# The Supremes timeline

The Supremes were an American singing group from Detroit, Michigan, who recorded for Motown Records as their premier act. The original lineup included Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard. This is a chronology overview of the Supremes history.
* Contents 1930s · 1940s · 1950s · 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970s · 1980s · 1990s · 2000s · 2010s · 2020s See also · References

## Legend

Type codes :
| T | Event type |
| G | Changes to group lineup/name |
| L | Life events including births, deaths, weddings, and divorces |
| PA | Performance: audition |
| PC | Performance: concert |
| PR | Performance: radio broadcast |
| PT | Performance: TV broadcast |
| RA | Release: album |
| RE | Release: EP |
| RF | Release: film or video |
| RS | Release: single |
| M | Music |
| MR | Music for radio |
| V | Video (film, TV) |
| O | Other events |
Location codes :
| Event location | L |
| Germany | GER |
| Italy | ITA |
| Japan | JAP |
| United Kingdom | UK |
| United States | US |
| Other | O |

## 1930s

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 15 Dec 1939 | L | Cindy Birdsong is born in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey. | US |

## 1940s

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 30 Jun 1941 | L | Betty McGlown is born in Detroit, Michigan. | US |
| 16 Jun 1943 | L | Barbara Martin is born in Detroit. | US |
| 30 Jun 1943 | L | Florence Ballard is born in Detroit. | US |
| 06 Mar 1944 | L | Mary Wilson is born in Greenville, Mississippi. | US |
| 26 Mar 1944 | L | Diana Ross is born in Detroit. | US |
| 04 Nov 1944 | L | Scherrie Payne is born in Detroit. | US |
| 26 Nov 1944 | L | Jean Terrell is born in Belzoni, Mississippi. | US |
| 20 Feb 1949 | L | Lynda Laurence (née Tucker) is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. | US |
| 13 Sep 1949 | L | Susaye Greene is born in Houston, Texas. | US |

## 1950s

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 1959 | G | The Primettes form in Detroit. The lineup includes Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross and Betty McGlown. | US |

## 1960

| Date | T | Event | L |
| Aug 1960 | RS | "Tears of Sorrow" / "Pretty Baby" released by The Primettes on Lu Pine Records. | US |
| 1960 | G | Betty McGlown is replaced by Barbara Martin. | US |

## 1961

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 01 Jan 1961 | G | The Primettes are signed by Motown Records, and change their name to The Supremes. | US |
| 15 Jan 1961 | G | The Supremes sign to Motown. | US |
| 09 Mar 1961 | RS | "I Want a Guy" / "Never Again" released. | US |
| 21 Jul 1961 | RS | "Buttered Popcorn" / "Who's Lovin' You" released. | US |

## 1962

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 1962 | G | Barbara Martin leaves the group, who continue on as a trio. | US |
| 08 May 1962 | RS | "Your Heart Belongs to Me" / "(He's) Seventeen" released. | US |
| 05 Nov 1962 | RS | "Let Me Go the Right Way" / "Time Changes Things" released. | US |
| 09 Dec 1962 | RA | Meet The Supremes released. | US |

## 1963

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 02 Feb 1963 | RS | "My Heart Can't Take It No More" / "You Bring Back Memories" released. | US |
| 12 Jun 1963 | RS | "A Breath Taking Guy" / "(The Man with the) Rock and Roll Banjo Band" released. | US |
| 31 Oct 1963 | RS | "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" / "Standing at the Crossroads of Love" released. | US |
| Dec 1963 | RA | The Supremes Sing Ballads & Blues planned release cancelled. | US |

## 1964

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 07 Feb 1964 | RS | "Run, Run, Run" / "I'm Giving You Your Freedom" released. | US |
| 17 Jun 1964 | RS | "Where Did Our Love Go" / "He Means the World to Me" released. | US |
| 31 Aug 1964 | RA | Where Did Our Love Go released. | US |
| 17 Sep 1964 | RS | "Baby Love" / "Ask Any Girl" released. | US |
| 16 Oct 1964 | RA | A Bit of Liverpool released. | US |
| 27 Oct 1964 | RS | "Come See About Me" / "(You're Gone, But) Always in My Heart" released. | US |

## 1965

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 08 Feb 1965 | RS | "Stop! In the Name of Love" / "I'm in Love Again" released. | US |
| 22 Feb 1965 | RA | The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop released. | US |
| Mar 1965 | RA | Live! Live! Live! planned release cancelled. | US |
| 12 Apr 1965 | RA | We Remember Sam Cooke released. | US |
| 15 Apr 1965 | RS | "Back in My Arms Again" / "Whisper You Love Me Boy" released. | US |
| May 1965 | RS | "Moonlight and Kisses" / "Baby, Baby, Wo Ist Unsere Liebe" ("Where Did Our Love Go") released. | GER |
| Jun 1965 | RS | "The Only Time I'm Happy" / Supremes Interview - promotional disc released. | US |
| 16 Jul 1965 | RS | "Mother Dear" / "He Holds His Own" planned release cancelled. | US |
| 16 Jul 1965 | RS | "Nothing but Heartaches" / "He Holds His Own" released. | US |
| 23 Jul 1965 | RA | More Hits by The Supremes released. | US |
| 13 Aug 1965 | MR | "Things Are Changing" / "Things Are Changing" radio promotional single released. | US |
| Sep 1965 | RA | There's a Place for Us planned release cancelled. | US |
| 06 Oct 1965 | RS | "Mother Dear" / "Who Could Ever Doubt My Love" planned release cancelled. | US |
| 06 Oct 1965 | RS | "I Hear a Symphony" / "Who Could Ever Doubt My Love" released. | US |
| Oct 1965 | RS | "Thank You Darling, Thank You Baby" / "Jonny und Joe" ("Come See About Me") released. | GER |
| Oct 1965 | RA | Around the World with The Supremes planned release cancelled. | US |
| 01 Nov 1965 | RA | The Supremes at the Copa released. | US |
| 01 Nov 1965 | RA | Merry Christmas released. | US |
| 18 Nov 1965 | RS | "Children's Christmas Song" / "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Me" released. | US |
| Dec 1965 | RA | A Tribute to the Girls planned release cancelled. | US |
| 29 Dec 1965 | RS | "My World Is Empty Without You" / "Everything Is Good About You" released. | US |

## 1966

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 18 Feb 1966 | RA | I Hear a Symphony released. | US |
| 08 Apr 1966 | RS | "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" / "He's All I Got" released. | US |
| May 1966 | RA | Pure Gold planned release cancelled. | US |
| 25 Jul 1966 | RS | "You Can't Hurry Love" / "Put Yourself in My Place" released. | US |
| 25 Aug 1966 | RA | The Supremes A' Go-Go released. | US |
| 12 Oct 1966 | RS | "You Keep Me Hangin' On" / "Mother You, Smother You" planned release cancelled. | US |
| 12 Oct 1966 | RS | "You Keep Me Hangin' On" / "Remove This Doubt" released. | US |

## 1967

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 11 Jan 1967 | RS | "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" / "There's No Stopping Us Now" released. | US |
| 23 Jan 1967 | RA | The Supremes Sing Holland–Dozier–Holland released. | US |
| 20 Mar 1967 | RS | "The Happening" / "All I Know About You" released. | US |
| 03 Apr 1967 | RS | "L'Amore Verra'" ("You Can't Hurry Love") / "Se Il Filo Spezzerai" ("You Keep Me Hangin' On") released. (Italy) | ITA |
| Apr 1967 | RA | The Supremes and the Motown Sound: From Broadway to Hollywood planned release cancelled. | US |
| 22 May 1967 | RA | The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart released. | US |
| 28 Jun 1967 | G | The Supremes are renamed Diana Ross & the Supremes. | US |
| 01 Jul 1967 | G | Florence Ballard is dismissed from The Supremes and replaced by Cindy Birdsong. | US |
| 24 Jul 1967 | RS | "Reflections" / "Going Down for the Third Time" released. | US |
| 29 Aug 1967 | RA | Greatest Hits released. | US |
| 25 Oct 1967 | RS | "In and Out of Love" / "I Guess I'll Always Love You" released. | US |
| Dec 1967 | RA | Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing Disney Classics planned release cancelled. | US |

## 1968

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 29 Feb 1968 | RS | "Forever Came Today" / "Time Changes Things" released. | US |
| 25 Mar 1968 | RA | Reflections released. | US |
| Apr 1968 | RS | "What the World Needs Now Is Love" / "Your Kiss of Fire" planned release cancelled. | US |
| 21 May 1968 | RS | "Some Things You Never Get Used To" / "You've Been So Wonderful to Me" released. | US |
| 26 Aug 1968 | RA | Live at London's Talk of the Town released. | US |
| 26 Aug 1968 | RA | Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform "Funny Girl" released. | US |
| 30 Sep 1968 | RS | "Love Child" / "Will This Be the Day" released. | US |
| 08 Nov 1968 | RA | Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations released. | US |
| 13 Nov 1968 | RA | Love Child released. | US |
| 21 Nov 1968 | RS | "The Impossible Dream" / "A Place in the Sun" planned release cancelled. | US |
| 21 Nov 1968 | RS | "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" / "A Place in the Sun" released. | US |
| 02 Dec 1968 | PT | TCB appearance. | US |

## 1969

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 06 Jan 1969 | RS | "I'm Livin' in Shame" / "I'm So Glad I Got Somebody (Like You Around)" released. | US |
| 20 Feb 1969 | RS | "I'll Try Something New" / "The Way You Do the Things You Do" released. | US |
| 27 Mar 1969 | RS | "The Composer" / "The Beginning of The End" released. | US |
| 09 May 1969 | RS | "No Matter What Sign You Are" / "The Young Folks" released. | US |
| 26 May 1969 | RA | Let the Sunshine In released. | US |
| Aug 1969 | RS | "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" / "Try It Baby" planned release cancelled. | US |
| 21 Aug 1969 | RS | "The Weight" / "For Better or Worse" released. | US |
| Sep 1969 | RS | "I Second That Emotion" / "The Way You Do the Things You Do" released. | UK |
| 23 Sep 1969 | RA | Together released. | US |
| 14 Oct 1969 | RS | "Someday We'll Be Together" / "He's My Sunny Boy" released. | US |
| 03 Nov 1969 | RA | Cream of the Crop released. | US |
| 07 Nov 1969 | RA | G.I.T. on Broadway released. | US |
| 18 Dec 1969 | RA | Greatest Hits Vol. 3 released. | US |

## 1970s

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 14 Jan 1970 | G | Diana Ross & the Supremes perform together for the last time. After the performance, Diana Ross leaves The Supremes to go solo and is replaced by Jean Terrell. The group name then goes back to The Supremes. | US |
| 16 Feb 1970 | RS | "Life Beats" / "Bill, When Are You Coming Back" planned release cancelled. | US |
| 16 Feb 1970 | RS | "Up the Ladder to the Roof" / "Bill, When Are You Coming Back" released. | US |
| Mar 1970 | RS | "Why (Must We Fall in Love)" / "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" released (as by Diana Ross & the Supremes). | UK |
| 13 Apr 1970 | RA | Farewell released. | US |
| 26 Apr 1970 | RA | Right On released. | US |
| 25 Jun 1970 | RS | "Everybody's Got the Right to Love" / "But I Love You More" released. | US |
| Sep 1970 | RA | The Magnificent 7 released. | US |
| Oct 1970 | RA | New Ways but Love Stays released. | US |
| 15 Oct 1970 | RS | "Stoned Love" / "Shine on Me" released. | US |
| 05 Nov 1970 | RS | "River Deep – Mountain High" / "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music" released. | US |
| 15 Apr 1971 | RS | "Nathan Jones" / "Happy (Is a Bumpy Road)" released. | US |
| 11 May 1971 | RS | "You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart" / "I'm Glad About It" released. | US |
| Jun 1971 | RS | "River Deep – Mountain High" / "It's Got to Be a Miracle (This Thing Called Love)" released. | UK |
| Jun 1971 | RA | The Return of the Magnificent Seven released. | US |
| Jun 1971 | RA | Touch released. | US |
| 07 Sep 1971 | RS | "Touch" / "It's So Hard for Me to Say Good-bye" released. | US |
| 01 Dec 1971 | RS | "Floy Joy" / "This Is the Story" released. | US |
| Dec 1971 | RA | Dynamite! released. | US |
| Dec 1971 | RA | Promises Kept planned release cancelled. | US |
| Apr 1972 | G | Cindy Birdsong leaves The Supremes and is replaced by Lynda Laurence. | US |
| 11 Apr 1972 | RS | "Automatically Sunshine" / "Precious Little Things" released. | US |
| May 1972 | RA | Floy Joy released. | US |
| May 1972 | RS | "Without the One You Love" / "Let's Make Love Now" released. | UK |
| 11 Jul 1972 | RS | "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" / "The Wisdom of Time" released. | US |
| 15 Sep 1972 | RS | "I Guess I'll Miss the Man" / "Over and Over" released. | US |
| Nov 1972 | RS | "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" / "Love It Came to Me This Time" released. | UK |
| Nov 1972 | RS | "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" / "Where Would I Be Without You Baby" released. | UK |
| Nov 1972 | RA | The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb released. | US |
| 22 Mar 1973 | RS | "Bad Weather" / "Oh Be My Love" released. | US |
| Mar 1973 | RS | "Bad Weather" / "It's So Hard for Me to Say Good-bye" released. | UK |
| 1973 | RA | The Supremes Live! In Japan released. | JAP |
| Sep 1973 | RS | "Tossin' and Turnin'" / "Oh Be My Love" released. | UK |
| Oct 1973 | G | Lynda Laurence leaves The Supremes and is replaced by Cindy Birdsong, who had replaced her. Also, Jean Terrell leaves The Supremes and is replaced by Scherrie Payne. | US |
| May 1974 | RA | Diana Ross & the Supremes Anthology (version one) released. | US |
| Aug 1974 | RS | "Baby Love" / "Ask Any Girl" re-released. | UK |
| Nov 1974 | RS | "Where Did Our Love Go" / "Nothing but Heartaches" released. | UK |
| May 1975 | RA | The Supremes released. | US |
| 12 Jun 1975 | RS | "It's All Been Said Before" / "Give Out, But Don't Give Up" planned release cancelled. | US |
| 12 Jun 1975 | RS | "He's My Man" / "Give Out, But Don't Give Up" released. | US |
| 05 Sep 1975 | RS | "Where Do I Go from Here" / "Give Out, But Don't Give Up" released. | US |
| Nov 1975 | RS | "Early Morning Love" / "Where Is It I Belong" released. | UK |
| Feb 1976 | G | Cindy Birdsong leaves The Supremes again and is replaced by Susaye Greene. | US |
| 22 Feb 1976 | L | Florence Ballard dies of coronary thrombosis, in Detroit, Michigan. | US |
| 16 Mar 1976 | RS | "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking" / "Early Morning Love" released. | US |
| Apr 1976 | RA | High Energy released. | US |
| Apr 1976 | RS | "High Energy" / "High Energy" released. | US |
| May 1976 | RS | "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking" / "Colour My World Blue" released. | UK |
| Sep 1976 | RS | "Baby Love" / "Stop! In the Name of Love" released. | UK |
| Sep 1976 | RS | "Stoned Love" / "Nathan Jones" released. | UK |
| 30 Sep 1976 | RS | "You're My Driving Wheel" / "You're What's Missing in My Life" released. | US |
| Oct 1976 | RA | Mary, Scherrie & Susaye released. | US |
| 25 Jan 1977 | RS | "Let Yourself Go" / "You Are the Heart of Me" released. | US |
| Mar 1977 | RS | "Love, I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good" / "This Is Why I Believe in You" released. | US |
| 12 Jun 1977 | PC | The Supremes perform their farewell concert in London and disband. | UK |
| Aug 1977 | RS | "Someday We'll Be Together" / "You Keep Me Hangin' On" released. | UK |
| Sep 1977 | RA | 20 Golden Greats released. | UK |
| 30 Jun 1978 | RA | At Their Best released. | US |

## 1980s

| Date | T | Event | L |
| Apr 1980 | RS | "Supremes Medley (Part 1)" / "Supremes Medley (Part 2)" released. | UK |
| Sep 1980 | RS | "You Can't Hurry Love" / "The Happening" released. | UK |
| Sep 1980 | RS | "Reflections" / "Love Child" released. | UK |
| Sep 1980 | RS | "Up the Ladder to the Roof" / "Automatically Sunshine" released. | UK |
| Sep 1980 | RS | "River Deep – Mountain High" / "You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart" released. | UK |
| Sep 1980 | RS | "Floy Joy" / "Bad Weather" released. | UK |
| Feb 1983 | RS | "Back In My Arms Again" / "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" released. | UK |
| Jul 1984 | RS | "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" / "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" released. | UK |
| Apr 1985 | RS | "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" / "I Second That Emotion" released. | UK |
| Apr 1985 | RS | "You Keep Me Hangin' On" / "Come See About Me" released. | UK |
| Apr 1985 | RS | "The Composer" / "Take Me Where You Go" released. | UK |
| 1985 | RA | Diana Ross & the Supremes: 25th Anniversary Collection released. | US |
| 1986 | RA | Diana Ross & the Supremes Anthology (version two) released. | US |
| 01 Jul 1987 | RA | The Never-Before-Released Masters released. | US |
| Dec 1988 | RA | Love Supreme released. | UK |
| Jan 1989 | RS | "Stop! In the Name of Love" / "Automatically Sunshine" released. | UK |

## 1990s

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 1991 | RA | The Supremes ('70s): Greatest Hits and Rare Classics released. | US |
| 1995 | RA | The Best of Diana Ross & the Supremes: Anthology (version three) released. | US |
| 07 Oct 1997 | RA | The Ultimate Collection released. | US |
| Oct 1998 | RA | 40 Golden Motown Greats released. | UK |

## 2000s

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 29 Aug 2000 | RA | The Supremes released. | US |
| 2000 | RA | 20th Century Masters: The Best of Diana Ross & the Supremes, Vol. 1 released. | US |
| 2000 | RA | 20th Century Masters: The Best of Diana Ross & the Supremes, Vol. 2 released. | US |
| 2001 | RA | Diana Ross & the Supremes Anthology (version four) released. | US |
| 29 Oct 2002 | RA | The '70s Anthology released. | US |
| 21 Oct 2003 | RA | Diana Ross & the Supremes: The No. 1's released. | US |
| 2004 | RA | Joined Together: The Complete Studio Duets released. | US |
| 09 Jul 2004 | RA | There's a Place for Us released. | US |
| 2005 | RA | The Supremes Gold released. | US |
| 12 Dec 2006 | RA | This Is the Story: The '70s Albums, Vol. 1 – 1970–1973: The Jean Terrell Years released. | US |
| 2007 | RA | Diana Ross & the Supremes Remixes released. | US |
| 12 Jan 2008 | L | Betty McGlown dies at Royal Oak, Oakland County, Michigan. | US |
| 25 Mar 2008 | RA | Let the Music Play: Supreme Rarities released. | US |
| 28 Sep 2008 | RA | The Definitive Collection released. | US |
| 2009 | RA | Magnificent: The Complete Studio Duets released. | US |

## 2010s

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 31 Aug 2010 | RA | Icon: Diana Ross & the Supremes released. | US |
| 17 May 2011 | RA | Let Yourself Go: The '70s Albums, Vol 2 – 1974–1977: The Final Sessions released. | US |
| 24 Oct 2011 | RA | 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1961–1969 released. | US |

## 2020s

| Date | T | Event | L |
| 04 Mar 2020 | L | Barbara Martin dies in Detroit, Michigan. | US |
| 08 Feb 2021 | L | Mary Wilson dies in Henderson, Nevada. | US |