Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme [Hardcover]

Mary Wilson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Wilson and her three Detroit high school friends had big dreams when they formed the Primettes in 1959, but it wasn't until Motown's Berry Gordy reduced them to a trio, suggested a name change, and insisted Diana Ross sing lead that things started to happen. By summer 1965, eight months after their first #1 single, the Supremes were Motown's biggest act. Success meant furs, limos, lunches with royalty; also jealousies and friction, especially after the ambitious Ross became the star. Today there is no love lost between Wilson and "old friend" Diana, who is presented as a bitchy, conniving prima donna. Too tame and boringly written to engage non-fans, this may be in demand in public libraries thanks to a heavy publicity campaign. Thomas Jewell, Waltham P.L., Mass.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Random House Value Publishing; 1 edition (April 3, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517670119
• ISBN-13: 978-0517670118
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,282,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book, March 12, 2000

By 

F. F Klein "Heytaxi" (Lancaster, Pa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme (Paperback)

I originally purchased a used copy of this book at a Goodwill store for the purpose of re-selling it in Amazon auctions. After browsing through a few chapters, I immediately revised my auction with a "too high" price so no one would bid on it and I could read the book before I sold it. Now, I'm not selling it. Why? Well, not because it was literay genius but mostly because I was a disc jockey during the "Supreme" years and could identify with much of the story line. However, there was SO much I didn't know about this group until I read the book.Who would have dreamt that these girls were at one time making $5.00 to $10.00 when the cut a record? Who could imagine the depth of dissension that built up between these young friends who had worked so hard to gain their careers? How did fame and success finally split the group beyond repair? The book not only covers the lives of the Supremes, but also details some of the artists and talents of other groups working for Motown. Her descriptions of "Hitsville" were colorfully accurate and I could easily picture her and the other talent crammed into small studios rehearsing and using the toilet as an echo chamber. All the Motown greats are mentioned in this book (as well as most of their romances). I also learned a great deal more about the racial tensions of that era and how things changed through the years for black performers. I could actually feel the conflicts because of Mary's astute descriptions.There were times when I thought the flow was somewhat choppy and I was disappointed that there wasn't a more detailed description of the group's first appearance at the Apollo theatre. After all the build up, only one paragraph about the show and that just dealt with the fact that they finally did play there.However, Mary Wilson's emotional descriptions of Diane (Diana), Flo, Cindy and herself were powerful enough to make me understand how friction developed between them and how their activities affected the group as a whole.This is probably one of the most worthwhile books I have ever read and would highly recommend it to anyone who has the least bit interest in the music industry as it was betwen 1960 and 1980.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating, heart-wrenching, and detailed, November 3, 2004

By 

Chad Sosna "Doo-Lang Love" (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme (Hardcover)

Okay, I'm late getting this read. It did come out several years ago. But it's a fascinating look at the early years of the Supremes: how the girls met, their lives in the projects, how they were discovered, and their rise to fame. Most startling is the way Diana Ross acted: grabbing the spotlight, working covertly behind the scenes to advance her own career at the expense of others, and turning a blind eye to the terrible treatment of Florence Ballard by Motown Records. While writer Mary Wilson is, for the most part, even-handed, and the anecdotes she tells ring true, one longs for that autobiography Florence Ballard never wrote. It seemed she should have been the lead singer of the Supremes. Listening to their music (not just the popular hits), one can see that she had a voice superior to Diana Ross's.

The most interesting part of the book was the Motown tour in the early 1960s, the fun and innocence of the singers and musicians involved. Many would become very famous later. A sad element is how Motown seemed to really rake in the profits and keep their artists in the dark. Yet Mary Wilson talks glowingly of Berry Gordy.

Nice photos and a juicy slice of early 1960s rock music!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sour Grapes, October 14, 2006

By 

Ernest M. Washington "Mike" (Palmdale, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme (Paperback)

While I enjoyed Miss Wilson's book, I think she had a tendency to paint herself in a more positive light while completely trashing Diana Ross. She also never mentions that Ross helped her and Florence Ballard financially at differnt times. Therefore, Wilson wasn't completely honest. I think all three Supremes were victims of Motown/Berry Gordy. They were very young when they became superstars and were ill equipped to handle all that came with it. As a result their behavior at times was childish and immature. Who hasn't made mistakes in their youth? However, Ross was pushed to the forefront long before her romantic relationship with Mr. Gordy began. First and foremost, Mr. Gordy was a business man and he realized Ross had the most "commercial" voice and star power $$$. That's why she became the lead singer. Obviously he was correct. You can love her or hate her, but without Diana Ross, the Supremes would have remained just another girl group.