Founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and are, to date, America's most successful vocal group with 12 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. This was the juncture when Florence Ballard gained her so ever international fame as the founding member of the group, the Supremes. The Supremes were an American female singing group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. 'I could not have dreamed up a crazier scenario than this one if I tried,' I thought to myself. However, in the year 1967, she was suddenly kicked out from the group itself. The day after celebrating her 24th birthday, Ballard showed up at a live performance drunk and bared her mid-drift while on stage. In 1967, she was removed from the Supremes lineup and pursued a solo career which was unsuccessful. It was the summer of 1975 in Los Angeles at Magic Mountain, as a 31-year-old ex-Supreme Florence Ballard emerged onstage with a tambourine in hand to stand with Wilson, Scherrie Payne and Cindy Birdsong, who replaced her in 1967. Florence Ballard was out of The Supremes and the name of the group would change to Diana Ross & The Supremes as Berry finally put his plan in motion to make Diana Ross the superstar diva she eventually became. "It was Florence's funeral, and Miss Ross acted like she was out to steal the show, in much the same way -- I feel -- she stole The Supremes away from Ballard, and turned the group into 'Diana Ross & The Supremes.'" So in 1967 the dream was over. Ballard actually founded the Supremes and was initially their lead singer but got booted from the group after repeatedly missing shows and scheduled recordings. Florence Ballard (born Florence Glenda Ballard on June 30, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan) was one of the founding members of the Supremes. Most of these hits were written and produced by … As a member of the group, she sang on sixteen top-40 singles (including ten number-one hit songs). During the radio interview, Mason and Maxine Ballard mentioned several songs where Florence Ballard sang lead. There are some interviews with Florence on You Tube done by the guy who wrote the Lost Supreme, Florence never blamed DR, she blamed Berry Gordy for all of the Supremes problems, she said they were like sisters and sisters fight sometimes. Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Diane Ross grew up together in Detroit’s Brewster housing project and started out as co-equals in a singing group they called “the Primettes.” There were people who said that this only reflects what took place in the character of Jennifer in the movie. Below is a "Buttered Popcorn," one of the first Supremes singles to be released to radio. Gordy was so outraged that he kicked Ballard out of the group and replaced her with one of her stand-ins. Ballard accepted a contract buyout from Motown of almost $140k and took time off to get married. A failed attempt at a solo career was made worse by her lawyer, who allegedly embezzled money from her. Florence Ballard was fired from The Supremes after sticking her stomach between the jacket and pants of her outfit out on stage while drunk during a performance at the Flamingo Hotel. Ballard wound up on welfare, and her problems became fodder for the press. Florence Ballard, who had been kicked out of the group in 1967, died in Detroit in 1976 at 32, a penniless alcoholic. Motown Records during the radio interview, Mason and Maxine Ballard mentioned several songs where Florence Ballard her! Group itself what took place in the character of Jennifer in the movie Buttered Popcorn, '' one of group. By … so in 1967, she was suddenly kicked out from Supremes... Worse by her lawyer, who allegedly embezzled money from her were people who said that this only what! 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