Post by ClassicSoul on Feb 20, 2006 8:53:16 GMT -5
Supremes' singer shares dreams and life
Mary Wilson, one of the original members of The Supremes, shared tales of triumph and adversity with faculty and students of Miami Dade College Kendall Campus.
BY JONNELLE MARTE
Mary Wilson, a founding member of The Supremes, taught teachers and students of Miami Dade College a simple lesson: It's OK to dream.
She spoke Thursday at the college's Kendall Campus, as part of Black History Month, and told the audience the story of how she went from being a ''poor girl'' living in the Brewster Projects of Detroit to being a ``diva.''
Her message was clear: dare to dream.
''The things we accomplished in life were so amazing,'' she said of her former singing group.
Wilson told the group about her first time on stage, when she sang for a junior high talent show wearing her brother's jeans and leather jacket.
''It was just scary because it felt so good,'' she said.
Soon after, she got together with two friends from school, Diane Ross (who later changed her first name to Diana) and Florence Ballard, who were just as determined as she was to keep singing.
They sang any time they could -- even though the circumstances weren't in their favor. Wilson said she remembered not being able to drink out of a public water fountain or sit at a restaurant.
''In 1959, we were not citizens, we were just three little black girls who would dare to dream,'' she said.
They performed at churches and schools, and even though they were initially rejected by Motown Records, they hung out around the studio every chance they could.
''We would hitchhike to Motown every day and sit outside,'' she said. ``And pretty soon, we were inside the building.''
Eventually, the girls were hired as a sister group for a local doo-wop group, The Primes, and later became The Supremes.
In 1963, they had their first hit, Where did our love go?, and by 1964, they were performing around the world. That same year, the Civil Rights Act was passed.
''We became divas and citizens all in the same year,'' Wilson said.
As Wilson shared her story and talked about her music, she laughed a lot and occasionally broke into a song. Fans in the audience didn't hesitate to join in and sometimes started the singing themselves.
''We've had some wonderful events here but to have a legend like Mary Wilson come, it tops what we've done,'' said Vanya Albury, the chair of the Black History Month Committee.
Wilson, who received her associate arts degree from New York University in 2001, stressed the importance of keeping busy and having a positive attitude.
'Thoughts are very powerful things,'' she said.
She spoke about how difficult it was to lose her 14-year-old son 12 years ago in a car accident during which she fell asleep driving and how the tragedy changed her.
''When I lost my son I grew up again because I realized that life is not certain,'' Wilson said. `'The best thing you can do right now is really enjoy your life.''
After her speech, Wilson signed autographs and took pictures with fans. Some, like Lizandro Dulanto, who sat in the front row, said they had been waiting for years.
''I've been wanting to meet her since I was 17,'' said Dulanto, 30, who brought an old album for Wilson to sign.
Wilson inspired some students to believe in themselves.
''[Through] her story, she proved that dreams do come true,'' said Nkem Isa, 17.
LINK
Mary Wilson, one of the original members of The Supremes, shared tales of triumph and adversity with faculty and students of Miami Dade College Kendall Campus.
BY JONNELLE MARTE
Mary Wilson, a founding member of The Supremes, taught teachers and students of Miami Dade College a simple lesson: It's OK to dream.
She spoke Thursday at the college's Kendall Campus, as part of Black History Month, and told the audience the story of how she went from being a ''poor girl'' living in the Brewster Projects of Detroit to being a ``diva.''
Her message was clear: dare to dream.
''The things we accomplished in life were so amazing,'' she said of her former singing group.
Wilson told the group about her first time on stage, when she sang for a junior high talent show wearing her brother's jeans and leather jacket.
''It was just scary because it felt so good,'' she said.
Soon after, she got together with two friends from school, Diane Ross (who later changed her first name to Diana) and Florence Ballard, who were just as determined as she was to keep singing.
They sang any time they could -- even though the circumstances weren't in their favor. Wilson said she remembered not being able to drink out of a public water fountain or sit at a restaurant.
''In 1959, we were not citizens, we were just three little black girls who would dare to dream,'' she said.
They performed at churches and schools, and even though they were initially rejected by Motown Records, they hung out around the studio every chance they could.
''We would hitchhike to Motown every day and sit outside,'' she said. ``And pretty soon, we were inside the building.''
Eventually, the girls were hired as a sister group for a local doo-wop group, The Primes, and later became The Supremes.
In 1963, they had their first hit, Where did our love go?, and by 1964, they were performing around the world. That same year, the Civil Rights Act was passed.
''We became divas and citizens all in the same year,'' Wilson said.
As Wilson shared her story and talked about her music, she laughed a lot and occasionally broke into a song. Fans in the audience didn't hesitate to join in and sometimes started the singing themselves.
''We've had some wonderful events here but to have a legend like Mary Wilson come, it tops what we've done,'' said Vanya Albury, the chair of the Black History Month Committee.
Wilson, who received her associate arts degree from New York University in 2001, stressed the importance of keeping busy and having a positive attitude.
'Thoughts are very powerful things,'' she said.
She spoke about how difficult it was to lose her 14-year-old son 12 years ago in a car accident during which she fell asleep driving and how the tragedy changed her.
''When I lost my son I grew up again because I realized that life is not certain,'' Wilson said. `'The best thing you can do right now is really enjoy your life.''
After her speech, Wilson signed autographs and took pictures with fans. Some, like Lizandro Dulanto, who sat in the front row, said they had been waiting for years.
''I've been wanting to meet her since I was 17,'' said Dulanto, 30, who brought an old album for Wilson to sign.
Wilson inspired some students to believe in themselves.
''[Through] her story, she proved that dreams do come true,'' said Nkem Isa, 17.
LINK