Florence Ballard - Vocalist, Life Achievements and Facts
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Florence Ballard's Personal Details
Florence Ballard was an American vocalist and one of the founding members of the female pop vocal group, ‘The Supremes’
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | June 30, 1943 |
| Died on | February 22, 1976 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Blues Singers, Rhythm, Vocalist, Singers, Rhythm & Blues Singers |
| City/State | Michigan |
| Birth Place | Detroit, Michigan |
| Gender | Female |
| Sun Sign | Cancer |
| Born in | Detroit, Michigan |
| Famous as | Vocalist |
| Died at Age | 32 |
// Famous Blues Singers
Florence Ballard's photo
Who is Florence Ballard?
Florence Ballard Chapman was one of the founding members of the female-singing group, ‘The Supremes’. She was well-known for her deep, rich and soulful voice but her fame was soon eclipsed by Diane Ross, a fellow member of her group. While in high school, she used to participate in talent shows and got noticed for her unique voice and stage persona. Her singing talent caught the attention of a reputed record label and subsequently, she was offered an audition for a band. Her stint with ‘The Supremes’ was not very fruitful, as she was not given the opportunity to prove her mettle as a lead singer and was often consigned to background vocals. After a bitter strife and argument with the manager, she was ousted from the group as she retaliated by missing performances or record sessions. She also led a brief unsuccessful stint as a solo singer, but her life soon spiralled downwards due to poverty and alcoholism. Later, her financial conditions started improving and she made a comeback as a singer. Her career was, however, cut short due to her untimely death.
// Famous Vocalist
Childhood & Early Life
Florence Glenda Ballard was the ninth child born to Jesse and Lurlee Ballard in Detroit, Michigan.
She was introduced to the world of music and trained by her father, who was a musician himself. She attended ‘Northwestern High School’.
After noticing her vocal talent, the manager of a vocal group, ‘Primes’ approached her to join their sister group ‘Primettes’ in 1959. She soon asked her friend, Mary Wilson to audition for the same and the duo were selected. The group became a quartet when the manager brought in singers, Diane Ross and Betty McGlown.
They landed their first audition for American record producer, Berry Gordy’s ‘MoTown Records’ but were advised to graduate from high school as they were too young to become professional singers. Eventually, all the group mates graduated from high school, while Ballard dropped out.
In 1960, she suffered a misery that changed her entire outlook towards life. From the happy and bubbly girl that she was, she became a recluse, after being raped by a local high school basketball player at knifepoint.
Career
The ‘Primettes’ released their first record ‘Tears of Sorrow’ under the label, ‘Lupine Records’ but it didn’t taste great success.
In August 1960, the band recorded the singles, ‘After All’, ‘You Can Depend on Me’ and ‘Buttered Popcorn’, which catapulted them to fame.
On January 1, 1961, the band was renamed to ‘The Supremes’, following which, they signed a contract with ‘MoTown Records’.
In 1962, Ballard left the group and joined an all-girl group, ‘The Marvelettes’ as a vocalist by replacing singer Wanda Young who was on maternity leave.
A few of her never-released singles include ‘Ain’t That Good News’, ‘People’ and ‘It Makes No Difference Now’.
In 1966, due to excessive alcoholism and weight gain, she was replaced by another vocalist, which ended her tenure with ‘The Supremes’.
From 1963-1967, during her time with ‘The Supremes’ she managed to deliver ten ‘number one’ songs and sixteen ‘top forty’ singles.
In 1968, she signed a deal with ‘ABC Records’ and released two of her singles, ‘It Doesn’t Matter How I Say It’ and ‘Love Ain’t Love’. They failed commercially, which resulted in her later albums getting shelved by the record label.
On June 25, 1975, she performed at the ‘Henry and Edsel Ford Auditorium’, Detroit and made a comeback as a singer with a new record deal.
Major Works
In 1964, she was the lead vocalist for the song ‘People’, which featured in ‘The Supremes’ album, ‘There’s A Place for Us’. It soon became her trademark song and she started performing in auditoriums, for concerts and in nightclubs which lasted for two decades.
Awards & Achievements
In 1988, she was posthumously inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’.
Personal Life & Legacy
On February 29, 1968, she married a chauffeur, Thomas Chapman and the couple had twin girls the same year.
In 1971, she gave birth to a third child but was deserted by her husband, which led to a financial crisis in the family.
Although her comeback was a success, she dealt with health problems due to alcoholism. She died of cardiac arrest, at the age of 32, in Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital. She is buried at the ‘Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery’ in Michigan.
In 2006, the musical drama ‘Dreamgirls’ starring Jennifer Hudson and Beyonc� Knowles was released and was made a ‘film a clef’, featuring the albums by ‘The Supremes’ and ‘MoTown Records’.
Trivia
This prominent female singer was blessed with a powerful voice and was asked by the studio engineers to stand 17 feet away from the microphone while recording a song.
// Famous Rhythm
Florence Ballard biography timelines
- // 30th Jun 1943Florence Glenda Ballard was the ninth child born to Jesse and Lurlee Ballard in Detroit, Michigan.
- // 1959After noticing her vocal talent, the manager of a vocal group, ‘Primes’ approached her to join their sister group ‘Primettes’ in 1959. She soon asked her friend, Mary Wilson to audition for the same and the duo were selected. The group became a quartet when the manager brought in singers, Diane Ross and Betty McGlown.
- // 1960In 1960, she suffered a misery that changed her entire outlook towards life. From the happy and bubbly girl that she was, she became a recluse, after being raped by a local high school basketball player at knifepoint.
- // 1960In August 1960, the band recorded the singles, ‘After All’, ‘You Can Depend on Me’ and ‘Buttered Popcorn’, which catapulted them to fame.
- // 1st Jan 1961On January 1, 1961, the band was renamed to ‘The Supremes’, following which, they signed a contract with ‘MoTown Records’.
- // 1962In 1962, Ballard left the group and joined an all-girl group, ‘The Marvelettes’ as a vocalist by replacing singer Wanda Young who was on maternity leave.
- // 1963 To 1967From 1963-1967, during her time with ‘The Supremes’ she managed to deliver ten ‘number one’ songs and sixteen ‘top forty’ singles.
- // 1964In 1964, she was the lead vocalist for the song ‘People’, which featured in ‘The Supremes’ album, ‘There’s A Place for Us’. It soon became her trademark song and she started performing in auditoriums, for concerts and in nightclubs which lasted for two decades.
- // 1966In 1966, due to excessive alcoholism and weight gain, she was replaced by another vocalist, which ended her tenure with ‘The Supremes’.
- // 1968In 1968, she signed a deal with ‘ABC Records’ and released two of her singles, ‘It Doesn’t Matter How I Say It’ and ‘Love Ain’t Love’. They failed commercially, which resulted in her later albums getting shelved by the record label.
- // 29th Feb 1968On February 29, 1968, she married a chauffeur, Thomas Chapman and the couple had twin girls the same year.
- // 1971In 1971, she gave birth to a third child but was deserted by her husband, which led to a financial crisis in the family.
- // 25th Jun 1975On June 25, 1975, she performed at the ‘Henry and Edsel Ford Auditorium’, Detroit and made a comeback as a singer with a new record deal.
- // 22nd Feb 1976Although her comeback was a success, she dealt with health problems due to alcoholism. She died of cardiac arrest, at the age of 32, in Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital. She is buried at the ‘Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery’ in Michigan.
- // 1988In 1988, she was posthumously inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’.
- // 2006In 2006, the musical drama ‘Dreamgirls’ starring Jennifer Hudson and Beyonc� Knowles was released and was made a ‘film a clef’, featuring the albums by ‘The Supremes’ and ‘MoTown Records’.
// Famous Rhythm & Blues Singers
Florence Ballard's FAQ
What is Florence Ballard birthday?
Florence Ballard was born at 1943-06-30
When was Florence Ballard died?
Florence Ballard was died at 1976-02-22
Where was Florence Ballard died?
Florence Ballard was died in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Which age was Florence Ballard died?
Florence Ballard was died at age 32
Where is Florence Ballard's birth place?
Florence Ballard was born in Detroit, Michigan
What is Florence Ballard nationalities?
Florence Ballard's nationalities is American
What is Florence Ballard's sun sign?
Florence Ballard is Cancer
How famous is Florence Ballard?
Florence Ballard is famouse as Vocalist