Barbara Martin (singer)
Barbara Martin | |
---|---|
Birth name | Barbara Diane Martin |
Also known as | Barbara Richardson |
Born | (1943-06-016)June 16, 1943 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
Died | March 4, 2020(2020-03-04) (aged 76) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
Genres | R&B, pop |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 1960–1962 |
Labels | Motown |
Barbara Diane Martin Richardson (June 16, 1943 – March 4, 2020) was an American singer, best known as one of the original members of Motown group The Supremes. She was born in Detroit.
Career
After Betty McGlown left the Primettes due to her upcoming nuptials, Martin replaced her in the group in 1960.[1] She and her group mates, 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, a name that Ballard had chosen (as she was the only group member in the studio at the time) from a list provided by Motown songwriter Janie Bradford; the group became part of the Motown stable of performers.[2]
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. In October 1961, Martin became pregnant. Her husband supported her decision to stay in the group, but she left in the early spring of 1962 – leaving Ross, Wilson and Ballard as a trio.[3]
Although Martin sang on many of the group's early singles (including a shared lead vocal with Diana Ross on "(He's) Seventeen"), and most of the tracks on the group's first album Meet the Supremes, she is not pictured on the album's cover.[4]
Later life
After leaving the group, Martin eventually earned a degree in psychology and worked in mental health.[5] Out of respect for Diana Ross and Mary Wilson, she never spoke publicly about her tenure with the Primettes/Supremes.[6] 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.[5]
Martin died in March 2020 at the age of 76.[7]
References
- ^ "Former Supremes singer Barbara Martin dies". BBC News. 2020-03-06. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
- ^ "At 60, Motown set to celebrate cultural legacy". Detroit News. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
- ^ Slonimsky, Nicolas & Kuhn , Laura Diane. "Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians". Schirmer Books, 2001. 3539. ISBN 0-02-865527-3
- ^ "The Supremes Member Barbara Martin Dies, Aged 76". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
- ^ a b "BARBARA MARTIN DIES..." Soulandjazzandfunk.com. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
- ^ "Where is Barbara Martin?". Soulfuldetroit.com. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
- ^ Pike, Molly (March 5, 2020). "Original member of The Supremes dies at 76". Mirror.co.uk.
External links
- Barbara Martin discography at Discogs
- v
- t
- e
- Florence Ballard
- Cindy Birdsong
- Susaye Greene
- Lynda Laurence
- Barbara Martin
- Betty McGlown
- Scherrie Payne
- Diana Ross
- Jean Terrell
- Mary Wilson
- Meet The Supremes (1962)
- Where Did Our Love Go (1964)
- More Hits by The Supremes (1965)
- I Hear a Symphony (1966)
- The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966)
- The Supremes Sing Holland–Dozier–Holland (1967)
- Reflections (1968)
- Love Child (1968)
- Let the Sunshine In (1969)
- Cream of the Crop (1969)
- Right On (1970)
- New Ways but Love Stays (1970)
- Touch (1971)
- Floy Joy (1972)
- The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb (1972)
- The Supremes (1975)
- High Energy (1976)
- Mary, Scherrie & Susaye (1976)
- Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations (1968)
- Together (1969)
- The Magnificent 7 (1970)
- The Return of the Magnificent Seven (1971)
- Dynamite (1971)
- The Supremes at the Copa (1965)
- Live at London's Talk of the Town (1968)
- TCB (1968)
- On Broadway (1969)
- Farewell (1970)
- The Supremes Live! In Japan (1973)
- A Bit of Liverpool (1964)
- The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop (1965)
- We Remember Sam Cooke (1965)
- Merry Christmas (1965)
- The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart (1967)
- Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform "Funny Girl" (1968)
- "Tears of Sorrow" (as The Primettes)
- "I Want a Guy"
- "Buttered Popcorn"
- "Your Heart Belongs to Me"
- "Let Me Go the Right Way"
- "My Heart Can't Take It No More"
- "A Breathtaking Guy"
- "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes"
- "Run, Run, Run"
- "Where Did Our Love Go"
- "Baby Love"
- "Come See About Me"
- "Stop! In the Name of Love"
- "Back in My Arms Again"/"Whisper You Love Me Boy"
- "Nothing but Heartaches"
- "I Hear a Symphony"
- "My World Is Empty Without You"
- "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart"
- "You Can't Hurry Love"
- "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
- "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone"
- "The Happening"
- "Reflections"
- "In and Out of Love"
- "Forever Came Today"
- "Some Things You Never Get Used To"
- "Love Child"
- "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
- "I'm Livin' in Shame"
- "I'll Try Something New"
- "The Composer"
- "No Matter What Sign You Are"
- "The Weight"
- "I Second That Emotion"
- "Someday We'll Be Together"
- "Why (Must We Fall in Love)"
- "Up the Ladder to the Roof"
- "Everybody's Got the Right to Love"
- "Stoned Love"
- "River Deep – Mountain High"
- "Nathan Jones"
- "You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart"
- "Touch"
- "Floy Joy"
- "Automatically Sunshine"
- "Without the One You Love"
- "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love"
- "I Guess I'll Miss the Man"
- "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
- "Bad Weather"
- "Tossin' and Turnin'"
- "He's My Man"
- "Where Do I Go from Here"
- "Early Morning Love"
- "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking"
- "High Energy"
- "You're My Driving Wheel"
- "Let Yourself Go"
- "Love, I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good"
- T.A.M.I. Show
- Greatest Hits: Live in Amsterdam
- Reflections: The Definitive Performances (1964–1969)
- Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
- Sparkle (1976 film)
- Dreamgirls (musical)
- Dreamgirls (film)
- Sparkle (2012 film)
- Discography
- Chronology (The band's name history: The Primettes 1959–1961 / The Supremes 1961–1967 / Diana Ross & The Supremes 1967–1970 / The Supremes 1970 / Diana Ross & The Supremes 1970 / The Supremes 1970–)
- Members
- FLOS
- Farewell concert
- Return to Love Tour
- Category