Barbara Martin, singer in the Motown group The Supremes, has died at the age of 76.
News of the star’s death was announced via the legendary Motown group’s Facebook on Thursday, following her death on Wednesday.
Bandmate Mary Wilson paid tribute, writing: “Our hearts go out to Barbara’s family and friends. Once a Supreme, always a Supreme.”
After Betty McGlown left the Primettes due to her upcoming nuptials, Barbara replaced her in the group in 1960.
She and her fellow bandmates, Diana Ross (then known as Diane), Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard, signed a recording contract with Motown founder Berry Gordy on January 15, 1961 as the Supremes.
Florence Ballard chose the name for the four-piece as she was the only group member in the studio at the time.
While recording a handful of early singles, none of which became hits, Martin, Wilson, Ross, and Ballard worked as studio backing singers, providing vocals and rhythmic effects such as hand claps for Motown’s leading groups.
On their first album, Barbara is featured on most of the tracks, but was not featured on the cover art – which is believed to be because she was heavily pregnant at the time.
The band continued as a trio after Barbara left (Image: Michael Ochs Archives)
During her pregnancy, Barbara decided to leave the Supremes.
Her husband supported her decision to stay in the group, but, she left in the early spring of 1962 after recording their first album.
She was not replaced and the musical act went on as a trio in the coming years.
She never spoke publicly about her tenure with the Primettes/Supremes.
She denied interviews over the years with the exception of one interview she gave in 2009 for the 2010 release of “Meet the Supremes: Expanded Edition”.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
