Day: June 25, 2012

SUPREMES BRINGS EXCITEMENT IN VEGAS . . . JULY 15, 1967

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1967

IT’S STANDING ROOM ONLY AND EXCITEMENT FOR SUPREMES IN LAS VEGAS DATE

 

 

 

 

LAS VEGAS — Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, known professionally as the Supremes, and the story of Motown Records, have played to SRO since their opening June 29 at the Hotel Flamingo and there’s no letup of reservations in sight.

Florence, Mary, and Diana at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, July 13, 1967. The engagement will be Florence Ballard’s last ever as a Supreme.

The trio, in their second Las Vegas appearance, is a delight to hear and see. Their gowns and stage wardrobe airs excitement as their choreography and dance arrangements fall in sync as they performed here live on stage.

Included in their 55 minutes of songs and breezy conversations, are such show-stoppers as “Put On A Happy Face,” “Queen Of The House,” “More,” “Yesterday,” “Lady Is A Tramp,” “The Happening,” and sang a medley of their Motown recordings to the rousing delight of the audience’s applause and cheers.

Their rousing closing, “You’re Nobody Till Somebody Knows You,” brings a standing ovation. Gil Askey conducts the Russ Black Orchestra featuring the Supremes, regulars, Bob Cousar, drums; Jimmy Garret, bass; and Napoleon Allen, guitar.

The Supremes, originally exclusively deemed as favorites of the teen set, have upgraded the caliber and format of their stage presentation here, and are now enjoying the full success as adult nightclub favorites.

Their bouncy, fast-paced show is one of the best performances here. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; July 15, 1967)

A MCRFB Note: Sadly, unbeknownst to Florence Ballard at the time, the Las Vegas engagement in July, 1967, was to be Miss Ballard’s last appearance on stage and as a member of the Supremes.

Rumors later persisted Berry Gordy wanted Florence removed from the trio and Diana Ross more than likely had known Florence was going to be replaced sometime soon — as the Las Vegas story later would unfold — by Gordy’s own hand.

As the on-going rift between Berry Gordy and Florence continued in the spring of 1967, it was also learned Diana had personally recruited Cindy, as a possible replacement, and for no other reason than in preparation for the coming void, with Gordy’s blessings.

Months before Florence was removed, and unknown to her, Berry had Cindy Birdsong, obviously a no last-minute understudy, in training, watching the Supremes for weeks on weeks earlier months before. Birdsong was there during the entire Las Vegas engagement as well, although she did not fully know for what reason Berry had placed her in that position at the time, Cindy later would say.

On July 20, 1967, the marquee at the Flamingo had been changed from “The Supremes” to “Diana Ross and The Supremes” by Berry Gordy’s insistence. But that wasn’t all he had done. One night Florence was on stage next to Diana and Mary. The next night Cindy Birdsong stood in her place. For good. Diana Ross was now “solo” officially and center-stage.

Nine-years later, destitute in career, financially bankrupt and on welfare assistance, Florence Ballard died on February 22, 1976. She was 33. [J.F.]

Source — see also: Where Did Our Love Go? The Rise And Fall Of The Motown Sound. By Nelson George. Published by St Martin’s Press; New York, 1985.

*Page 163, second paragraph; Where Did Our Love Go?

Florence Ballard’s last interview on You Tube

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FLORENCE OUT AS SUPREME… AUGUST 12, 1967

From the MCRFB news archives:

Supreme Quits; Ill-Health Cited

 

 

 

 

 

Florence Ballard. (Click on image for larger view).

NEW YORK — Florence Ballard of the Supremes has withdrawn from the group for reasons of ill health, according to a spokesman for Tamla-Motown, the group’s recording company.

Cindy Birdsong, of Patti and the Bluebells fame, has been selected to replace Miss Ballard. This is reportedly a permanent arrangement, but Miss Birdsong has not been signed as yet. Miss Ballard, according to the spokeman, is currently hospitalized for reasons not specified at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

No further word has been given as to the nature of her stay nor how long she will remain in the hospital. Motown officials declined to divulge of any further arrangements, or of any settlement, it made with Miss Ballard regarding her withdrawal from the Supremes. END.

 

 

(Information and news source: Billboard; August 12, 1967).

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FLASHBACK POP MUSIC HISTORY: JUNE 25

From the MCRFB music calendar:

Events on this date: JUNE 25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roy Orbison in 1964.

1957: In response to several successful concerts and dance contests, Egypt bans rock and roll from public places and forbids the press from mentioning anything relating to as such; citing it as an “imperialistic plot,” and as a prime example of “Western degeneracy.”

1964: The British Invasion gets a taste of it’s own medicine when Roy Orbison becomes the first American to hit No. 1 in the U.K. in 47 weeks, scoring with his single, “It’s Over.”

1966: Neil Diamond makes his television debut, singing his hit, “Solitary Man,” on today’s broadcast of ABC-TV’s American Bandstand.

1966: Jackie Wilson’s performance tonight in a Port Arthur, Texas nightclub is so explosive, so effective in stirring up the crowd of 400, that he’s arrested for inciting a riot.

1967:  The world’s first worldwide satellite broadcast entitled Our World, airs the live English portion of the program, as the Beatles introduce their new single, “All You Need Is Love.” Broadcast live from the Abbey Road Studios in London, it features the band singing and playing along to a per-recorded track. Joined in the studios as guests are Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithfull, Keith Richard, Eric Clapton, Keith Moon, Graham Nash and his wife, as well as others.

1970: The band Whole Oats, a duo consisting of Daryl Hall and John Oates, goes into the studios to record their first demo.

1977 Pink Floyd Cleveland Stadium admission ticket stub.

1977: Pink Floyd’s concert at Cleveland Stadium sets a single-concert record for attendance.

1980: Billy Joel becomes the first rock act to perform before 100,000 fans at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.

1984: Bruce Springsteen takes on a new backup singer named Patty Scialfa, who will eventually become his second wife after their affair leads up to the breakup of his first marriage to actress and model Julianne Phillips. Nine years later to the day, he becomes the last musical guest on the NBC-TV show Late Night With David Letterman.

2003: Boston’s mastermind, Tom Scholz, sues his record label for their failure to promote the band’s latest comeback album, ironically entitled, Corporate America.

2009: The music world is stunned when news is reported Michael Jackson died of cardiac arrest in his home in Los Angeles.

 

Deaths: 1975: Tim Buckley. 1988: Jimmy Soul. 2007: Hank Medress (The Tokens). 2009: Sky Saxton (The Seeds). 2009: Michael Jackson.

Recordings: 1961: “(Marie’s Her Name) His Latest Flame,” Elvis Presley. 1969: “Hot Fun In The Summertime,” Sly and the Family Stone. 1969: “(He Ain’t Heavy) He’s My Brother,” The Hollies.

Charts: 1966: “Paperback Writer,” The Beatles, hit No. 1 on the charts. 1977: “Got To Give It Up,” by Marvin Gaye, hits No. 1.

Certifications: 1969:”These Eyes,” by the Guess Who, is certified gold by the RIAA.

 

 

 

 

And that’s just a few of the events which took place in pop music history, on this day…. JUNE 25.

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