SUPREME FAITH: Someday We'll Be Together

by Mary & Patricia Romanowski Wilson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 24, 1990

Here, Wilson seeks to reprise her success with Dreamgirl (1986) by chronicling the post-Diana Ross Supremes and her fights to gain independence from Motown and an abusive husband. This account (cowritten with Romanowski, coauthor of Otis Williams's Temptations, 1988, etc.) picks up in 1970 after the Las Vegas farewell performance of Ross and the Supremes. That night, Wilson and Motown chief Berry Gordy fought over the selection of Jean Terrell to replace Diana. Gordy didn't like the choice; Wilson insisted that Jean stay. Berry signed off the phone conversation saying, ""Then I wash my hands of the group!"" Although that turned out not to be strictly the case, the relationship between the Supremes and Motown became increasingly adversarial. The newly reconstituted threesome made records and kept up a grueling touting schedule, but Motown clearly wasn't backing them with promotional support. In 1973, after a performance in Puerto Rico, a handsome fan introduced himself to Wilson and the two started to date, then subsequently married. Pedro Ferrer was ferociously jealous, constantly accusing his wife of infidelity; he also took an increasing role in the management of the group. Meanwhile, Wilson launched legal skirmishes with Motown over, for instance, the rights to the name ""Supremes."" She was delighted to get pregnant, but Pedro beat her up. Finally, Wilson quit the group for a solo career and dumped her husband. Without Diana Ross as a focus, this is unlikely to duplicate the sales of Dreamgirl, and is of interest mostly for Wilson's account of Motown's alleged strong-arm tactics and of the rigors of a fading group's endless touring. Tony Turner's memoir of Supremes fandom, All That Glittered (reviewed above), provides much more dish.

Pub Date: Oct. 24, 1990

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper Collins

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1990

Categories: NONFICTION