Barbara Diane Martin (born 1944) in Detroit, Michigan is an African-American singer; better known for being one of the original founding members of Motown singing group The Supremes. After The Primettes dropped Betty McGlown from their lineup due to McGlown's upcoming nuptials, Martin replaced her in the group in 1960. She and her groupmates Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, and Diana Ross (then known as Diane) signed a record deal with Motown found...
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Barbara Diane Martin (born 1944) in Detroit, Michigan is an African-American singer; better known for being one of the original founding members of Motown singing group The Supremes. After The Primettes dropped Betty McGlown from their lineup due to McGlown's upcoming nuptials, Martin replaced her in the group in 1960. She and her groupmates Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, and Diana Ross (then known as Diane) signed a record deal with Motown founder Berry Gordy on January 15, 1961 as The Supremes, a name that Ballard had chosen, and became part of the Motown stable of performers.
In between recording a handful of early singles, none of which became hits, Martin, Wilson, Ross, and Ballard worked as studio singers and hand clappers for other leading groups. In October 1961, Martin became pregnant. Her husband supported her decision to stay in the group, but she left in the early spring of 1962 - leaving Ballard, Ross, and Wilson a trio.
Although Martin sang on many of the group's early...
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