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Wilson died suddenly at her home in Henderson,
Nevada, on Monday. A statement confirming her passing did not
state a cause of death.
Wilson, a singer as well as best-selling author, helped form
female singing group The Primettes in Detroit in 1959, alongside
Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Betty McGlown. The latter left
the group and was replaced. Wilson, Ross and Ballard went on to
enjoy huge success as trio The Supremes.
Under the Motown Records label, the group scored 12 no. 1 hits
with songs like "Baby Love" and "Stop! In the Name of Love", and
still remains influential decades later.
Wilson stayed on with The Supremes even after other original
members left and new ones joined the line-up. The group split in
1977 and she pursued a solo career.
"The Supremes were always known as the 'sweethearts of Motown',"
Motown founder Berry Gordy said in a statement.
"I was always proud of Mary. She was quite a star in her own
right and over the years continued to work hard to boost the
legacy of the Supremes ... She was a trailblazer, a diva and
will be deeply missed."
The Supremes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 1988. The 2006 film "Dreamgirls", starring Beyonce and
Jennifer Hudson, was loosely based on their story.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a funeral service for Wilson will
be private, the statement said. A celebration of her life is
expected later in the year.
(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Alexandra
Hudson)
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