by Pat Jacobs

Created on: February 24, 2010

”The Sound Of Young America” had become a red-hot national and international sensation by 1965.

The company’s growth coincided with the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement; in fact, one of founder Berry Gordy’s goals was the integration of his stars into white America. He wanted his staple of groups and singers to be just at ease and polished performing at the White House as they would be at the Regal Theatre (Chicago) or the Apollo (New York).

And he succeeded in doing just that (thanks to Maxine Powell.)

This may not be such a big deal now, but back then it was a revolutionary concept. (I don’t believe that even The Shirelles or The Drifters ever performed for the White House, the Queen, played posh supper clubs, or did TV specials. I personally believe that because of Gordy’s vision and Motown, many of today’s stars, particularly black and other minorities, are able to branch out and be so much more than just an R + B singer or group.)

And the centerpiece of it all were The Supremes. They’re Motown’s most successful group, period, and the most famous female group in history, becoming pop culture icons, like The Beatles. They set the gold standard for every female group forever after.

When Mary Wells left Motown, the company began to work on and polish the Supremes (now down to the trio of Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, and Diana Ross.)

Proper etiquette and attire were taught by Mrs. Powell (actually all the groups and singers went through training), choreography by Cholly Atkins, and singing lessons from music director Maurice King. (The group also benefited from touring and performing on the ”Motor Town Revue” shows for at least a couple of years before their ’64 breakthrough. They also had their first top 40 hit in 1963 with "When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" (no.23). The stage was set.)

Legend has it that the group was on another "Motor Town Revue" tour, with a bottom or near-bottom billing; as "Where Did Our Love Go" began climbing through the charts, entering the top 10, then becoming their first no. 1 smash, their billing also climbed. The Supremes became the tour headliners!

On Christmas Eve (Dec.24th) or Dec. 27th, 1964, (accounts vary), the group made their first of at least twenty (possibly more) appearances on ”The Ed Sullivan Show”. There were also appearances on several of the other top variety shows of the day, such as ”The Dean Martin Show”,

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