Synopses & Reviews
Drawing on intimate recollections from friends, family, and Motown contemporaries, Mark Ribowsky charts the Supremes' meteoric rise and bitter disintegration. He sheds light on Diana Ross's relationship with Berry Gordy and her cutthroat rise to top billing in the group, as well as Florence Ballard's corresponding decline. He also takes us inside the studio, examining how timeless classics were conceived and recorded on the Motown assembly line, and considers the place of Motown in an era of cultural upheaval, when not being black enough became a fierce denunciation within the black music industry.
Deftly combining personal testimony, history, and expert analysis, Ribowsky not only tells the full, heartbreaking story of the Supremes, but shows why Gordy's revolutionary concept of blacks singing white was essential to the modern evolution of music.
Review
Music Media Monthly, 5/10/10 “If you cherish the memory of songs like ‘Stop! In the Name of Love,’ ‘Baby Love’ and ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On,’ you’ll want to read all about the back story and intrigues that made The Supremes the best of Motown’s R&B and Soul groups of its day…A great read.”
Barnstable Patriot, 6/4/10
“[A] saga of supremely talented, yet sordid, lives. This is a dishy, dirty look at Berry Gordy and the trio of ghetto girls who he made stars…A tale as harrowing as it is nasty, this roller-coaster ride will finally tell you exactly where the love went.”
The TMR Zoo, 6/15/10
“A much needed 440 page book on one of the greatest ‘girl groups’ of all time…Ribowsky—very wisely—keeps the history front and center…What the author has done here is no small achievement. He’s managed to put a solid document together of this incredible hit machine, and bring the humanity of each individual involved to center stage…Ribowsky handles all of the bad and the good with objectivity and diplomacy…Highly recommended.” Neworld Review, August 2010“This book outlines in detail why the Detroit legend was so important to the history of American music and why it can never be duplicated.”
Synopsis
In a sprawling parable of ambition, sex, and betrayal, "The Supremes" delivers the definitive story of the most successful female vocal group of all time.
Synopsis
The Supremes is a sprawling tale of unforgettable music, cutthroat ambition, and heartbreaking betrayal. Mark Ribowsky explodes Dreamgirl fantasies by taking the reader behind the closed doors of Motown to witness the rise of group leader Diana Ross, the creation of timeless classics like Where Did Our Love Go?,” and the dramatic power struggles within Detroits fabled music factory. Drawing on firsthand, intimate recollections from knowledgeable sources such as the Temptationss Otis Williams and other Motown contemporariesmany never before interviewedThe Supremes is a comprehensive look at the tumultuous relationships within the Supremes as well as among others at the Motown label” (Library Journal).
Synopsis
The acclaimed, first comprehensive biography of the most successful female vocal group of all time
About the Author
Mark Ribowsky is the author of Hes a Rebel: Phil Spector, Rock and Rolls Legendary Producer; Dont Look Back; and other books on music, sports, and popular culture. He lives in New York.