

[Roberta75]

In 2000, my brother-in-law spent bank on a surprise 50th for my sister. He wanted entertainment and I booked a fave of hers, Lesley Gore [[the Beach Boys were too expensive and I didn't think about Bobby Vee or Vinton.) The agent offered me Mary Wilson for the same price $12,500 plus hotel & air . Her usual price was 20k but I was being offered a break because Mary was west coast based. Whatever. this was just after RTL and I wasn't very pro Mary, and my sister never dug The Supremes anyway. That was 13 years ago and she was busy then. These gigs now are meat and potatoes for Mary and her peers. It sickens me that DMF didn't ave proper counsel to secure them financially. Ross lucked out, but they all worked like dogs and deserved better. Now Mary takes what she can get. The 60's, as Smark said, is over commercially. Dionne plays dumps for nothing, Gladys couldn't make her show at The Trop work, Martha's gigs are not the greatest and the rest have it much much worse. If Mary nets 5k a night, that's not so bad these days. Her house isn't worth anything, so she's stuck in Vegas and can't get gigs there. I think it's great that she still works but would prefer a better "legacy builder" that what this show was in Texas. I'd love to see her back with The Flos, doing ballads only. A true Supremes act could make decent money, after all, Mary is a FLOS also.

The first lady of Motown Records Dr martha Reeves gets real good gigs supremester. Miss Martha is in demand all over the world and Id bet money Martha Reeves could get a long standing gig in Las Vegas if she want it but at almost 72 years old I dont think Martha want a long term gig. Just like Diane Ross Miss Martha is happy to work when she feels like it but i bet she doesnt have to work.

Roberta

[Kamasu_Jr]

OK, let's be realistic here. Do you honestly think people in their 60s and 70s enjoy traveling, long lines at airports, pat downs, cheap seats -no promoter is going to fly a singer and 6-8 other people first class and feed them and provide hotel rooms- and playing dumps? Hell no! Many of them would prefer to be at home with their feet up watching TV. A lot of these folks work because they have to. They've got little or no retirement money and they got IRS bills and mo' bills, bills, bills. They don't know how to do anything else.

[rod_rick]

In 2000, my brother-in-law spent bank on a surprise 50th for my sister. He wanted entertainment and I booked a fave of hers, Lesley Gore [[the Beach Boys were too expensive and I didn't think about Bobby Vee or Vinton.) The agent offered me Mary Wilson for the same price $12,500 plus hotel & air . Her usual price was 20k but I was being offered a break because Mary was west coast based. Whatever. this was just after RTL and I wasn't very pro Mary, and my sister never dug The Supremes anyway. That was 13 years ago and she was busy then. These gigs now are meat and potatoes for Mary and her peers. It sickens me that DMF didn't ave proper counsel to secure them financially. Ross lucked out, but they all worked like dogs and deserved better. Now Mary takes what she can get. The 60's, as Smark said, is over commercially. Dionne plays dumps for nothing, Gladys couldn't make her show at The Trop work, Martha's gigs are not the greatest and the rest have it much much worse. If Mary nets 5k a night, that's not so bad these days. Her house isn't worth anything, so she's stuck in Vegas and can't get gigs there. I think it's great that she still works but would prefer a better "legacy builder" that what this show was in Texas. I'd love to see her back with The Flos, doing ballads only. A true Supremes act could make decent money, after all, Mary is a FLOS also.

I agree with this post with the exception that Mary should only sing ballads. IMO Mary sounds better on some of the Supremes songs than Scherrie and Lynda because she pretty much stick to the original melody and she don't over sing the songs like Scherrie and Lynda. Linda and Scherrie have great voices but they don't always do the Supremes music justice.
I think Mary do some great gigs in spite some of the fairs that she does, I'm just glad she's still out there because what back up singer can you say has accomplish what Mary has.

[marv2]

I agree with this post with the exception that Mary should only sing ballads. IMO Mary sounds better on some of the Supremes songs than Scherrie and Lynda because she pretty much stick to the original melody and she don't over sing the songs like Scherrie and Lynda. Linda and Scherrie have great voices but they don't always do the Supremes music justice.
I think Mary do some great gigs in spite some of the fairs that she does, I'm just glad she's still out there because what back up singer can you say has accomplish what Mary has.

I agree with you. Mary Wilson can and should sing whatever she wants pretty much. She sounds great on the old Supreme numbers and especially great on "My World Is Empty Without You", "Reflections","Come See About Me", etc,etc. I like her singing "Stoned Love", "Nathan Jones" and "Floy Joy". To me Scherrie and Lynda do not sing them well at all because I cannot recognize the songs when they do them.

It's summer so of course Mary and all the others will be playing outdoor venues. I never hear complaints all during the winter when she is playing theaters with the Lena Horne show she does.

Mary still looks great, sounds great and puts on a great show after over 50 years on the stage. She is in a very select group of entertainers that can still do all that today.

[Kamasu_Jr]

Former backup/background singers who still have careers, still play good gigs, have done theater, films, television, authored books , still look good, can still sing and one is even in the rock hall of fame just like you know who. These singers include - Martha Wash, Darlene Love, Cissy Houston, Lisa Fischer and Merry Clayton.

[rod_rick]

Former backup/background singers who still have careers, still play good gigs, have done theater, films, television, authored books , still look good, can still sing and one is even in the rock hall of fame just like you know who. These singers include - Martha Wash, Darlene Love, Cissy Houston, Lisa Fischer and Merry Clayton.

With all due respect Kamasu Jr, everyone you named was a soloist or lead singer before they started signing back-up. Also Darlen Love is the only one out the bunch that's performing solo shows on the regular. Cissy is pretty much retired, Lisa is singing behind The Rolling Stones, Not sure what Martha is doing right now, and Merry is promoting the movie 20 feet from Stardom with Darlene. And please folks DO NOT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, but also look at the calibre voices and range compared to Mary.

[Kamasu_Jr]

With all due respect Kamasu Jr, everyone you named was a soloist or lead singer before they started signing back-up. Also Darlen Love is the only one out the bunch that's performing solo shows on the regular. Cissy is pretty much retired, Lisa is singing behind The Rolling Stones, Not sure what Martha is doing right now, and Merry is promoting the movie 20 feet from Stardom with Darlene. And please folks DO NOT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, but also look at the calibre voices and range compared to Mary.

All of those ladies sang backup for somebody before they were known as soloists. Martha Wash can out sing Mary Wilson any day of the week. She has range and is known as THE Voice; She has her own record label, releases her own music, still performs and has lost a lot of weight so she looks incredible. Mary Wilson has not cornered the market on surviving in entertainment. There are others who are just as accomplished. I'd love to see Mary Wilson go toe to toe with someone like Martha. We'd see who could sing. I can't believe you even went there.

[smark21]

The Supremes in their glory days were never about powerhouse vocals and screaming and screeching and belting. They were slick entertainers who could work an audience with panache. I rather see Mary Wilson perform HDH songs and some pop ballads than hear Martha Wash oversing a bunch of dance songs with stupid lyrics.

[Kamasu_Jr]

The Supremes were not from the church, true. They were more like black versions of the McGuire Sisters; Sometimes too slick and sweet, which also often translated as phony. They were all right, but they were not all that either. I am definitely from the church and understand singers like Martha Wash. Call it over singing if u want but there's no doubt about where she's coming from. The blood and the spirit runs hot in my veins and bones...I ain't cold or dead so I like singers who give me something I can feel. I call it calling up the spirit. If you ain't got soul, you probably won't get it. But to each his own preferences.

[stephanie]

Mary Wilson sounds great live when its a ballad or something of her own. She sounds better now than she did 20 years ago. I much prefer her singing jazzy tunes.

[luke]

LOL You said it Marv per Mary's winter performances. Shes also on the verge of signing an ongoing deal with a Vegas casino.

[Kamasu_Jr]

Good for her, Working in Vegas is better than some tacky street fair in some Texas town.

[rod_rick]

All of those ladies sang backup for somebody before they were known as soloists. Martha Wash can out sing Mary Wilson any day of the week. She has range and is known as THE Voice; She has her own record label, releases her own music, still performs and has lost a lot of weight so she looks incredible. Mary Wilson has not cornered the market on surviving in entertainment. There are others who are just as accomplished. I'd love to see Mary Wilson go toe to toe with someone like Martha. We'd see who could sing. I can't believe you even went there.

I would have thought you would have gotten what I meant in my post without spelling it out when I said "range and calibre voices". Mary is a good singer but she could not go toe to toe with anyone that you mention, and that was my point. Mary work well with her limitations Mary has admited that herself on many occasions. I would say what Mary is working with she has conered the market on surviving in the entertainment business because she was supposed to be done after the Supremes ended, but she kept it moving, so in that respect Mary Wilson is a survivor.

[midnightman]

I was wondering what took her long to work in Vegas. You make LOTS of more money performing there regularly than you would elsewhere.

Anyway, it is nice to see the surviving Supremes still entertaining audiences.

[144man]

Having heard Mary Wilson singing live in concert without the use of a microphone, I believe her vocal ability is generally underestimated and has never been captured on record.

[westgrandboulevard]

Agreed!

Selling records, often for a relatively short period of time, is one aspect of success in show business.

Continuing to entertain in concert during the decades which follow, is quite another.

That was Berry Gordy's vision for his artists. Many of them are fulfilling his wish, and Mary Wilson is one shining example.

[Kamasu_Jr]

My aunt Francine can sing without a mic but that don't mean she can sing like Martha Wash or be heard in the last pew at church. Singing without a microphone is supposed to show exactly what?

[marv2]

My aunt Francine can sing without a mic but that don't mean she can sing like Martha Wash or be heard in the last pew at church. Singing without a microphone is supposed to show exactly what?

Mary Wilson is an excellent singer! Go to one of her concerts and come back and tell me what you think! She is the bomb!

[Kamasu_Jr]

Me at a Mary Wilson concert? That will not be happening anytime soon.

[Roberta75]

Me at a Mary Wilson concert? That will not be happening anytime soon.

Mary puts on a real good show Kamasu.

Fondly,

Roberta

[Kamasu_Jr]

I'd have to be paid to see one of her shows these days. I saw one of her shows a long time ago. My parents took me. We got into the show for free.

[willtomb]

are you guyz tone deaf.......im surprised shes getting paid

[Kamasu_Jr]

are you guyz tone deaf.......im surprised shes getting paid

OOooooOOooo!

[Ollie9]

Mary has her own unique sound and style which alas cannot be said of that many other singers of today. I think her jazz styling when singing such songs as Here To Life is second to none.

[willtomb]

are we in the twilight zone...... the woman CANT sing.......let it go

[marv2]

are we in the twilight zone...... the woman CANT sing.......let it go

Mary Wilson sings brilliantly!

[TheMotownManiac]

LISTEN to her - THAT'S why! She bites! She's no Queen of Motown - Diana Ross is - if not Diana, then Mary Wells, if not Mary, then Martha, if not Martha, then Gladys, if not Gladys, then Wanda, if not Wanda, then Tammi, then kim, Then Gladys knight, then Syreeta, Then jean, then lynda, Then Scherrie. Mary isn't even the top 20. Why would she be the Queen - cuz she dodged the pink slip for 17 years? Why not crown someone with a hit record who has a voice people like and want to hear?

It has been a long time since I have joined a conversation. So I hope you will all welcome me back.

My question is while I understand that Mary loves to perform, why, after all of these years can't she get better and higher paying gigs?

Other than Martha, she is truly the queen of Motown. Is she doing it only for the money and if so, how much can she really make from a gig like this?

[TheMotownManiac]

Mary's version is not jazz - but it is very good.

Mary has her own unique sound and style which alas cannot be said of that many other singers of today. I think her jazz styling when singing such songs as Here To Life is second to none.

[TheMotownManiac]

Mary should been seen [[and not heard LOLOLOL) if you have not seen her show, I suggest it. She's the greatest dichotomy in music I know of: BUTCHERING Supremes' classics and wowing with ballads. She's very pretty and can get quite vulgar. Her clothes can be sexy and classy or cheap crap from a fake Vandellas' garage sale. One thing: she always looks good facially - her cosmetic alterations have all been first rate and conservative.

Me at a Mary Wilson concert? That will not be happening anytime soon.

[marv2]

LISTEN to her - THAT'S why! She bites! She's no Queen of Motown - Diana Ross is - if not Diana, then Mary Wells, if not Mary, then Martha, if not Martha, then Gladys, if not Gladys, then Wanda, if not Wanda, then Tammi, then kim, Then Gladys knight, then Syreeta, Then jean, then lynda, Then Scherrie. Mary isn't even the top 20. Why would she be the Queen - cuz she dodged the pink slip for 17 years? Why not crown someone with a hit record who has a voice people like and want to hear?

People are still paying to see and hear Mary Wilson in 2013. Sadly most of the women you mention are either no longer around or can perform on the stage. Mary Wilson is probably the only one of them that has current releases on the market and is also involved in diverse projects such as the Lena Horne market. Mary plays to a variety of audiences which NONE of the women you list can say today. As Eddie Murphy put it, Mary is the Queen Mother of Motown! To me, she is whomever you want her to be........she is simply Da Bomb! LOL!