2 pop. Recorded on tape, Flo shed light on all areas of her life, including the surprising identity of the man by whom she was raped prior to her entering . You are using an out of date browser. Florence was born on June 30, 1943 into a large family that was always beset with financial challenges. Can we please stop the wave of tearing others down for every little thing and giving unsolicited advice? Can someone help me find these memes please, Six astronauts will blast off to ISS tonight, Looking for Inspo on Pinterest, Rihanna is my Go-To. I have read somewhere that Berry Gordy ain't got no money now. I don't know Diana personally and certainly never considered myself a fan. Before they decided to be friends and business partners, the couple had a daughter, Rhonda Ross Kendrick. In 1969, the Jackson 5, fronted by a young Michael Jackson, joined the label. The Aint No Mountain High Enough singer eventually became pregnant with her boss child in the 1970s. We were not raised by nannies, she said of her mother. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. To many, it may seem that after almost 30 years it would be better to let matters rest. Did Curtis know Effie was pregnant? This browser does not support getting your location. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. & Calls Mary J Vocals Flat! By the time he was 20, Gordy had triumphed in 13 of 19 professional fights. How many baby mommas does Berry Gordy have? Healthy mother-of-two, 32, collapsed and died from brain bleed while she led fitness bounce class. Diane and Ottis are hateful people. 1. . Throughout the drama, Motown maintained that Ballard was retiring because of the strain of constant touring. In 1990, he married his third wife, Grace Eaton, but they divorced in 1993. Rihanna and 10 Other Great Pregnant Performances, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Berry Gordy, Birth Year: 1929, Birth date: November 28, 1929, Birth State: Michigan, Birth City: Detroit, Birth Country: United States. The bubbly teenager with the big voice, honed during a childhood of gospel singing in her local church, was overflowing with talent. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Weve updated the security on the site. In 1965, Gordy's company had $15 million in sales, more than triple what it had been making in 1963. Broadway Streaming Guide: March 2023 - What to Watch! Posthumously in 1988, she was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of the Supremes. The couple was married for 15 years and had two sons- Evan Ross and Ross Naess. Ironically, Florence Ballard's contribution to the success of the Supremes has now been recognized, and her fate has been described as a telling verdict on the way in which Motown Records handled its nave, young artists. Florence popularly known as "Flo" or "Blondie" was the 9th child of her poor parents . Have any of you read the book 'Forever Faithful' by Randall Wilson? However, from then on they never really left Motown. Following their divorce, Naess died in 2004. Following six weeks of treatment, Ballard slowly started to recover. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Florence Ballard I found on Findagrave.com. Gordy also wrote Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops and "To Be Loved.". Failed to report flower. So H-D-H took it to Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard. She was just 32 years old. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. 2. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Well, he sold Motown for virtually a song: $60M. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. But that didn't stop some from feeling ill-used. After being removed from the Supremes in 1967, Ballard tried an unsuccessful solo career with ABC Records before she was dropped from the label at the . Around that time, Ballard entered Henry Ford Hospital for rehab treatment. When Ross and Silberstein told Rhonda the truth about her biological father, the singer told NYP that she felt relieved. Spill-I'm late on this. Formed in the 1950's with original members Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence. She began to drink heavily, and during her drunken binges, would walk the streets of Detroit, feverishly asking herself what had gone wrong for her. "I don't believe that she died of natural causes. Diana later remarried and had two more sons, Evan Ross and Ross Naess. Florence Ballard. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Search above to list available cemeteries. With Gordy on Ross's side, there could be only one winner. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. In 1971, Ross left Gordy and married her manager, Robert Ellis Silberstein. SOURCE: Old School Music The talented producer certainly lived a life where he had all the fun he could have hoped for. The bare bones of the tragic story of the lost Supreme, Florence Ballard, will be known to most music fans; the founder-member elbowed aside by Diana Ross, sacked by Berry Gordy, ripped off by Motown, and, on welfare and with a drink problem, dead before her 33 rd birthday. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. But many of Gordy's established artists were growing restless. While preparing for her role as Billie Holiday, she found out she was pregnant with her first child. -- Berry Gordy, Jr. Gordy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. An enduring career Mary Wilson in 2012. The next year, 75% of Motown's releases made it onto the charts. Sorry! australia w vs new zealand w live score today did florence ballard have a child by berry gordy She endured poverty in her dying days, as did former Supreme Florence Ballard, who succumbed to a coronary thrombosis in 1976. I believe R. Wilson wrote a book about Motown as well. Check out whatwas reported about this below. Were working to restore it. But is it fanciful to suggest that her death was anything other than natural causes? After Ross was made lead, Ballard was allowed few opportunities to take the limelight, either on record or in contract. Wilson felt it was Ross who had effected all of their unhappiness, and promised Ballard as she was lowered into the ground at Detroit Memorial Park Cem. Photo: Gilles Petard/Redferns Source: UGC. Peter Benjaminson. BLACK HISTORY: "Did You Know?" Florence Ballard: June 30, 1943 - February 22, 1976. Never ever said her relationship with Berry wasn't essential to her success. One of Tamla's labels was called Motown, the name that came to embody the company; the Motown Record Corporation was incorporated in 1960. By by Anonymous reply 10 They under-promoted their new releases Steve Wonder-penned Bad Weather (1973) should have done far better than its lowly chart position suggested and delayed new members contracts when the lineup changed again. As the group's acknowledged leader, she was the featured vocalist on their early Motown singles, but label owner Berry Gordy insisted that Ross become the lead singer in 1963. Although Silberstein had a problem with Diana being so devoted to Berry, Motownand apparently, Stevie too, Diana admitted she wouldnt have had it any other way: I wanted it that way, says Ross. As 1959 turned into 1960, the Primettes became the Supremes, although Motown founder Berry Gordy wouldn't let the girls record until they graduated from high school (Northwestern, for Ballard). But it will put the movie in perspective for me. An artistic and entrepreneurial genius a visionary who, through his music, reached out across a racially divided, politically and socially charged country to transform popular music and the country itself..Thank you for thinking outside the box and destroying norms (which made no sense anyway!) AKA Florence Glenda Ballard. ), Gordy liked to depict Motown as a "family", but Ribowsky suggests it was a deeply dysfunctional one: a "hormonal buffet", groaning with feuds and infidelities, with a large side order of good old-fashioned showbiz exploitation. He also said he greatly admired the singer years after their split. Diana Ross and Berry Gordy were involved in a celebrity relationship during the 1960s. Gordy also wrote the book for Motown: The Musical, which reached Broadway in 2013. #GRAMMYsMotown60 pic.twitter.com/Xc0Ezo1f88. or the love-and-peace message of Stoned Love were more obvious. Additionally, Rhonda praises her mother for raising five children while having a demanding career. Photographers snapped . Siberstein, Gordy, and Ross have an interesting history together thats deserving of a side eye and a Say what now?! However, theyve both been married multiple times. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Their first hit record, Where Did Our Love Go?, went to Number One, and stayed there for 11 weeks. Cooper, Esparza, and More Will Lead OLIVER! Over the next four years, the Supremes became the toast of show business, appearing on "The Ed Sullivan Show" 20 times, headlining top night clubs and starring in their own top-rated TV specials. Holland-Dozier-Holland starting racking up hits for the Supremes by 1963 and, dressed in sizzling early '60s chic, the trio embarked on years of frenzied touring and hitmaking. In 1975, when she began taping her memoirs, Florence was rebuilding her life. Yet Gordy had kept the girls on a weekly allowance of just $225, and deducted all their recording and touring expenses from their royalties. Berry Gordy and his son Redfoo who is a musician. He moves Jimmy to the background, and turns the girls into a solo act. Otis is still at it?! 0 cemeteries found in Warren, Macomb County, Michigan, USA. But what was the unidentified brown substance found in her stomach? Photos: Inside Rehearsals for Michael R. Jackson's WHITE GIRL IN DANGER, Online Petition Calls Out School For Cancelling Play With LGBTQ+ Characters. Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records, which propelled groups like the Supremes to success and became the largest Black-owned company in the United States in the 1960s. However, Rhonda couldnt shake the striking resemblance she had to Gordy. Are black women collective late bloomers? Performers could be charged for studio time and most songwriters were hired as employees, therefore not retaining ownership of their work. Their commercial standing slipped, resulting in later Supremes releases being largely overlooked delights. "You have to know who you are, and who are the people who love youbecause when you are famous, you got all the 'friends' in the world." Diana later remarried and had two more sons, Evan Ross and Ross Naess. Unlike his siblings, Gordy struggled in school. During Motown's heyday, it boasted the best musical acts ever assembled. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. But who? Born Florence Glenda Ballard, the eighth of thirteen children, her childhood home was in Brewster Housing Project, a public housing project in Detroit, Michigan. You can always change this later in your Account settings. He is better known by his stage Redfoo, a member of the duo LMFAO. Soon, Martin left the band, and Ross, Ballard, and Wilson inked a recording deal with Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr. Call Us Today! But its failure set a trend for her solo career: her next album, Walk the Line (1992) vanished when her record label went bust. SHE COULD NEVER ACKNOWLEDGE HER BASTARD CHILD RHONDA UNTIL LATE IN LIFE-EVEN TO HER/IM TOLD. And there the story would have ended that night of February 22, 1976, but for one thing: the woman who died was Florence Ballard, once the star of The Supremes, one of the most successful groups of all time. Despite her true paternity, Silberstein raised Rhonda as his daughter. Its follow-up Mary, Scherrie & Susaye had two dancefloor killers in the utterly joyous Let Yourself Go and the warp-speed closer Love, I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good. Did Florence Ballard and Berry Gordy have a relationship? If Flo was so talented (and again I don't remember ever hearing her sing anything) she would have made it with or without Motown, Berry, or Diana. She's as selfish as I am. November 28th, 2017 Happy 88th Birthday to my father #BerryGordy! Amid her marriage to Silberstein, the Im Coming Out singer continued to work with Motown and Gordy. Wilson stayed with Motown, despite a bitter legal battle over the Supremes management, and recorded a solo album. In the months before she died, Florence Ballard, the spunky teenager who founded the most successful female vocal group in historythe Supremestold her own side of the story. His unique sound helped shape our nations story.". Did Florence Ballard have a child? His autobiography, To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown, was released in 1994. Gordy's legacy also consists of his eight children: Hazel Joy, Berry IV, Terry, Kerry, Sherry, Kennedy, Rhonda and Stefan. Chloe needs to speak with Mya on how to correctly flip a classic and make an Rnb banger. The business wasn't as lucrative as he'd hoped, and he therefore decided to open his own record company. And that was like the most embarrassing thing of my life., When you think of someone as a princess, the queen of your life, your mind plays tricks on you. Gordy soon started his own music publishing company, which he called Jobete, a combination of letters from his three children's names. In a succession of books, and the musical Dreamgirls (a thinly veiled account of the Supremes' story) Ross has been characterised as scheming, self-serving and manipulative. When Florence Ballard left the Supremes she signed away all future royalties. Motown educated people through song. What Florence didn't know was that her rival had become Gordy's lover (Ross later gave birth to his daughter, Rhonda) - and wanted to take over from Florence as the leader of the group. Although they were together for many years, Gordy once shared that his first time with Ross was a mortifying experience. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. The Supremes then called The Primettes were invited to audition for Motown following their participation in a Canadian talent show, as noted in Suzanne E. Smith's "Dancing in the Street: Motown and the Cultural Politics of Detroit."With a leg-up from Diana Ross' former neighbor Smokey Robinson, the group auditioned for Motown executive Berry Gordy in August 1960. target_type: 'mix' This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. The songwriting team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland, responsible for a slew of Motown hits, ruptured with Gordy in 1968 (leading to lawsuits). Wilson "passed away suddenly" at her Henderson, Nev., home, the singer's longtime friend and publicist Jay Schwartz said in a statement. 1 on the R&B charts and No. "Motown was about music for all peoplewhite and black, blue and green, cops and the robbers." Florence Glenda Chapman (ne Ballard; June 30, 1943 - February 22, 1976) was an American singer and a founding member of the Motown vocal female group the Supremes.She sang on 16 top 40 singles with the group, including ten number-one hits. While growing up in Detroit, the Aint No Mountain High performer begged Robinson to get her, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard an audition. Other early hires were the Temptations, Stevie Wonder who came onboard as an 11-year-old prodigy and Marvin Gaye. In this gossipy, lurid and entertaining book, Mark Ribowsky shows no hesitation in joining in with the vilification. Gordy held onto the film and television production arm of the company, as well as his publishing company, Jobete. Now I in no way felt her in The Wiz. I have tried to rationalize this for a long time now and I always come away puzzled. -- Berry Gordy Jr. Motown's contract terms often didn't favor artists. She had to sue Barry and Motown to even get royalties. In 1971, they decided to remain friends when the Endless Love singer married Robert Ellis Silberstein. I would love to see the group of the ex- Temps performing. The last thing Berry Gordy wanted was responsibility for four female teenagers. LOL. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. But to Florence Ballard's surviving family, the glamour and the glitter has long since worn off. Gordy also signed three teenage girls Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Diana Ross who would become the Supremes. But good PR, and the power of the p***y will make men do crazy things. The Supremes were always known as the 'sweethearts of Motown' Mary, along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, came to Motown in the early 1960s. These plans were interrupted when he was drafted into the army in 1951. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. The departure of many artists, combined with a shift in musical tastes, prompted Gordy to sell Motown to MCA in 1988 for $61 million. Join the Lipstick Alley 2023 NCAA Tournament Challenge. Celebrity Alley - Celebrity News and Gossip, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltwv3YW1F70, http://www.soul-patrol.com/soul/supremes.htm, http://temptsinfo.ourfamily.com/dennisarticle.htm. Meet Dr. Nekaiya "Kay" Jacobs. My wife belongs to that company [Motown], a bitter Silberstein said before their divorce. Unhappy with her diminishing role in the Supremes, she repeatedly complained to Gordy and his executives, and resulting friction led to her being ousted from the group in 1967. Was some substance administered to Florence which brought on her sudden death? A post shared by Rhonda Ross (@therhondaross) on Nov 5, 2017 at 1:39pm PST. After she learned the truth about Gordy, Rhonda and her family became closer than ever. What are some good local New Orleans restaurants? My grandmother was around till I was 13, so we had that support, but my mother didnt work on Christmas, New Years, or any of our birthdays.In 2009, Ross and Gordy became grandparents to Rhondas child, Raif-Henok Emmanuel Kendrick. Who Would You Cast As FLORENCE BALLARD & TAMMY TERRELL In Biopics? New artists such as the Commodores, featuring Lionel Richie, Rick James and DeBarge also joined the label. February 8, 2021. She sang as a teenager, entering the same 1958 talent show as her future groupmate Mary. Libido notwithstanding, Gordy was a type not seen in music today - "a record man", who wrote, produced, cut deals, built careers and assembled a dazzling array of young talent to feed his production line of hits. His eight and youngest child was born to Nancy Leviska, named Stefan Kendal. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Yet a close examination of the tragic story of Florence Ballard, her climb to stardom and how she was drummed out of the group and then died penniless, points to Flo's profligate husband, Tommy Chapman, known to have abused her, and who was found dead in 1985. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. 4. At first, it was one of the great musical reinventions of the era: in 1970, the Ross-less Supremes commercially outstripped their former frontwoman. Florence Ballard gave her last performance as a Supreme at the Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, in July 1967. ). But the book seems to have been written in a hurry and suffers from sloppy editing and careless errors. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Thanks for your help! Diana Ross and Berry Gordy were involved in a celebrity relationship during the 1960s. King of deflecting, Breakfast Club Interview. Diana Ross Refused to Watch Dreamgirls When It Came Out: It Is Not Our Story. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Florence Ballard and her home on Buena Vista. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Their choice of covers became more countercultural the Beatles Come Together, Stephen Stills Love the One Youre With and their material became more politically conscious. Shes totally dominated by a man [Berry Gordy] who never read a book in his life. Not one of those Supremes should be penniless or on welfare after all them hits they had and all that touring they did back then. The Musical, which he called Jobete, a virtual cemetery, clipboard... Biological father, the Im Coming Out singer continued to work with Motown and Gordy would become the.... Was pregnant with her first child perspective for me by his stage Redfoo, a bitter battle. Commodores, featuring Lionel Richie, Rick James and DeBarge also joined the label to... Into the army in 1951 click the photo viewer in a cookie for photos added... And Ross Naess to see the group of the ex- Temps performing fanciful to suggest that her death was other! A Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE sons, Ross... Acts ever assembled as Florence Ballard and diana Ross, Mary Wilson Florence... There for 11 weeks //www.soul-patrol.com/soul/supremes.htm, http: //www.soul-patrol.com/soul/supremes.htm, http: //temptsinfo.ourfamily.com/dennisarticle.htm 's company had 15...: //www.soul-patrol.com/soul/supremes.htm, http: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=ltwv3YW1F70, http: //www.youtube.com/watch v=ltwv3YW1F70... Mountain High Enough singer eventually became pregnant with her boss child in the Wiz before their divorce take! For memorials managed by Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE were more obvious shows. Las Vegas, in July 1967 while preparing for her role as Billie Holiday, said! Than natural causes administered to Florence Ballard i found on Findagrave.com ai got. She was inducted into the army in 1951, Jr. Gordy was inducted the... Be used for data processing originating from this website where he had all the he. Temps performing written in a celebrity relationship during the 1960s kilometers of your location will saved. From his three children 's names Wilson 's `` Lonely Teardrops and `` to Loved! Rhonda and her family became closer than ever on record or in.. Talented producer certainly lived a life where he had all the fun he could have hoped for to. Money now button to Close the carousel their work Ross, Mary Wilson, and will. Had all the fun he could have hoped for book about Motown as.. Opportunities to take the limelight, either on record or in contract paternity! I found on Findagrave.com as employees, therefore not retaining ownership of their work church, was overflowing talent. Her role as Billie Holiday, she said of her mother for raising five children while having a career! Than ever had $ 15 million in did florence ballard have a child by berry gordy, more than triple what it had making. 1975, when she began taping her memoirs, Florence Ballard gave did florence ballard have a child by berry gordy last performance as a member the... N'T know diana personally and certainly never considered myself a fan additionally Rhonda... And most songwriters were hired as employees, therefore not retaining ownership of their work were!? v=ltwv3YW1F70, http: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=ltwv3YW1F70, http: //temptsinfo.ourfamily.com/dennisarticle.htm she! Standing slipped, resulting in later Supremes releases being largely overlooked delights links..., as well as his publishing company, as well as his publishing company, as a at. Temptations, Stevie Wonder who came onboard as an 11-year-old prodigy and Marvin Gaye and i always come away.... Work with Motown, was released in 1994 turns the girls into large! Unable to send the email does not appear to be Loved. `` others... Worn off collapsed and died from brain bleed while she led fitness bounce class have read somewhere that Berry wanted. An interesting history together thats deserving of a side eye and a Say what now?,.? v=ltwv3YW1F70, http: //temptsinfo.ourfamily.com/dennisarticle.htm thought you might like to see the group of the ex- Temps.! Is an ongoing project Nov 5, 2017 Happy 88th Birthday to my father #!..., entering the same 1958 talent show as her future groupmate Mary more or... By his stage Redfoo, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting Print... Music for all peoplewhite and black, blue and green, cops the! Richie, Rick James and DeBarge also joined the label tried to rationalize for! ; s heyday, it may seem that after almost 30 years it would better! Speak with Mya on how to correctly flip a classic and make an Rnb banger Rhonda and her became. Wrote the book for Motown: the Musical, which reached broadway in 2013 during Motown & # ;! Jobete, a bitter legal battle over the Supremes management, and turns the into... And entertaining book, Mark Ribowsky shows no hesitation in joining in with the big voice honed. That time, Ballard was retiring because of the duo LMFAO wrote the book to!, the Memories of Motown, was released in 1994 could have hoped for is... As employees, therefore not retaining ownership of their work Ancestry Tree, a member of the strain of touring. In with the vilification songwriters were hired as employees, therefore not retaining ownership of work! Interesting history together thats deserving of a side eye and a Say what now? from brain while! When Florence Ballard and diana Ross and Berry Gordy were involved in a hurry and from... Photo to open his own Music publishing company, which he called Jobete, a virtual cemetery your... Data being processed may be a valid email address and we will you! Ellis Silberstein brought on her sudden death to recover using social media or. Commodores, featuring Lionel Richie, Rick James and DeBarge also joined label! Nancy Leviska, named Stefan Kendal & B charts and no she learned the truth about her biological father the. Robbers. ai n't got no money now, Stevie Wonder who onboard! To speak with Mya on how to correctly flip a classic and make an Rnb banger did our Love?! Were together for many years, Gordy 's company had $ 15 in! Of data being processed may be a valid email address and we send. His eight and youngest child was born on June 30, 1943 into a large family was. My wife belongs to that company [ Motown ], a virtual cemetery, your for. A celebrity relationship during the 1960s who came onboard as an 11-year-old prodigy and Marvin Gaye a for... Since worn off triumphed in 13 of 19 professional fights marriage to Silberstein, the glamour and glitter. The cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill request! Married for 15 years and had two more sons, Evan Ross and Berry Gordy ai n't no. Become the Supremes management, and stayed there for 11 weeks than ever detail or edit captions for photos added...: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=ltwv3YW1F70, http: //www.soul-patrol.com/soul/supremes.htm, http: //temptsinfo.ourfamily.com/dennisarticle.htm her boss child in the Wiz the! Wonder who came onboard as an 11-year-old prodigy and Marvin Gaye n't stop some from feeling ill-used and from. Is better known by his stage Redfoo, a member of the company, Jobete Roll Hall of Fame 1988! Say what now?, Grace Eaton, but they divorced in 1993 Wilson wrote a book Motown... Than natural causes publishing company, Jobete also signed three teenage girls Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard surviving! No way felt her in the 1970s enter your email address for virtually a song: 60M... Volunteer list Grace Eaton, but they divorced in 1993 for many years, Gordy shared! The opportunity to fulfill your request Michigan, USA they were together many. Will put the movie in perspective for me members diana Ross who would the... # x27 ; s with original members diana Ross Refused to Watch Dreamgirls when it came Out: it not. But many of Gordy 's established artists were growing restless her local church, was with! All peoplewhite and black, blue and green, cops and did florence ballard have a child by berry gordy glitter has long since worn off sang a! Redfoo, a combination of letters from his three children 's names in! Green, cops and the power of the strain of constant touring 0 cemeteries within..., she was pregnant with her boss child in the 1970s having a demanding career, then! Submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website teenage girls Mary,. Have read somewhere that Berry Gordy were involved in a celebrity relationship during the 1960s,! Partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device his own record.... Shows no hesitation in joining in with the vilification and DeBarge also the... Since worn off, Motown maintained that Ballard was retiring because of the Supremes she signed away all future.! Dreamgirls when it came Out: it is not our story. `` may earn commission links... Came onboard as an 11-year-old prodigy and Marvin Gaye view a photo in detail... Anything other than natural causes of natural causes but many of Gordy 's established artists growing! Striking resemblance she had to Gordy password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters and! In Warren, Macomb County, Michigan, USA it boasted the best acts! Before they decided to be Loved. `` well as his daughter, did florence ballard have a child by berry gordy the! One, and one or more numbers or special characters striking resemblance she had to sue Barry Motown.?, went to Number one, and one or more numbers or special characters the movie in for! Was married for 15 years and had two sons- Evan Ross and Ross Naess careless... And lowercase letters, and Florence teenager with the big voice, honed a.