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The Supremes: A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success, and Betrayal
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.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published October 23, 2008
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186 people want to read
About the author
Mark Ribowsky
44 books60 followersMark Ribowsky is the author of seven books, including the New York Times Notable Book Don't Look Back: Satchel Paige in the Shadows of Baseball. He lives in Plainview, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 29, 2018
I thought Mark Ribowsky's book on the Temptations (AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG) was absolutely brilliant, probably because he presented so much fascinating information I had never heard before.
The problem is that with the Supremes, the whole world already knows their story. Diana was cold and ambitious, Florence was drunk and self-destructive, Mary was sweet and helpless. Ribowski doesn't write about any of the three Supremes with very much compassion, or insight. They come across as minor characters in their own saga.
What Ribowski does do is give an in-depth analysis of the technical brilliance of the musicians, writers, and arrangers at Motown who made the Supremes' seemingly endless series of number one hits possible. If you're a serious music fan or a musician yourself, these sections are really priceless. But for the average reader they can be crashingly dull. Moreover, Ribowski has a tendency to suggest that every single song was brilliant, a classic. And he celebrates the silliest things, like the "psychedelic" bells and whistles on "Reflections," while ignoring the larger absurdity of having the Supremes jump on the psychedelic bandwagon.
Altogether a good book, but not an outstanding one.
The problem is that with the Supremes, the whole world already knows their story. Diana was cold and ambitious, Florence was drunk and self-destructive, Mary was sweet and helpless. Ribowski doesn't write about any of the three Supremes with very much compassion, or insight. They come across as minor characters in their own saga.
What Ribowski does do is give an in-depth analysis of the technical brilliance of the musicians, writers, and arrangers at Motown who made the Supremes' seemingly endless series of number one hits possible. If you're a serious music fan or a musician yourself, these sections are really priceless. But for the average reader they can be crashingly dull. Moreover, Ribowski has a tendency to suggest that every single song was brilliant, a classic. And he celebrates the silliest things, like the "psychedelic" bells and whistles on "Reflections," while ignoring the larger absurdity of having the Supremes jump on the psychedelic bandwagon.
Altogether a good book, but not an outstanding one.
June 22, 2011
The story of the Supremes and the development of Motown was compelling enough to keep me reading this book, but I agree with others that it was very strangely written. Ribowsky seems to be drunk-dialing with a thesaurus, and often speaks from points of view he could not possibly inhabit. He also makes downright strange claims, such as noting that Diana Ross wasn't as thin as people thought--in fact she weighed 103 at 5'5" (a real heifer!) I'd be interested to read other accounts of Ross's life, as this one outright demonizes her except for two pages at the end where Ribowsky points out that she did a couple of nice things.
December 31, 2009
Kind of long and tedious. Also badly written. But even though it took me forever to read it, I was kind of fascinated by the characters who surrounded the Supremes,including the supremes themselves. Berry Gordy is one of a kind, tasteless in some ways, but exact in knowing how to handle the group and especially Diana Ross. He recognized her star potential early on and groomed her to lead the supremes. He achieved a lot for a black man from Detroit in the early 60s, not an easy time for black entrepreneurship.
May 6, 2013
I've wanted to read a Motown bio for a while now, and 'The Supremes' didn't disappoint. Ribowsky charts the scarcely believable rise and inevitable souring of the greatest female group of all time. If a quarter of this is true, then Diana Ross is one of the most objectionable people I've ever read about.
The book was also a great orientation resource for the early Motown hits. I had my laptop with me while reading and 'youtubed' all the early songs. 'Come See About Me' is an absolute cracker - I'm staggered that I didn't know it.
The book was also a great orientation resource for the early Motown hits. I had my laptop with me while reading and 'youtubed' all the early songs. 'Come See About Me' is an absolute cracker - I'm staggered that I didn't know it.
October 13, 2017
I was so "in love" with Diana Ross as a teenager it was unbelievable. I wanted her straight hair, her voice, her clothes, her lifestyle. Well this book tells it all. The hair was mostly wigs :( , the voice took years of hard work, everything took years of hard work and she wasn't the nice pleasant girl that showed up on Ed Sullivan Show that I drooled over. Still I enjoyed reading this book and finding all about Diana Ross and the Supremes and Motown.
June 8, 2010
Take-home messages:
It seems indisputable that Diana Ross has some sort of personality disorder.
I will probably never understand rock journalist-ese and its use of seemingly random adjectives to describe sounds (I sometimes suspect that Ribowsky may have composed parts of this book as a Mad-Lib with his family. What makes a bass line "fat"? A nine-year-old asked for an adjective? You decide.) However, I ascribe this only partially to the development of a hip nonsense language to nondescribe the nonverbal, and partially to my inability to hear and understand music in an intelligent way. And anyway, I really wanted to listen to the songs being described alongside Ribowsky's descriptions, just in case I might have an epiphany like "Now that I hark to the intro to, say, "Stop! In the Name of Love," I DO think that drum riff is skeletal!" or plummy or dripping or whatever. But I don't think so, because I heard a live band last night, and paid careful attention to the parts of the sum, and I tried, but I still just mostly got "wow" and "good" and "neat."
It seems indisputable that Diana Ross has some sort of personality disorder.
I will probably never understand rock journalist-ese and its use of seemingly random adjectives to describe sounds (I sometimes suspect that Ribowsky may have composed parts of this book as a Mad-Lib with his family. What makes a bass line "fat"? A nine-year-old asked for an adjective? You decide.) However, I ascribe this only partially to the development of a hip nonsense language to nondescribe the nonverbal, and partially to my inability to hear and understand music in an intelligent way. And anyway, I really wanted to listen to the songs being described alongside Ribowsky's descriptions, just in case I might have an epiphany like "Now that I hark to the intro to, say, "Stop! In the Name of Love," I DO think that drum riff is skeletal!" or plummy or dripping or whatever. But I don't think so, because I heard a live band last night, and paid careful attention to the parts of the sum, and I tried, but I still just mostly got "wow" and "good" and "neat."
July 9, 2020
Biased And Error Filled
This book is entertaining, but filled with errors and biases. It's very anti-Diana Ross and portrays her as the most insufferable diva to ever draw breath. It relies too much on previously published books about or by members of the Supremes and Berry Gordy. The already sad saga of Florence Ballard is recounted with some hearsay and speculation, making it seem even sadder. The author doesn't mention Diana Ross doing anything kind for anyone other than herself until the closing pages of the book and gives her no credit for having any talent or unique qualities which made her an effective lead singer for the most influential girl group in history. He can't even give her credit for her post-Supremes successes, dismissing her solo career as "starts and stops." He even publishes the lie that Diana's first husband, Bob Ellis, was 45 when he married her, when he'd actually just turned 26. The date of the wedding is also incorrect. The book is entertaining but it's not exactly a paragon of accuracy.
This book is entertaining, but filled with errors and biases. It's very anti-Diana Ross and portrays her as the most insufferable diva to ever draw breath. It relies too much on previously published books about or by members of the Supremes and Berry Gordy. The already sad saga of Florence Ballard is recounted with some hearsay and speculation, making it seem even sadder. The author doesn't mention Diana Ross doing anything kind for anyone other than herself until the closing pages of the book and gives her no credit for having any talent or unique qualities which made her an effective lead singer for the most influential girl group in history. He can't even give her credit for her post-Supremes successes, dismissing her solo career as "starts and stops." He even publishes the lie that Diana's first husband, Bob Ellis, was 45 when he married her, when he'd actually just turned 26. The date of the wedding is also incorrect. The book is entertaining but it's not exactly a paragon of accuracy.
November 6, 2009
"Where did our love go?" Well, apparently Diane (her birth name) Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard never really loved each other, even at the beginning of their road-twisting rise to the top of the pop charts. Diana was a star--or maybe diva is a better word. Mary was the peacemaker--a mistake with someone as ambitious as Diana. Florence could also be a diva--a trait that would have horrendous consequences. Behind the scenes stands Barry Gordy, a charming yet devious founder of Motown Records. Have you seen "Dreamgirls"? This story is even better.
April 22, 2012
It's a brutal read, but makes a effort to point out what is factual from what is speculation. None of the main players come out looking good in this story; it's a tale of flawed people in a very tough business. But this is worth the read, if you've the stomach for all the backbiting going on. Also, a number of rare pictures come to light.
April 11, 2020
The Supremes had a miserable existence throughout their storied careers - and this is all due to Diana Ross - or so this biography would have us believe.
It is great to have a detailed, comprehensive biography of the Supremes, and this book has a lot good about it - it is comprehensive thoroughly researched and has new material (mainly based upon interview with Holland brothers, a cousin of Flo Ballard and an ex-Supremes manager. However, the book is flawed by the author’s over-riding need to paint Diana Ross (and to a lesser extent Berry Gordy) as a manipulative monster who brought only discord and misery to everyone she was in contact with was responsible for everything bad that happened to the group, the label and a lot of other problems of the 60’s. On the other hand Flo, who nobody questions was a raging alcoholic who was argumentative and disruptive, is presented as a saintly figure who was undone by the inter loping Miss Ross. Of the three sSupremes, the concentration of the book is squarely on Flo, even after she leaves the group, the final quarter of the book still seems to focus primarily on what happened to Flo.
The other element which is strangely missing from the book is any sense of joy or fun that these girls had throughout their long ascent to stardom. No doubt, there were ups and downs, but the book presents only the latter of these suggesting there was only a long, hard, unhappy, career with every smile seemingly forced and filled with hidden resentment. Surely there were some good times? Some genuine excitement and happiness mixed in?
Reading this, although Dina is presented as the anti-hero it is actually BG who makes me the most angry. Not because of his money-grabbing, usurious business practices., but because of his insistence that the group develop in to a lounge act, performing at ritzy nightclubs and singing show tunes and cheeses covers of broadway hits. In suggesting the Supremes were one of the most important groups in the history of pop music, the book can’t gloss over the fact that there is not a single great Supremes album, indeed not one that could still be listened to in full today, crammed as they were with filler and tributes. Had they indeed been able to explore further and work more in the studio with HDH, who knows what the unfulfilled potential of the group may have been.
It is great to have a detailed, comprehensive biography of the Supremes, and this book has a lot good about it - it is comprehensive thoroughly researched and has new material (mainly based upon interview with Holland brothers, a cousin of Flo Ballard and an ex-Supremes manager. However, the book is flawed by the author’s over-riding need to paint Diana Ross (and to a lesser extent Berry Gordy) as a manipulative monster who brought only discord and misery to everyone she was in contact with was responsible for everything bad that happened to the group, the label and a lot of other problems of the 60’s. On the other hand Flo, who nobody questions was a raging alcoholic who was argumentative and disruptive, is presented as a saintly figure who was undone by the inter loping Miss Ross. Of the three sSupremes, the concentration of the book is squarely on Flo, even after she leaves the group, the final quarter of the book still seems to focus primarily on what happened to Flo.
The other element which is strangely missing from the book is any sense of joy or fun that these girls had throughout their long ascent to stardom. No doubt, there were ups and downs, but the book presents only the latter of these suggesting there was only a long, hard, unhappy, career with every smile seemingly forced and filled with hidden resentment. Surely there were some good times? Some genuine excitement and happiness mixed in?
Reading this, although Dina is presented as the anti-hero it is actually BG who makes me the most angry. Not because of his money-grabbing, usurious business practices., but because of his insistence that the group develop in to a lounge act, performing at ritzy nightclubs and singing show tunes and cheeses covers of broadway hits. In suggesting the Supremes were one of the most important groups in the history of pop music, the book can’t gloss over the fact that there is not a single great Supremes album, indeed not one that could still be listened to in full today, crammed as they were with filler and tributes. Had they indeed been able to explore further and work more in the studio with HDH, who knows what the unfulfilled potential of the group may have been.
July 10, 2021
Let’s get the obvious weakness of this book out of the way first: the author did not get to interview any Supreme or any of the other main characters in their story. The quotes (and many of the author’s insights) are mostly taken from Supremes (auto)biographies and articles.
That said: I did enjoy this biography - a lot. I learned a lot about The Supremes and Motown, the story is well told and while the author seems biased at first (he seems to hate Diana Ross), he does give her credit and kudos towards the end, making this book feel like a brutal but over-all fair account.
For a long time I thought I was going to hate Diana Ross for the rest of my life, but at the end I didn’t dislike her, but I disliked Motown boss Berry Gordy the most.
I was going to give it 3 stars, bit it’s really 3.5, so I went for 4.
That said: I did enjoy this biography - a lot. I learned a lot about The Supremes and Motown, the story is well told and while the author seems biased at first (he seems to hate Diana Ross), he does give her credit and kudos towards the end, making this book feel like a brutal but over-all fair account.
For a long time I thought I was going to hate Diana Ross for the rest of my life, but at the end I didn’t dislike her, but I disliked Motown boss Berry Gordy the most.
I was going to give it 3 stars, bit it’s really 3.5, so I went for 4.
January 2, 2026
Too much technical info & not enough storytelling. If you want stats, this book is for you. I don’t want to know about writing credits and how many weeks a song charted with every tiny detail. There’s also too much relying on other books on the Supremes. I should just read those books.
September 10, 2018
I adore the Supremes. I got bored with the tedium of Motown staff and I skipped to the part where they reached fame, stardom, and then to the trouble Flo faced. It could've been shorter.
April 1, 2019
Sad story but great musical memories.
January 8, 2021
Good but not great. It paints a terrible picture of Diana Ross...which is probably true...but hard to read about. The book was informative but leaves the reader sad at the brokenness of The Supreme.
December 17, 2021
Detailed and interesting - but don’t read it if you want to continue to like Diana or Berry!
August 3, 2014
The overall story is summed up in the subtitle. For a longtime Supremes/Motown fan such as myself, the story is familiar. What's new are Ribowsky's discussions of the making of the hits, which he goes into with great detail, and his balanced take on several controversies. I've read many of his sources, so Ribowsky's comments about them are meaningful, even if he has a few--a very few for such a long and complex book--errors of his own. For example, he writes that Diana Ross "has failed to register a single Top Forty pop hit since 1981." In fact, she had 7, concluding with "Missing You" in 1985. Nevertheless, once I started, I had to finish this essential addition to the canon of Motown and Supremes history.
November 28, 2012
i am only 17 years old and i love all the sounds of motown especially the supremes. i bought this book and read it on my kindle fire and i loved it. it gave a really different idea than i was hoping for and any fan of the supremes or motown should read this book.
September 19, 2014
Loved reading all the juice! And this was something I could read when I was about to go to sleep, and it didn't matter if I remembered what I read or not. I could just keep on reading.
March 31, 2023
What a ride! I had fun learning new details and putting context around the songs that I love so much.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews