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Post by curiousgeorge on Jun 2, 2017 11:13:29 GMT
I'm a huge fan of Diana Ross and The Supremes but I've always wondered what Berry Gordy saw in her to only focus on her career. While I love Diana, I can see why most people think Mary and Florence were much more attractive. I've never understood why Berry didn't see any potential in them to continue being successful after the group ended. And while I do agree that Diana's voice was distinctive, Florence could have easily found a trademark sound with her talent.And some of Mary's leads from the 60's/70's sounded great as well. The fact that Gordy had no interest in making them solo acts makes no sense. Here's a quote from a book on The Supremes: "Despite not being the best singer of the group(Florence), nor the prettiest(Mary), or even the sexiest(Florence again), Ross managed to assert herself as the focal point of The Supremes."
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flo
Junior Member
Posts: 92
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Post by flo on Jun 2, 2017 13:45:09 GMT
Berry Gordy and Diane were sexually involved as early as 1965. Diane was insecure about her status because she was not attractive or talented. Not only did she bar Mary and Florence from leads, she sabotaged the careers of other female singers at Motown. Diane was able to manipulate Berry Gordy to get whatever she wanted.
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Post by hector on Jun 2, 2017 14:39:39 GMT
Berry Gordy and Diane were sexually involved as early as 1965. Diane was insecure about her status because she was not attractive or talented. Not only did she bar Mary and Florence from leads, she sabotaged the careers of other female singers at Motown. Diane was able to manipulate Berry Gordy to get whatever she wanted. They may have not announced a formal relationship until 1965, but he was screwing her long before then! She started publicly flirting with him in 1960-61 when the Primettes auditioned for him at Motown.
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Post by NawlinsMotownMan. on Jun 2, 2017 20:55:50 GMT
Berry Gordy and Diane were sexually involved as early as 1965. Diane was insecure about her status because she was not attractive or talented. Not only did she bar Mary and Florence from leads, she sabotaged the careers of other female singers at Motown. Diane was able to manipulate Berry Gordy to get whatever she wanted. Diana and Berry did not sexually active until the fall of 1965. The only person who sabotaged Flo Ballard was Blondie herself. Florence Ballard fought in public with the guy who signed the checks, she started to gain weight, drink excessively and miss countless shows. Florence made a spectacle of herself on stage sticking her belly out, and she was fired. If most of us were in Gordy's shoes, we would have fired her too. It is common knowledge that her chauffeur husband got between Ross paying off Florence's mortgage on the house, as he wanted the check sent to him. Ross did not like him at all, and didn't trust him with the money. Florence received almost $160,000 from Motown which was a fortune back then. She then made the foolish decision of allowing a shyster lawyer to handle her career and settlement money. To keep her marriage together she allowed Tommy Chapman to act as her manager, which was her solo career downfall, and Flo herself, was her Supremes career downfall. It's called show BUSINESS folks. I was told a lot more about Florence, her hatred for Gordy, her love-hate relationship, and admiration for Ross, and her untrustworthy gut feelings about Mary Wilson, who Flo described as the worst kind of backstab Ernesto, when I was appearing on a TV show about her demise. Unfortunately, that's all I can publicly tell here.
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Post by Nawlinsmotownman on Jun 3, 2017 2:25:05 GMT
Berry Gordy and Diane were sexually involved as early as 1965. Diane was insecure about her status because she was not attractive or talented. Not only did she bar Mary and Florence from leads, she sabotaged the careers of other female singers at Motown. Diane was able to manipulate Berry Gordy to get whatever she wanted. Diana and Berry did not sexually active until the fall of 1965. The only person who sabotaged Flo Ballard was Blondie herself. Florence Ballard fought in public with the guy who signed the checks, she started to gain weight, drink excessively and miss countless shows. Florence made a spectacle of herself on stage sticking her belly out, and she was fired. If most of us were in Gordy's shoes, we would have fired her too. It is common knowledge that her chauffeur husband got between Ross paying off Florence's mortgage on the house, as he wanted the check sent to him. Ross did not like him at all, and didn't trust him with the money. Florence received almost $160,000 from Motown which was a fortune back then. She then made the foolish decision of allowing a shyster lawyer to handle her career and settlement money. To keep her marriage together she allowed Tommy Chapman to act as her manager, which was her solo career downfall, and Flo herself, was her Supremes career downfall. It's called show BUSINESS folks. I was told a lot more about Florence, her hatred for Gordy, her love-hate relationship, and admiration for Ross, and her untrustworthy gut feelings about Mary Wilson, who Flo described as the worst kind of backstab Ernesto, when I was appearing on a TV show about her demise. Unfortunately, that's all I can publicly tell here. I'm aware of everything that Happened to Florence when it comes to her being fired and being ripped off. What I don't get is why berry Gordy, from the beginning of Supremes' success, decided that he would only focus on making Diana a successful solo act. I understand that she was the lead singer, but that doesn't mean Mary And Flo couldn't have become successful after the group ended. Do I believe Florence was right in everything she did? No. But Who would feel enthusiastic about being pushed in the background so somebody else can be pushed farther in the spotlight?
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Post by Anonymous on Jun 7, 2017 23:19:47 GMT
Berry Gordy is not like Clive Davis, an Ivy League educated lawyer. Clive specifically outlines that he has professional barriers that he will not cross, barriers that Berry Gordy did. By Berry Gordy becoming sexually involved with Ross he demoralized the company, the group, and his fanatical dedication to her career let Motown to bankruptcy. It has also tainted Ross image as an opportunist.
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Post by hector on Jun 7, 2017 23:50:20 GMT
Berry Gordy is not like Clive Davis, an Ivy League educated lawyer. Clive specifically outlines that he has professional barriers that he will not cross, barriers that Berry Gordy did. By Berry Gordy becoming sexually involved with Ross he demoralized the company, the group, and his fanatical dedication to her career let Motown to bankruptcy. It has also tainted Ross image as an opportunist. She will also never be viewed as a true talent because of her bedroom maneuvers with Mr. Gordy to get ahead in the group!
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Post by CuriousGeroge on Jun 8, 2017 0:28:19 GMT
Berry Gordy is not like Clive Davis, an Ivy League educated lawyer. Clive specifically outlines that he has professional barriers that he will not cross, barriers that Berry Gordy did. By Berry Gordy becoming sexually involved with Ross he demoralized the company, the group, and his fanatical dedication to her career let Motown to bankruptcy. It has also tainted Ross image as an opportunist. She will also never be viewed as a true talent because of her bedroom maneuvers with Mr. Gordy to get ahead in the group! I don't think she became successful through that relationship. She did have a distinctive voice and charisma that made her stand out. I think that even if they never had a sexual relationship, Diana would have been the lead singer. It's just weird How berry Didn't try to make Mary and Florence solo stars too. Beyonce is of course the biggest star from destinys child, but Kelly and Michelle have had way more success in music/film/Broadway than Mary and Florence.
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Post by LA Drummer on Jun 8, 2017 0:45:40 GMT
Berry Gordy is not like Clive Davis, an Ivy League educated lawyer. Clive specifically outlines that he has professional barriers that he will not cross, barriers that Berry Gordy did. By Berry Gordy becoming sexually involved with Ross he demoralized the company, the group, and his fanatical dedication to her career let Motown to bankruptcy. It has also tainted Ross image as an opportunist. Nicely said. She treated Mary and Flo like second class citizens and got her way every time she whined like a spoiled brat. The whole Miss Ross thang was bullshit. The only skill she had was singing and that deteriorated over time. She didn't have much else to back up her diva behavior. She didn't write or play an instrument to support her out of control ego.
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Post by curiousgeorge on Jun 8, 2017 0:52:32 GMT
Berry Gordy is not like Clive Davis, an Ivy League educated lawyer. Clive specifically outlines that he has professional barriers that he will not cross, barriers that Berry Gordy did. By Berry Gordy becoming sexually involved with Ross he demoralized the company, the group, and his fanatical dedication to her career let Motown to bankruptcy. It has also tainted Ross image as an opportunist. Nicely said. She treated Mary and Flo like second class citizens and got her way every time she whined like a spoiled brat. The whole Miss Ross thang was bullshit. The only skill she had was singing and that deteriorated over time. She didn't have much else to back up her diva behavior. She didn't write or play an instrument to support her out of control ego. Do you think The Supremes would have been successful if All three girls shared leads? I've always wondered if they still would have been as huge.
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Post by hector on Jun 8, 2017 1:43:39 GMT
Nicely said. She treated Mary and Flo like second class citizens and got her way every time she whined like a spoiled brat. The whole Miss Ross thang was bullshit. The only skill she had was singing and that deteriorated over time. She didn't have much else to back up her diva behavior. She didn't write or play an instrument to support her out of control ego. Do you think The Supremes would have been successful if All three girls shared leads? I've always wondered if they still would have been as huge. Judging by the fan base all three still have some 50 years later, I say YES! Big time! Songs were needed to be written for Florence and Mary as well.
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Post by Sammy7819 on Jun 8, 2017 2:53:27 GMT
Berry Gordy didn't promote old Moisty Walliams because she was the biggest slut in Michigan, a troublemaker, a backstabbing BITCH, a liar and had that awful mannish voice. He didn't promote Flo because she wasn't special enough to stand out. Flo thought old whoreish mary was her friend but old Miriam Watkins fucked Flo over and stabbed her in the back. The old Ho now weeps fake assed tears over Flo just before wailing I Am Changing in that awful voice to 35 paying drunks. aunty mary is as fake as that witches chin implant she bought while scoring crack and dick in Tijuana.
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Post by Methuselah. on Jun 9, 2017 16:54:49 GMT
Berry Gordy is not like Clive Davis, an Ivy League educated lawyer. Clive specifically outlines that he has professional barriers that he will not cross, barriers that Berry Gordy did. By Berry Gordy becoming sexually involved with Ross he demoralized the company, the group, and his fanatical dedication to her career let Motown to bankruptcy. It has also tainted Ross image as an opportunist. Sorry but you statement is nothing but BS. Clive Davis is far from squeaky clean and has crossed far more barriers than Berry Gordy. Mr. Davis had shady connections between payola-by-drugs and Columbia Records. Clive Davis was eventually fired by Columbia Records and sued for personal use of company funds. Davis was very lucky not to spend time in jail. Clive is also very generous to certain young male residents of Boystown, AKA West Hollywood, California.
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Post by LA Drummer on Jun 11, 2017 21:39:51 GMT
Berry Gordy is not like Clive Davis, an Ivy League educated lawyer. Clive specifically outlines that he has professional barriers that he will not cross, barriers that Berry Gordy did. By Berry Gordy becoming sexually involved with Ross he demoralized the company, the group, and his fanatical dedication to her career let Motown to bankruptcy. It has also tainted Ross image as an opportunist. Sorry but you statement is nothing but BS. Clive Davis is far from squeaky clean and has crossed far more barriers than Berry Gordy. Mr. Davis had shady connections between payola-by-drugs and Columbia Records. Clive Davis was eventually fired by Columbia Records and sued for personal use of company funds. Davis was very lucky not to spend time in jail. Clive is also very generous to certain young male residents of Boystown, AKA West Hollywood, California. . If Miss Ray's book is accurate, BG's moral character leaves something to be desired as evidenced by his pimping and affairs. He also displayed preferential treatment to certain performers/groups at the expense of others. His communication skills sucked. But he detested drugs and was never implicated in payola. Did he actually tell radio stations not to play or receive 70's Sups latest song singles? I also wonder if he was formally educated in business/Mgt. could the company have kept up he 60's success into the 70's and beyond.
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Post by Anonymous on Aug 2, 2017 20:48:19 GMT
No he couldn't. The industry had passed him by in the seventies.
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