Customer Reviews

Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
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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.

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!

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.

As a child, I listened to the radio all the time and of course, in the '60s, the Supremes dominated much of the airwaves. I loved their music, but really knew little about them. This book educated me, and no, I do not think it was a "Diana Ross Bashing Book". I believe Mary told the truth. We were just outsiders looking in; Mary was there.

I have read this book, "Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme." I enjoyed the book very much and plan on reading it may times over. The Supremes, in and of themselves is an interesting part of the Entertainment world. What was their life like? How well did they get along with one another? All of this and more will be answered in Mary Wilson's book. Many people call it a "Diana Ross bashing" book. I didn't feel as though it was. I didn't get the feeling that Mary hated or despised Diana, but merely that there were things in the Supremes past that is a bit tarnished. Several times did she make mention of how proud she was of Diana and the success she has had. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to relive and exciting piece of history.

I found this book to be very interesting. So much information on the beginning of Mowtown. The struggles of stardom and the effect it had on the friendship of three young ladies. The nitpicking Mary does on Diana went a little overboard, but otherwise very entertaining.

Mary Wilson has provided valuable information about the Supremes, but particularly Florence Ballard, showing that Ballard was not a loser, but a very talented woman, frustrated by the world of business. The Supremes have never received the just attention and accolades they deserved. This work provides a personal history behind the top group, not just top female group, of the sixties. A must read for any course on music history.

This book was written in 1986, and Mary Wilson wrote an updated version (Dreamgirl and Supreme Faith), which has an afterward copyrighted in 1999.

This is an intriguing book, a first person account by Mary, and it can be read almost as a morality tale: the tale of three sisters and the monster (Motown).

The three singers all had roots in the same Detroit neighborhood, and were taken on by Berry Gordy's newly formed Motown. According to Mary, Diana seemed to always want to stand out from the other two, and of course, she eventually got her wish. Diana comes through as an egotistical, self-serving person, who, of course, had the talent to back up her swelled head.

On the other side of the trio, Florence Ballard is the tragic heroine. According to Mary, although the three started as peers, Flo eventually got exasperated having to fight both Diane and her paramour, Berry Gordy. She turned to alcohol, which depressed her further, and she ended in poverty and an early death.

Mary paints herself as the peacemaker and person in the middle. She stands by Flo in her darkest hour, but never follows her path in leaving the group.

Mary had various lovers, and she had so many, from Tom Jones to Steve McQueen to some people I'm sure nobody has ever heard of. Mary, in her honesty, has listed most of them in this book. After all those celebrities, she ends up, by the end of the book, marrying someone I had never heard of (he could be well-known).

Yes, I grew up listening to the Supremes, and I danced to their songs and I popped my fingers to their steady tempos like everyone else in those days.

Today, their music makes me sick, but hey, times have changed.

I think Mary has shown, in this book, that she can adapt and change, whereas Flo could not. Flo had talent, but she maybe didn't have the type of personality to keep coping year after year in the face of quick fame followed by quick decline.

As for Diana, well, no matter how talented she was, wouldn't it be nice if she could be just a little humble? No?

"Blessed are the humble in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

Okay, nobody wants to go to Heaven (until they die, of course), but everybody wants to be "important" while still here on Earth.

Diane got her wish, she was, and to a lesser extent, she still is, "important."

But Mary wrote the book. Diximus.

Mary Wilson's book is an interesting and sad look at the greatest girl group of the 20th Century. The Supremes were the image of polish and class. Mary's account of the story is tragic, but I wondered why she didn't stand up for the group. She didn't seem to be afraid for the group when Florence was going through her problems mostly alone--she thought it would pass. It seems obvious that each woman was immensely talented in various ways, but Motown didn't appreciate that. Good examples are the demise of the Marvelettes and Kim Weston (as well as every other group in short order--male or female). It's hard to understand that through all that strife Mary didn't see the end coming. Florence saw it...but why couldn't Mary?

The book itself was in good condition, but smelled like basement. A good read, though. Thanks!