Book Review: The Supremes: A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success, and Betrayal
“You have to be a bastard to make it, and that’s a fact. And the Beatles are the biggest bastards on Earth.”
John Lennon
As I read Mark Ribowsky’s biography, The Supremes: A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success, and Betrayal, that quote from John Lennon played over and over again in my mind and with good cause. Berry Gordy, founder of Motown, originally set up in Detroit, could be classified as a bastard, but he would not be alone. That title could hang around the neck of any music mogul, movie mogul, or CEO of any company and be valid. Ambition, and the desire to build something bigger than oneself, requires focus and the ability to go after what you want as you need it, no matter who you have to step on to get there. That is most likely a reality; anyone who has built an empire will have people in their background swearing how terrible and ruthless they are, no matter what the public image - swearing they are bastards.
I have no problem with people being bastards in pursuit of a goal; sometimes, however, it is like in The Wizard of Oz, it is best not to look behind the curtain but live in blissful ignorance with the PR lie.
Now, the Lennon quote did not spring into my mind because of how Berry Gordy was represented in Ribowsky’s book, but Diana Ross, eventual lead singer of The Supremes. If you want to read a study in ruthlessness, ambition, and someone who did not care whom she walked over to make it to the top, The Supremes: A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success, and Betrayal is the music biography for you. And, apparently, if you read other biographies on The Supremes or Diana Ross, this is a consistent theme.
“I can’t marry this woman. This woman is as selfish as I am. I’m going to have to be kissing her ass all the time. I need somebody to kiss my ass.” So said Berry Gordy about Diana Ross, whom he had a long-term relationship, and even had a daughter with, despite the two never marrying. At the end of the biography, I couldn’t help but sense how this quote summed up all that I had read before it.
I am a fan of The Supremes, eventually, Diana Ross and The Supremes; I find that today, much like a lot of Motown’s catalogue the music sounds amazing and fresh. I had no idea how innovative some of those songs were when they first came out, and really did not care, as good music is good music and simply needs to be enjoyed, not always understood or analyzed.
I am going from memory here, as I read this biography quite some time ago, but Ribowsky recounts how for the longest time The Supremes were not successful, but consider a failure at Motown by many, even earning the nickname, The No-Hit Supremes. Even as this was happening, and others were bringing the label the hits, apparently Ross had a hold over Gordy that allowed her, even in the position of someone not beneficial to the company, to get away with stuff others could not. What Berry saw in Ross at that early stage, one can only image, but his determination to make her his star, paid off eventually, but not without leaving in its wake a great deal of damage.
According to legend, Ross was not the best singer in The Supremes, but by force of personality, rose to become the group’s focal point; it is said Florence Ballard was better, but she did not have the eye of Gordy, and suffered the indignities Ross heaped on her and Mary Wilson the other original member of the group. For a short time, Betty McGlown was also an early Supreme. Wilson survived with the trio based on an easy-going demeanor, instead turning her wild side towards relationships and sexual flings. Ballard eventually left the group or was ousted by Gordy and died tragically at the age of 32 from a heart attack brought on by alcoholism, depression, and poverty, having realized that with all the money The Supremes made Motown, very little came back to her when it was time to leave. Like many music moguls of the day, dealing with a group that originally started as minors, Gordy set up a contract with them that allowed him to control their money, and like many before him, took advantage of that.
The Supremes: A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success, and Betrayal is the first music biography I have read focusing on Motown, and my pulling back of that curtain mentioned above. I find much joy in The Supremes music, as did my Dad who was my introduction to the trio, but much frustration and sadness in finding out about the personalities behind that music and the lack of respect and decency they had for one another. I do not live in a world where I expect everything to be puppy dogs, rainbows and unicorns, so reading the reality, although depressing at times, is definitely worth it, and I will read more about Motown, and I am sure like after this book, I will have to do a deep dive into the music to attempt to cleanse my mind and soul of the ugliness I read.
What worries my most upon reading Ribowsky’s book, and even thinking about Lennon’s quote is how can I amount to anything when I do not have that ruthlessness within me, but actually desire to be a good and fair person? I guess I am doomed to failure! Oh well! 🤨