Originally Posted by
jobeterob
This will be a popular email.
Almost every artist that left Berry and Motown did not do as well as when they were at Motown and if they had an initial flurry of activity, it didn't last. They have all gone on to sing the praises of Berry Gordy and Motown; every last Vandella, Temptation, Supreme, Top, Miracle and Contour.
Berry Gordy didn't tolerate drunks, lazy people, or druggies unless they were churning out the hits. He even eventually dumped his brother in law, Marvin Gaye.
Florence Ballard has a story and it is interesting. The fact is she never sold 5000 records after her time with the Supremes, she was an alcoholic, she never held a job after the Supremes, she raised a bunch of now adult people that have never worked either and have no career.
Praise it if you wish, but it is what it is.
And I totally loved Florence's duet with Diana on Manhattan and her strong background to the Diana voice on You Keep Me Hanging On and Nothing But Heartaches and many others.
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