Rock Flashback: Farewell to Diana Ross and the Supremes
Diana Ross, Onstage in 2007 (Getty Images/Jo Hale)
This week in 1970, Diana Ross and the Supremes performed together for the last time, even though they were already finished.
The Supremes had begun scoring hits in 1964. In 1967, they were renamed Diana Ross and the Supremes — due in part, some say, to Motown mogul Berry Gordy’s romance with Diana. And from that point, a solo career for Diana Ross was inevitable. Her solo debut was supposed to be the single “Someday We’ll Be Together,” released late in 1969, but at the last minute, Gordy decided to release it as the final Supremes single.
Never mind that the other two Supremes, Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, don’t appear on the record at all. “Someday We’ll Be Together” was the perfect record at the perfect moment. It gave fans hope that Diana, Mary, and Cindy would sing together again someday, but its significance was broader than that. As the last #1 single of the 1960s, it seemed to claim that the 60s generation, scattered on the winds of the 1970s though it might be, shared a bond that could never be broken.
With “Someday We’ll Be Together” still topping the charts, Ross, Wilson, and Birdsong appeared at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, and on January 14, 1970, they sang together for the last time. Diana’s replacement, Jean Terrell, was introduced at the show. She sounded a great deal like Ross, and the new group’s first single, “Up the Ladder to the Roof,” ran the charts alongside Diana’s first official solo single, “Reach Out and Touch.” Diana Ross would remain a major hitmaker for years to come; the Supremes would peter out in the early 70s, although yet another new lineup would score a couple of minor hits in 1976.
Diana Ross and the Supremes made their final TV appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on December 21, 1969. I am pretty sure this is that performance.
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Jiim Najjar
January 17, 2012 4:40 am
The videoclip here is from the Hollywood Palace. But yes, the last television performance was on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Everett
January 17, 2012 2:08 pm
This performance of “Someday We’ll Be Together” is from the Hollywood Palace in October, 1969. They were the hostesses of the show and introducing their new song. Diana was lip-synching and didn’t know the words. There were cue cards used. I was able to obtain them from a nice stage hand. Diana autographed the cards for me! My first Diana autograph. The record was number one in Los Angeles for four weeks (radio station KHJ).
Edwin
January 17, 2012 8:19 pm
Ms Ross is one of the greats, but the Supremes made some great music after she left the group,Thanks to Mary Wilson, but Motown did not promote the group but they made some really good music, And Mary has become a skillful strong soul singer today,
Los
January 17, 2012 9:03 pm
Jean Terrell sounded nothing like ross. Jean was lightyears ahead in vocal range, style and talent
Michael
January 19, 2012 6:50 pm
This is not the final Ed Sullivan appearance as I remember the gowns the girls wore for the last time with full sleeves, etc In this video they wera pant suits! And at one momment all three supremes were in the sdame farame for one last time!
Michael
February 5, 2012 9:24 pm
No this was the Hollywood Palace….to many chandeliers for Ed Sullivan set.
Michael Savio
February 5, 2012 9:26 pm
This was from the Hollywood Palace in early mid 1969 to many chandeliers for the Ed Sullivan show. Mary sang her solo Can’t take my Eyes off of You as well and Diane did somethings with kids from the audience.
J.A. Bartlett
February 5, 2012 10:22 pm
Thanks for setting us straight on where the video came from, everybody. Crowdsourcing is awesome, and we appreciate it.