On June 12, 1977,
The Supremes
The Supremes were an American girl group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successful ...
performed their final concert together at
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dr ...
in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
,
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
.
[The Supremes]
. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, 1988. Retrieved on January 2, 2015.
Mary Wilson's departure
In early 1977, sole remaining original group member
Mary Wilson announced that she would be leaving The Supremes to embark upon a solo career.
During one of the group's last television appearances together, on the US daytime talk show, ''
The Mike Douglas Show
''The Mike Douglas Show'' was an American daytime television talk show that was hosted by Mike Douglas. It began as a local program in Cleveland before being carried on other stations owned by Westinghouse Broadcasting. The show went into nati ...
'', Wilson announced that she would be stepping out from the group to pursue a solo career.
As the group's touring schedule was booked months in advance, it fell that the group would be performing at one of London's top theaters in
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster.
Notable landmarks ...
, on Wilson's last night as a member.
The event was well publicized throughout the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
and was broadcast by London's
Capital Radio
Capital London is a radio station owned and operated by the Global media company as part of its national Capital FM Network. As Capital Radio it was launched in the London area in 1973 as one of Britain's first two commercial radio stations. I ...
. The show was opened by up-and-coming singer
Billy Ocean
Leslie Sebastian Charles, (born 21 January 1950), better known by his stage name Billy Ocean, is a British recording artist who had a string of R&B international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British R&B singer-son ...
.
Songs performed
* "Everybody Gets To Go To The Moon"/"Corner Of The Sky"
* "
Let Yourself Go"
* "
Stoned Love
"Stoned Love" is a 1970 hit single recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label. It was the last ''Billboard'' Pop Top Ten hit for the group, peaking at number seven, and their last ''Billboard'' number-one R&B hit as well, although the trio co ...
"
* "
The Way We Were
''The Way We Were'' is a 1973 American romantic drama film directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford. Arthur Laurents wrote both the novel and screenplay based on his college days at Cornell University and his ...
"
* "
Maybe This Time"
* "
Someday We'll Be Together
"Someday We'll Be Together" is a song written by Johnny Bristol, Jackey Beavers, and Harvey Fuqua. It was the last of twelve American number-one pop singles for Diana Ross & the Supremes on the Motown label. Although it was released as the f ...
"
* "
You Keep Me Hanging On
"You Keep Me Hangin' On" is a song written and composed by Holland–Dozier–Holland. It was first recorded in 1966 by American Motown girl group the Supremes, reaching number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. American rock band Vanilla Fudge ...
"
* "
Where Did Our Love Go
"Where Did Our Love Go" is a 1964 song recorded by American music group the Supremes for the Motown label.
Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, "Where Did Our Love Go" was the first single by the Supr ...
"
* "
Baby Love
"Baby Love" is a song by American music group the Supremes from their second studio album, ''Where Did Our Love Go''. It was written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland and was released on September 17, 1964. ...
"
* "
Love Child"
* "
Stop! In the Name of Love
"Stop! In the Name of Love" is a 1965 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label.
Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, "Stop! In the Name of Love" held the #1 position on the ''Billboard'' ...
"
* "
My World Is Empty Without You
"My World Is Empty Without You" is a 1965 song recorded and released as a single by the Supremes for the Motown label.
Overview
Written and produced by Motown's main production team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song's fast tempo accompanies ...
"
* "Knocks Me Off My Feet" - solo performance by Susaye Greene
* "What About Today?" - solo performance by Scherrie Payne
* "
A Song for You
"A Song for You" is a song written and originally recorded by rock singer and pianist Leon Russell for his first solo album '' Leon Russell'', which was released in 1970 on Shelter Records. A slow, pained plea for forgiveness and understandin ...
" /"How Lucky Can You Get" - solo performance by Mary Wilson
* "
I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking
"I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking" is a disco-styled soul single composed by the Holland brothers Eddie and Brian, members of the former Holland–Dozier–Holland team and was released as a single by Motown vocal group The Supremes in 1976 ...
"
In her second autobiography ''
Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together'', Mary Wilson recalls other songs being performed as latter day singles by the group such as "
You're My Driving Wheel", "
He's My Man" and "
You're What's Missing In My Life". However, Wilson also states that the concert closed with "Someday We'll Be Together". Susaye Greene has stated in several on-line interviews that she does not recall the concert specifically (it was just another engagement at that time, as Scherrie and Susaye planned to continue The Supremes with a new member. The Ladies later chose
Joyce Vincent-Wilson, formerly of
Tony Orlando & Dawn
Tony Orlando and Dawn is an American pop music group that was popular in the 1970s, composed of singer Tony Orlando and the backing vocal group Dawn (Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson). Their signature hits include " Candida", "Knock Three ...
, as their third member.) Greene also stated that Scherrie Payne took lead vocals on "Tossing and Turning", and that she herself performed "
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" is a ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for the Hollies later that year and also a hit for Neil Diamond in 1970. It ...
", which had been a highlight of the group's live act for the past twelve months.
Personnel
*
Mary Wilson
*
Scherrie Payne
Scherrie Ann Payne (born November 4, 1944) is an American singer. Payne is best known as a member of the R&B/Soul vocal group The Supremes from 1973 until 1977. Because of her powerful voice and petite stature (5'2"), Payne is sometimes referred ...
*
Susaye Greene
Susaye Greene (born September 13, 1948) is an American singer and songwriter. She was the last official member to join the Motown girl group The Supremes, remaining in the group during its final years of existence from 1976 to 1977. She is a su ...
See also
*
''Farewell'' (The Supremes album)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Supremes, The
The Supremes
Concerts
June 1977 events in the United Kingdom
1977 in London
1977 in British music