Spangled gowns, big hair and sparkly earrings, The Supremes were the ultimate female ‘60s supergroup initially with Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown.
In 1989, former Supremes backing singer Kaaren Ragland formed her own group called The Sounds of the Supremes with Kathy Merrick and Althea Burkhalter-Peyton.
Kaaren says: “We‘re not a tribute act. The Sounds of The Supremes is a spin-off, but we make it our own through the harmonies, which we‘ve enhanced. When The Supremes made their original recordings they were quite young and their voices were light, plus they did two-part harmonies whereas we do three-part harmonies.
“Althea brings in a gospel-style Tina Turner feel, while Kathy is the soprano and I‘m in the middle so the blend works really nicely.“
The Sounds of the Supremes is now on tour with Johnny Britt, the American singer-songwriter described as Marvin Gaye meets Miles Davis.
He has had two number ones on the Contemporary Jazz Billboard and has worked with David Bowie, Jennifer Lopez, and The Temptations.
On stage, the trio glam it up with neat little suits covered in rhinestones but their outfits are shorter and more snappy than full-on Supreme-style feather boa and sequinned maxi-dress. Just like Diana Ross did in the early days, the ladies do their own hair and make up.
How do they maintain those svelte silhouettes?
“It‘s getting harder and harder, let me tell ya,“ exclaims Kaaren. “We all tend to work out, Kathy is incredibly fit and goes to spin class but then she‘s a bit younger than me and she‘s really wonderfully diligent. I try to do the treadmill when I can and do pilates to try and keep stretched out.“
- Motor City Memories comes to the Radlett Centre, Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, on Sunday, May 4 at 7.30pm. Details: 01923 859291, radlettcentre.co.uk
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