Artist · chart history
The Supremes
Band Detroit United States Active 1961–1977 60s/70s Motown singing group
The Supremes formed in 1961 in Detroit, United States and was active until 1977. The Supremes has 9 chart appearances on 4 radio countdowns from 4 stations on RockLists, spanning 2001–2023. The most successful song on radio countdowns is “Someday We'll Be Together”, which appears on 2 lists with a best position of #187. The station that charted The Supremes most often is WFPK (Louisville, KY), with 5 appearances.
The Supremes began in Detroit as the Primettes, a sister act to the Primes, whose Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks went on to form the Temptations. Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross and Betty McGlown all came from the Brewster-Douglass housing project, Barbara Martin stepped in for McGlown, and in 1961 they signed to Motown as the Supremes. When Martin left in early 1962, Ross, Ballard and Wilson carried on as a trio, and history followed.
With Ross singing lead and Holland–Dozier–Holland writing and producing, they turned out a run of shimmering, stomping soul-pop that made them Motown's biggest act. Their chart record stands above every other American vocal group, with twelve number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "You Can't Hurry Love" still sound like pure adrenaline in a sequined gown, and their breakthrough is credited with clearing a path to the mainstream for the African-American R&B and soul acts that followed.
In 1967 Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross & the Supremes and replaced Ballard with Cindy Birdsong. Ross left for a solo career in 1970 and Jean Terrell took over, with Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne and Susaye Greene passing through before the group called it a day in 1977. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted them in 1988.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
Songs by The Supremes on radio countdowns
| # | Song | Strength | Lists | Best | #1s | Peak year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Someday We'll Be Together | 2 | #187 | – | – | |
| 2 | You Can't Hurry Love | 2 | #595 | – | – | |
| 3 | Where Did Our Love Go? | 1 | #855 | – | – | |
| 4 | Stop! In The Name Of Love | 2 | #646 | – | – | |
| 5 | Love Is Here | 1 | #1289 | – | – | |
| 6 | Back In My Arms Again | 1 | #1574 | – | – |
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