Mary Wilson, un membro fondatore di “I Supremes” è morto all'età di 76, il suo addetto stampa ha detto alla CNN.
Wilson “è morto improvvisamente questa sera,” secondo una dichiarazione della sua amica e pubblicista di lunga data, Jay Schwartz.
I Supremes (da sinistra a destra, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, and Diana Ross) pose with their cameras as they arrive at London Airport.
The singer was at her home in Henderson, Nevada. She is survived by her daughter, figlio, several grandchildren, a sister and brother.
Services will be private due to Covid restrictions and a celebration of Wilson’s life will take place later this year, diceva la dichiarazione.
Breaking barriers
Wilson was a “trendsetter who broke down social, racial, and gender barriers,” Schwartz said in his statement.
She began her career in Detroit in 1959 as a singer in what was then called “The Primettes.” They went on to become “I Supremes” — Motown’s most successful group of the 1960s, con 12 number one singles including “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love,” e “Stop! In the name of Love,” diceva la dichiarazione.
I Supremes (Susaye Greene, Mary Wilson and Scherrie Payne) during a live concert performance at the New Victoria Theatre in London, Inghilterra, Great Britain, in Aprile 1974.
“Their influence not only carries on in contemporary R&B, soul and pop, they also helped pave the way for mainstream success by Black artists across all genres,” diceva la dichiarazione.
Nel 2018, Billboard celebrated the 60th anniversary of Motown with a list of “The Hot 100’s Top Artists of All Time,” and listed The Supremes at number 16, secondo la dichiarazione.
Wilson’s legacy went beyond singing, Schwartz noted. She became a best-selling author, motivatore, businesswoman, and US Cultural Ambassador, Egli ha detto.
“Wilson used her fame and flair to promote a diversity of humanitarian efforts including ending hunger, raising HIV/AIDS awareness and encouraging world peace,” diceva la dichiarazione.
Wilson was also instrumental in passing the Music Modernization Act (MMA) nel 2018, which aimed to modernize copyright-related issues for new music and audio recordings in the face of new technology like digital streaming which did not protect music recorded before February 15, 1972, diceva la dichiarazione.
