Ms. Powell lived a very long time. She was the honorary Mother of Detroit. She was still HANGING in her 90s at Bakers and Bert's (two of Detroit's premier Jazz Clubs) She was very regal and a beautiful lady inside and out. I was so honored to be introduced to her personally in my early 20s and to be a young man that she claimed to be crushing on (her way of instilling confidence and showing me how a LADY should act toward a man). She was usually in the care of Martha Reeves (who took very good care of her until the end). And if I came in the club she would say "Ms. Powell there comes your boyfriend" and Ms. Powell would light UP! And everything the Motown Greats say about her is true. Any time she saw me perform, she would give me NOTES on what I did right and what I did wrong, what I should wear next time...all that. And this was at OPEN MICS where you wouldn't think all that mattered, but she'd say "You have to get your act together HERE so you'll be ready for the big stage one day". I hold so much respect and admiration in my heart for her to this day. She was more than 60 years my senior. She would tell me all the time "Young Man, you can be WHATEVER you want to be." God Bless her memory.
Dream girls us not about the supremes but more a story of several girl groups. Also Flo did not found the Supremes, she was the first girl recruited to become a sister group to the Primes, the Mary and Diana joined. Also Betty.
Nope…. Florence Ballard was the gorgeous supreme. She had it all. Mary Wilson was beautiful and Diana Ross made herself over and grew into a certain look. But Florence Ballard you knew was a real woman with an independent mind and spirit. And she was out and out gorgeous.
