In 1976, it was rumored in Jet magazine that former Supremes Jean Terrell and Cindy Birdsong had contacted Florence Ballard to form a new singing group, however Ballard's death in February of that year quickly cancelled their plan.[2]
In 1985, eight years after the group officially broke up in 1977, Scherrie Payne was signed to SuperStar International Records, a Los Angeles based record company. Her then-partner, Ronnie Phillips, approached her with the idea of reforming the Supremes, to which she agreed, and asked Birdsong and Mary Wilson to join the new Supremes group. Wilson declined, instead opting to forge a solo career, while Birdsong agreed and persuaded Terrell to join the new Supremes group. At this time, Wilson was involved in a lawsuit due rights of the Supremes name,[3] and won the lawsuit in 1987 to use the name.[4]
However due to contractual difficulties over the ownership of the name, they decided to create a spinoff group of the Supremes using the abbreviation "FLOS", for the pseudonym "Former Ladies of the Supremes".[5] Before they began their career, Birdsong briefly left the group for a solo career.[5] Former member of the Supremes, Lynda Laurence, joined the lineup, replacing Cindy Birdsong just as she did in 1972, and for SuperStar International Records, the group released the song "We're Back".[5] However, SuperStar International Records did not have national distribution, and the song later failed to chart and the label soon folded afterwards. The group began to perform and tour, making their debut performance at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles in 1987.[6] By 1989, Rick Gianatos brought the group to Motorcity Records, a record label owned by Ian Levine.[5] At the label, they recorded a cover of the Supremes songs' and other songs such as "Crazy bout' the Guy", "Stoned Love", "I Want to Be Loved", and "Hit and Miss", and this would continue until Motorcity folded.[5]
Mid-career
The lineup changed again, when in 1993, Terrell left and was replaced by Sundray Tucker (Lynda Laurence's sister.) This trio toured the world and recorded several albums including "Supreme Voices" and "SupremeLy Yours."[7][8]
In 1996, Tucker left the trio and Terrell made a brief comeback to the group, reuniting with both Payne and Laurence for two special concerts held at the Industry Cafe in Los Angeles. This reunion ended with the recruitment of Freddi Poole in July 1996.[5] Poole, an established singer who had worked with the likes of Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Sammy Davis Jr., and stayed with the group until September 2009. In that same year, Mary Wilson, sued the group. The lawsuit was filed against Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne and Jean Terrell, who were performing as The "Former Ladies Of The Supremes. In 1999, Mary Wilson lost the lawsuit against the group after suing them for using the Supremes name.[9][10][11] In 2000, Payne and Laurence joined Diana Ross on the brief but highly publicized and later cancelled, Return To Love tour, billed as Diana Ross & the Supremes.[12][13][14] The tour made TV appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, VH1 Divas Live, and The View. In 2005, the trio was honored by the Hollywood History Museum. The museum presented an exhibit showing their contribution to the Supremes' legacy and their FLOS' history.[15] Payne and Laurence donated stage gowns and shoes from their personal collection for the display along with photos, record albums, tour books, and posters.[15] Although recording sessions was sporadic during her tenure, Poole contributed to the group's 2006 single "Sisters United (We’re Taking Control)".[15] In 2007, Joyce Vincent Wilson of Tony Orlando and Dawn briefly filled in for Poole for a tour in Japan, after Poole's mother's death, and in that same year, their CD was released, featuring solo leads of the group, and did a remake of Payne's 1984 solo single "One Night Only".[15]
On September 29, 2009, it was reported on Payne and Laurence's website that Poole had left the group, later to join female trio the Three Degrees. With Freddi's departure, Vincent joined the group, replacing Poole. Notably, Vincent had once been considered as a replacement in an official grouping of the Supremes following Wilson's departure. It was decided by Motown that the group should not continue without an original member, and the Supremes disbanded in 1977.[5][16]
On October 6, 2017, it was reported via Facebook that after 31 years in the group, Laurence had departed the group and was replaced by Susaye Greene.[17] Greene had been a member of the Supremes from early 1976 to summer of 1977 (replacing Cindy Birdsong), and performed on their albums "High Energy" and "Mary, Scherrie & Susaye".
Recent years
The group continues to tour. In December 2018, the group released their first recent music together, the four track Christmas-themed "A Supreme Christmas EP", followed by the single "Unconditional Love" in 2019.[citation needed] In that same year, they participated in the Oak Leaf Festival.[18]
In 2022, Payne, Laurence and Greene performed at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, as one of the Motown-based artists highlighting the performance, in honor of the label. This marked the first time that this trio of former Supremes performed together, also it was the first time since 2000 that 3 Motown Supremes performed together. The last time was the Diana Ross & The Supremes' "Return To Love Tour in 2000 starring Diana Ross, Scherrie Payne & Lynda Laurence.[19]
On June 14, 2024, Scherrie Payne reported that Susaye Greene had departed the group to spend time on her "entrepreneurial endeavors", and Lynda Laurence would be returning from her hiatus.[20]
Upon her return Lynda Laurence posted this on the groups' official website and social media sites "To our incredible fans, words cannot express the depth of my appreciation. Your unwavering support and encouragement played a pivotal role in my decision to reunite with Scherrie and Joyce. Your loyalty and honesty are testaments to the love you hold for this group, and I am truly touched by your continued support." -Lynda Laurence
Members
Payne in 2011
Scherrie Payne has remained part of FLOS throughout its tenure. Joining Scherrie to round out the trio:
1986: Cindy Birdsong and Lynda Lawrence
1986 - 1992, 1996: Jean Terrell and Lynda Lawrence
1992- 1996: Sundray Tucker and Lynda Lawrence
1996 - 2009: Freddi Poole and Lynda Lawrence
2009 - 2017, 2024 - Present: Joyce Vincent and Lynda Lawrence
2017 - 2024: Joyce Vincent and Susaye Greene
Discography
Singles
Superstar International Records
"We're Back" /"Get Away" (with Ollie Woodson of the Temptations) (1987)
Motorcity Records
"Crazy About the Guy"/"Crazy About the Guy (Instrumental)" MOTC 13 (1990)
Although the three groups above did tour together extensively throughout Europe in 1997 on the same bill, the recordings featured on the above compact disc album were used from three separate projects of previously released live shows from each group, digitally remastered and edited by Steve Weaver.
^Company, Johnson Publishing (May 20, 1976). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved December 27, 2023 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^Company, Johnson Publishing (January 20, 1986). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^Media Group, LLC, Paxton Paxton (July 7, 1999). "The Rochester Sentinel". Paxton Paxton Media Group, LLC. Retrieved December 24, 2023 – via Google Books.
^Media Group, Halifax (April 5, 2000). "Sarasota Herald-Tribune". Halifax Media Group. Retrieved December 24, 2023 – via Google Books.
^Company, Johnson Publishing (April 24, 2000). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved December 24, 2023 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^Publications Inc., Billboard (July 22, 2000). "Billboard". Billboard Publications Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2023 – via Google Books.
^ abcd"FLOS News". scherriepayneandlyndalaurence.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2007. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
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–)
