Jean Terrell

Velma Jean Terrell (born November 26, 1944) is an American R&B and jazz singer. She replaced Diana Ross as the lead singer of The Supremes in 1970.^[1]

Jean Terrell
Birth name	Velma Jean Terrell
Born	(1944-11-26) November 26, 1944 (age 79) Belzoni, Mississippi, U.S.
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul jazz
Occupation(s)	Singer
Labels	A&M

Biography

Early life and career

She is the sister of the former WBA heavyweight boxing champion Ernie Terrell, who fought Muhammad Ali.^[2][1]

Before her career with the Supremes, she sang with her brother Ernie in the group Ernie Terrell and the Knockouts (sometimes the Heavyweights).^[3]

The Supremes (1970–1973)

In 1969, Motown president Berry Gordy discovered Terrell in 1969 in Miami, where she was performing with her brother at a club.^[4] Looking for a replacement for Diana Ross, who was leaving the group she had fronted during most of the 1960s, the Supremes, for a solo career, Gordy first signed Terrell to Motown as a solo artist, but decided her to join the Supremes as Ross's replacement alongside Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, as announced in 1969.^[5]

After Ross's farewell show with the group at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas on January 14, 1970, Terrell joined the group on stage to be presented to the press and public. After this introduction, according to Mary Wilson, Gordy changed his mind about Terrell leading the group and suggested replacing her with Syreeta Wright.^[6] Gordy said:

I don't like Jean. I want to replace her with Syreeta.^[6]

Wilson vetoed this move, instead wanting to continue the group with Terrell.^[7]

The group scored more chart success at the beginning of the new decade, scoring hits in the United Kingdom, while having several pop and soul hits in the United States, including "Up the Ladder to the Roof", "Everybody's Got the Right to Love", "Stoned Love", "River Deep – Mountain High" (with the Four Tops), "Nathan Jones", and "Floy Joy".^[8][3]

After the success of "Floy Joy," Birdsong quit after getting pregnant and was replaced by Lynda Laurence.^[9] Despite the success towards the end of 1973, Terrell and Laurence decided that it would be best for the Supremes to leave Motown and seek another record label, however, Motown owned the name "Supremes", and both Terrell and Laurence left the group that year.^[9] All three Supremes were not interested with Motown's seeming lack of interest in promoting this line-up of the group, in addition, Laurence was expecting a child at the time.^[9] Scherrie Payne, sister of Freda Payne, replaced Terrell^[10][11] and Cindy Birdsong returned to replace Laurence in 1973.^[12]

Solo career

Signing a contract with A&M Records, A&M issued a solo album by Terrell, I Had to Fall in Love, in 1978, which did not make impact on any charts.^[3][13] She did have a minor hit with "Don't Stop Reaching for the Top", which peaked at #72 on the R&B charts.^[14][15][10] In the early 1980s, Terrell put together a one-woman show, and did limited touring throughout the United States, and her act consisted of several Supremes songs, songs from her solo album and cover versions of songs by Bette Midler and Lionel Richie.^[16] Laurence would often perform background vocals for Terrell throughout the shows in the tour.^[13][16] Another who performed backing vocals for Terrell during these tours was Freddi Poole, later a member of Payne and Laurence's group the Former Ladies of the Supremes.^[16][13]

Former Ladies of the Supremes

In 1985, eight years after the Supremes officially broke up in 1977, Payne was signed to SuperStar International Records, a Los Angeles-based record label.^[17] Her then-partner Ronnie Phillips approached her with the idea of reforming the Supremes, to which she agreed, and asked Wilson and Birdsong to join the group.^[17] Wilson declined, instead opting to continue her solo career, while Birdsong agreed and persuaded Terrell to join the new group.

The grouping of Terrell, Payne and Birdsong set about forming a spinoff group of the Supremes, although due to contractual difficulties over the ownership of the name.^[17] They decided to create an entirely new group using the abbreviation "FLOS", for the name the Former Ladies of the Supremes.^[17] Before the group began their career, Birdsong left for a solo career, and Laurence joined the lineup alongside Terrell and Payne, replacing Birdsong just as she had in 1972, and the group released the song "We're Back", released on SuperStar International Records.^[17] However, the label did not have national distribution, the song failed to chart and the label folded after. The group began touring and performing in shows around this time, making their debut at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles in 1987.^[18] By then, they recorded several singles for the United Kingdom-based Motorcity Records label for Ian Levine throughout 1989 and 1990, joining a roster of former Motown artists.^[3]

Recent years

In December 1992, Terrell left the group and was replaced by Sundray Tucker.^[19][20] Terrell released a biographical DVD, "Through the Eyes of a Supreme", and today she has continued to sing onstage with various jazz musicians.^[13] She made an occasional appearance onstage (along with Poole and Mary Flowers), singing Supremes hits.^[21]

Personal life

Jean was married to Juan Thompson.^[22] The union produced two sons, Jason and Jonathan.

Discography

Main article: The Supremes discography

Albums

With The Supremes

List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications

All records released on Motown Records.

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions							Sales	Certifications
		US ^[23]	US R&B /HH ^[24]	US Record World ^[25]	CAN ^[26]	GER ^[27]	NOR ^[28]	UK ^[29]
Right On	Released: April 26, 1970^[30] Label: Motown (#Motown 705)^[31] Format: LP, cassette	25	4	24	41	—	—	—
The Magnificent 7 (with the Four Tops)	Released: September, 1970^[32] Label: Motown (#MS 717)^[33] Format: LP, cassette	113	18	102	73	—	—	6	UK: 30,000^[A]
New Ways but Love Stays	Released: October, 1970^[35] Label: Motown (#MS 720)^[36] Format: LP, cassette	68	12	43	—	—	—	—
The Return of the Magnificent Seven (with the Four Tops)	Released: June, 1971^[37] Label: Motown (#MS 736)^[38] Format: LP, cassette	154	18	72	—	—	—	—
Touch	Released: June, 1971^[39] Label: Motown (#MS 737)^[40] Format: LP, 4-track, 8-track	85	6	66	—	—	—	40
Dynamite (with the Four Tops)	Released: December, 1971 Label: Motown (#M 745 L) ^[41] Format: LP, cassette	160	21	–	—	—	—	—
Floy Joy	Released: May, 1972 Label: Motown (#M 7511 L)^[42] Format: LP, 8-track, cassette	54	12	44	–	—	—	—
The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb	Released: November, 1972 Label: Motown (#M 756 L)^[43] ^[44] Format: LP	129	27	104	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not released

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, sales and certifications, showing year released and album name

All records released on Motown Records.

A-side title B-side title	Year	Peak chart positions										Sales	Certifications	Album
		US ^[45]	US R&B /HH ^[46]	AUS ^[47]	BEL (WA) ^[48]	BGK ^[49]	CAN ^[50]	IRE ^[51]	ISL ^[52]	NLD ^[53]	UK ^[29]
The Supremes
"Up the Ladder to the Roof" "Bill, When Are You Coming Back"	1970	10	5	43	—	—	8	—	10	—^[B]	6	US: 1,000,000^[C]		Right On
"Everybody's Got the Right to Love" "But I Love You More"		21	11	—	—	—	14	—	—	—^[D]	—
"Stoned Love" "Shine on Me"		7	1	99	37	—	9	19	6	—	3	US: 1,000,000^[E] UK: 59,000^[F]		New Ways but Love Stays
"River Deep, Mountain High" "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music" (with the Four Tops)		14	7	—	35	—	20	12	—	25	11			The Magnificent 7
"Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" "Where Would I Be Without You Baby" (with the Four Tops)		—	—	56	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"A Taste of Honey"^[I] "Knock on My Door" (with the Four Tops)	1971	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—^[G]	—
"Nathan Jones" "Happy (Is a Bumpy Road)"		16	8	—	42	—	15	—	—	27	5	US: 1,000,000^[H]		Touch
"You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart" "I'm Glad About It" (with the Four Tops)		55	41	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	25			The Return of the Magnificent Seven
"Touch" "It's So Hard for Me to Say Good-bye"		71	—	—	—	—	71	—	—	—	—			Touch
"Floy Joy" "This Is the Story" (from Touch)		16	5	—	—	—	31	—	—	—	9	US: 1,000,000^[I]		Floy Joy
"Automatically Sunshine" "Precious Little Things"	1972	37	21	—	—	3	49	—	10	—	10
"Without the One You Love" "Let's Make Love Now" (with the Four Tops)		—	—	—	—	17	—	—	—	—	—			The Magnificent 7
"Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" "The Wisdom of Time"		59	22	—	—	—	81	—	—	—	—			Floy Joy
"I Guess I'll Miss the Man" "Over and Over" (from Floy Joy)		85	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—			The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb
"Bad Weather" "Oh Be My Love" (from Floy Joy)	1973	87	74	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	37			Non-album single
"Tossin' and Turnin'" "Oh Be My Love" (from Floy Joy)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—			The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb

References

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    • For Right On: "The Album Chart: Week of July 11, 1970" (PDF). Record World. worldradiohistory.com. July 11, 1970. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
    • For New Ways but Love Stays: "The Album Chart: Week of December 12, 1970" (PDF). Record World. worldradiohistory.com. December 12, 1970. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
    • For Touch: "The Album Chart: Week of August 7, 1971" (PDF). Record World. worldradiohistory.com. August 7, 1971. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
    • For Floy Joy: "The Album Chart: Week of July 8, 1972" (PDF). Record World. worldradiohistory.com. July 8, 1972. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
    • For The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb: "101 The Album Chart 150: Week of December 23, 1972" (PDF). Record World. worldradiohistory.com. December 23, 1972. p. 37. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
26. • For all The Supremes' search results in Canada's RPM Top Albums chart archive:"Results: RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada (The Supremes: Top Albums)". RPM. July 17, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
    
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    • For Right On: "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". RPM. July 17, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
    • For The Magnificent 7: "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". RPM. July 17, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
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32. "The Magnificent 7 by The Supremes on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
33. "101 The Album Chart 150: Week of November 21, 1970" (PDF). Record World. worldradiohistory.com. November 21, 1970. p. 46. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
34. Phillips, Paul (December 25, 1971). "U.K. Motown in Biggest Ever Year". Billboard. p. 46. Retrieved January 1, 2020 – via Google Books.
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36. "The Album Chart: Week of December 12, 1970" (PDF). Record World. worldradiohistory.com. December 12, 1970. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
37. "The Return of the Magnificent 7 by The Supremes on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
38. "The Album Chart: Week of July 24, 1971" (PDF). Record World. worldradiohistory.com. July 24, 1971. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
39. "Touch by The Supremes on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
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45. "The Supremes | Biography, Music & News". Billboard.
46. "The Supremes: US R&B". Billboard.
47. 
    The Supremes:
    • For "Stoned Love":
    "Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1971". Kent Music Report. Top 100 Singles. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
    • For "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)":
    "Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1970". Kent Music Report. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
48. "ultratop.be - Discografie The Supremes". Ultratop. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
49. • "For "Automatically Sunshine": "Billboard Hits of the World". Billboard. September 2, 1972. p. 56.
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50. 
    1970 singles:
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    • For "Everybody's Got the Right to Love": "Image : RPM Weekly". RPM. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
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    1971 singles:
    • For "Nathan Jones": "Image : RPM Weekly". RPM. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
    • For "Touch": "Image : RPM Weekly". RPM. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
    • For "Floy Joy": "Image : RPM Weekly". RPM. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
    
    1972 singles:
    • For "Automatically Sunshine": "Image : RPM Weekly". RPM. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
    • For "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love": "Image : RPM Weekly". RPM. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
    
    1976 singles:
    • For "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking": "Image : RPM Weekly". RPM. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
51. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know" (Enter Supremes into Search by Artist. box and click search). Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved February 5, 2021 – via irishcharts.ie.
52. • For "Up the Ladder to the Roof": "Lesbók Morgunblaðsins - 23. tölublað (14.06.1970)". Lesbók Morgunblaðsins (in Icelandic). June 14, 1970. p. 15. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
    • For "Stoned Love": "Vísir - 56. Tölublað (09.03.1971)". Vísir (in Icelandic). March 9, 1971. p. 2. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
    • For "Automatically Sunshine": "Alþýðublaðið - 186. Tölublað (22.08.1972)". Alþýðublaðið (in Icelandic). August 22, 1970. p. 6. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
53. • For Dutch Single Top 100:
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54. "The Supremes - Up The Ladder To The Roof | Top 40". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
55. J. Randy Taraborrelli (1986). Motown: Hot Wax, City Cool & Solid Gold. Doubleday. p. 105. ISBN 9780385197991. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
56. "The Supremes - Everybody's Got The Right To Love You | Top 40". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
57. Copsey, Rob (August 26, 2019). "The Official Top 100 Motown songs of the Millennium". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
58. "The Supremes & Four Tops - A Taste Of Honey | Top 40". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
59. Joseph Murrells (1984). Million Selling Records from the 1900s to the 1980s: An Illustrated Directory. London: B.T. Batsford. p. 356. ISBN 0-7134-3843-6.

Notes

1. "A Taste of Honey" was only released in the Netherlands, Lebanon and Turkey.

1. United Kingdom sales figure for The Magnificent 7, as of 1971.^[34]
2. "Up the Ladder to the Roof" did not enter the Dutch Top 40, but peaked at number 2 on the Tipparade, 'bubbling under' Top 40 chart.^[54]
3. United States sales figure for "Up the Ladder to the Roof", as of 1986.^[55]
4. "Everybody's Got the Right to Love" did not enter the Dutch Top 40, but peaked at number 18 on the Tipparade, 'bubbling under' Top 40 chart.^[56]
5. United States sales figure for "Stoned Love", as of 1986.^[55]
6. United Kingdom digital sales figure for "Stoned Love", as of 2019.^[57]
7. "A Taste of Honey" did not enter the Dutch Top 40, but peaked at number 7 on the Tipparade, 'bubbling under' Top 40 chart.^[58]
8. United States sales figure for "Nathan Jones", as of 1986.^[55]
9. United States sales figure for "Floy Joy", as of 1984.^[59]

External links

• Jean Terrell at AllMusic
• Jean Terrell discography at Discogs