VIA PRESS RELEASE | Singer, activist, author, fashion icon, actress, U.S. cultural ambassador, motivational speaker, dancer, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, trailblazer, legend, Supreme: Mary Wilson earned her place in music history.
She was the only original member of The Supremes in every incarnation of the groundbreaking group from beginning to end (1961 to 1977) but her story didn’t end when The Supremes did. Wilson the world-renowned performer was an advocate for social and economic challenges in the U.S. and abroad and used her fame and flair to promote diverse humanitarian efforts including ending hunger, raising HIV/AIDS awareness and encouraging world peace. She continued making music, performing to adoring fans around the world, wrote several best-selling books, and continued to protect artist rights and promote the legacy of the Supremes.
Now, the late legend’s remarkable legacy of music is being collected for the very first time in a deluxe 2-CD set. Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records are proud to present Mary Wilson’s The Motown Anthology. Slated for release on December 3, 2021, this first-ever comprehensive overview of Wilson’s Motown discography presents 38 songs, including a whopping 33 tracks only available physically on this collection. It boasts nearly two dozen Supremes classics, deep cuts, and never-before-heard songs (most in stunning new mixes) from a host of songwriters including Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Deke Richards, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, Thom Bell and Linda Creed, and others.
In addition to the worldwide CD debut of the 1979 Mary Wilson album, The Motown Anthology premieres on CD solo tracks produced by the late Gus Dudgeon, the first-time-available album version of Mary’s new single “Why Can’t We All Get Along,” and Eric Kupper’s remix of “Red Hot.” And, perhaps most intriguingly, the collection premieres seven songs that have not been heard anywhere: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Falling in Love with Love” from the unheard January 13 Supremes live performance at the Frontier; “Send Him to Me,” “If You Let Me Baby,” “Son of a Preacher Man,” “Witchi Tai To,” and “Anytime at All.”
Overseen by Turkessa Babich, Mary Wilson’s daughter, and Jay D. Schwartz, her longtime publicist, the set has been produced by the team of Andrew Skurow, George Solomon, and Joe Marchese and mixed and mastered by Kevin Reeves. Its 44-page booklet is stuffed with rare and previously unpublished color photos plus liner notes from Marchese, Skurow, and best-selling author Mark Bego. The booklet also features detailed track annotations, and exclusive tributes to Mary from such luminaries as Dionne Warwick, Darlene Love, Otis Williams, Duke Fakir, Martha Reeves, Claudette Robinson, Brian and Edward Holland, Rita Coolidge, Merry Clayton, Brenda Russell, Blinky Williams, and RuPaul. Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton has penned a special appreciation, as well, for this ultimate celebration of Supreme legend Mary Wilson.
This week marks significant milestones in Mary Wilson history. October 11, 2018, The Music Modernization Act was passed. Mary played a key role in explaining its importance to members of Congress and how it directly affected artists. She was always fighting for artist rights and was seated in the Senate chambers when it unanimously passed. Her daughter, Turkessa, continues Mary’s mission to pass the American Music Fairness Act (TIMA) & True Origin of Goods Act (TOGA). October 12 marks the 55th anniversary of the release of The Supremes “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” which went on to #1 on the Pop charts and their eighth #1 hit. October 15, 1965 The Supremes debuted at Lincoln Center performing their hits and dazzling the audience. Their talent and showmanship helped pave the way for other artists to perform at venues usually reserved for white entertainers.
