Former Ladies of the Supremes

The Former Ladies of the Supremes, or FLOS, is a singing group that was formed by 1970s Supremes Jean Terrell, Lynda Laurence and Scherrie Payne, in 1986. Though they weren't actually Supremes members, singers Sundray Tucker and Freddi Poole have also sung with the group, with Poole in the most recent lineup of the group.

Biography

Early years

In 1985, eight years after the Supremes officially broke up in 1977, Scherrie Payne (acknowledged by Motown as the third and final Supremes lead singer), was signed to Superstar International Records, an Los Angeles based record company. Superstar approached her with the idea of reforming the Supremes, to which she agreed, and called on former Supremes Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong. Wilson declined, instead opting to forge a solo career, while Birdsong agreed and coaxed former Supreme Jean Terrell to join the new Supreme group.

The three of them set about forming a new incarnation of The Supremes, although due to contractual difficulties over the ownership of the name (Mary Wilson was involved in lengthy lawsuits with Motown over ownership and rights to the name) decided to create an entirely new group under the name "FLOS", The Former Ladies of THE SUPREMES. It's worth noting here that despite Wilson's costly efforts over many years to gain ownership of the group name, she never succeeded and eventually accepted Berry Gordy/Motown's settlement offer of one third of a third entitlement of the trademarked name THE SUPREMES. Wilson kept her share for a brief period before selling it back to Motown to improve her bad financial situation. Before the FLOS got off the ground, Birdsong left for a solo career recording briefly for U.K. based Hi-Hat Records. Former Supreme Lynda Laurence joined the lineup, replacing Cindy Birdsong just as she had in 1971 and in 1986, the group was officially formed. The group released the song, "We're Back", backed with "Getaway", as both & & 12" versions. It featured all three ladies showcasing their vocals with a contemporary pop sound. However, because Suprestar International Records didn't have national distribution, the song failed to chart and the label very soon folded. The group began touring around this time, making their debut at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles in 1987. Former Supreme Mary Wilson came along to show support to her former groupmates at this concert. It's also worth noting that at the concert providing backing vocals was Lynda's sister and soon-to-be group member Sundray Tucker.

Motorcity Records

In 1989 the FLOS signed to British producer Ian Levine's Motorcity Records project, joining a roster of former Motown artists at the label. The first single by the FLOS on the label was an original tune, released in the summer of 1989 was "Crazy About The Guy" (MOTC 13), which featured Jean on lead vocals. This single, together with all releases by the group on the Motorcity Records label ran the credit as Jean, Scherrie & Lynda Formerly of The Supremes. The follow-up single was a re-make of the classic Supremes hit "Stoned Love" (MOTC 56) which saw Scherrie and Jean splitting lead vocal duties between them. The 'B' side contained a live version of "Crazy About The Guy". The next single was "I Want To Be Loved" (MOTC 77), showcasing the lead vocals of all three ladies. The 'B' side contained two remixes of the track. The final single for Motorcity, the Lynda-led "Hit & Miss" (MOTC 88), was released in 1991. The ladies also released a single with label-mates, The Originals, an original tune, "Back By Popular Demand", which Laurence has stated as one of her favorite songs on the Motorcity label. An album, "Bouncing Back" was scheduled to be released but the label ran into financial difficulty before the album could be released. The album eventually was released by different labels. One song scheduled for inclusion on the album was 'How Do You Keep The Music Playing' which has since become a staple of the group's live act.

Enter Sundray Tucker

The FLOS' lineup changed again when in late December 1992, Jean Terrell left and was replaced by Lynda's sister, Sundray Tucker. Sundray made her concert debut with the group in March 1993 when the group made another tour of the country. Several shows from the tour were recorded but have not been released. One track taken from this tour "Sukiyaki" saw release on the limited edition album 'Something Special' produceed by Steve Weaver in 1998 which featured several tracks by the group as well as a couple of solo tracks by both Lynda and Cindy Birdsong.

In 1994 The FLOS released their first studio album with Sundray Tucker onboard. The resulting album 'Supreme Voices' featured all three ladies taking lead vocal duties. Scherrie, Lynda & Sundray shared lead vocals on three songs, 'Give Me The Night', a remake of the George Benson classic hit; a remake of 70's Supremes hit, 'Up The Ladder To The Roof', which featured guest vocals by former Supreme Cindy Birdsong; and 'How Do You Keep The Music Playing'.

The following year another album, this time produced by Steve Weaver from Birmingham, England, was released entitled 'Supremely Yours'. Following on the same format as the previous album, all three ladies have equal number of lead vocals and also share lead vocals on three songs ' Stop To Love', 'Feel Like Making Love' and another 70's Supremes classic 'Touch'. Steve recorded over 40 songs with the ladies, most of them now released.

Later the same year, the ladies were invited to perform with Mel Carter at an engagement, which was recorded and released as and this was released as a CD and DVD. Sundray remained with the group for four years, contributing to several albums and establishing herself as a favourite with fans before being replaced by accomplished performer Freddi Poole, who remains in the group to this very day.

Current line-up

In the summer of 1996 Jean Terrell made a brief comeback to the group, reuniting with both Scherrie Payne and Lynda Laurence for two special concerts held at the Industry Cafe in Los Angeles. This reunion coincided with the departure of Sundray and recruitment of Freddi.

Freddi made her debut with the group in July 1996.

Their most recent song was 2006's "Sisters United (We're Taking Control)", which was debuted at the group's twentieth anniversary concert at The Music Box in Hollywood in July 2006. September saw the group depart for a very successful tour of Australia playing the same venues that Diana Ross was scheduled to appear in just a couple of weeks later.

Recently, the group officially changed their billing from The FLOS to "Scherrie Payne and Lynda Laurence: Former Ladies of the Supremes".

Personnel

*Scherrie Payne, Jean Terrell and Cindy Birdsong (1986)
*Scherrie Payne, Jean Terrell and Lynda Laurence(1986-1992)
*Scherrie Payne, Lynda Laurence and Sundray Tucker (1992 - 1996)
*Scherrie Payne, Lynda Laurence and Freddi Poole (1996 - present)
*Scherrie Payne, Lynda Laurence and Joyce Vincent-Wilson (2007)
*Scherrie Payne, Freddi Poole and Joyce Vincent-Wilson (2008)

Discography

ingles

Superstar International Records
*"We're Back" /"Get Away" (with Ollie Woodson of The Temptations) (1987)

Motorcity Records
*"Crazy About The Guy"/"Crazy About The Guy (Instrumental)" MOTC 13 (1990)
*"Stoned Love"/"Crazy About The Guy (live)" MOTC
*"I Want To Be Loved"/"I Want To Be Loved (US Remix)" MOTC77 (1991)
*"Hit And Miss"/"Hit And Miss (US Remix)" MOTC88 (1991)

Driving Wheel Records
*"Stoned Love" DWCD01 (1998)
*"Someday We'll Be Together" DWCD02 (1998)

New Material
*"Light The World (With The Flame Of Love)" (2000)
*"Finally / Good Intentions" (2002)
*"Sisters United (We're Taking Control)" (2006)

Albums

*"Bouncing Back" (scheduled for release on Motorcity Records in 1991 but never issued)
*1.Baby Love (Jean on lead vocals)
*2.Stop! In the Name of Love (Scherrie on lead vocals)
*3.Love Child (Lynda on lead vocals)
*4.Crazy About The Guy (Jean on lead vocals)
*5.Stoned Love (Scherrie and Jean on lead vocals)
*6.I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (with The Originals)
*7.I Want To Be Loved (all three ladies on lead vocals)
*8.Back By Popular Demand (with The Originals)
*9.Hit And Miss (all three ladies of lead vocals) co-written by Scherrie
*10. Nathan Jones (all three leads on unison vocals)
*11.You're Love Keeps Lifting Me (with The Originals) co-written by Scherrie

*"Supreme Voices" (1994) - Altair Produced by Rick Gianatos
*1. How Do You Keep The Music Playing - all three ladies on lead vocals
*2. Rescue Me - Lynda on lead vocals
*3. Road To Freedom - Lynda on lead vocals
*4. Keep On Loving Me - Scheerie on lead vocals, co-written by Scherrie
*5. Give Me The Night - all three ladies on lead vocals
*6. Breaking & Entering - Lynda on lead vocals
*7. Don't Rocky My World - Scherrie on lead vocals, co-written by Scherrie
*8. I'm A Fool For Love - lead vocals by Sundray
*9. Piano - Scherrie on lead vocals
*10. Up The Ladder To The Roof All three ladies on lead vocals (featuring guest vocalists Cindy Birdsong and Jayne Edwards.
*11. Somewhere Out There - Lynda on lead vocals

*"Supremely Yours" (1995) Produced by Steve Weaver
*1. Feel Like Making Love - all three ladies share lead vocals
*2. Who Do You Love - Scherrie on lead vocals
*3. Just Like That - Sundray on lead vocals
*4. Stop To Love - all three ladies share lead vocals
*5. Private Number (with Edwin Starr) - Lynda on lead vocals
*6. First time on A Ferris Wheel - Scherrie on lead vocals
*7. Colours of Love - Lynda on lead vocals
*8. Stop! I don't Need No Sympathy - Sundray on lead vocals
*9. I Still Believe - Lynda on lead vocals
*10. Never Can Say Goodbye - Sundray on lead vocals
*11. If I Love Again - Scherrie on lead vocals
*12. Sweet Freedom - Lynda on lead vocals
*13. Suave - Lynda on lead vocals (in Spanish)
*14. Touch - all three ladies share lead vocals
*15. Private Number (with Edwin Starr) Slammin' Jammin' Mix

*"Reflections" (1996) Produced by Steve Weaver

*"Where Did Our Love Go" (1996) Produced by Steve Weaver

*"Live and More" (1997) Produced by Steve Weaver

*"Legendary Ladies Live" (with The Three Degrees and Sister Sledge) (1997) Concieved/Produced by Steve WeaverAlthough the three groups above did tour together extensively throughout Europe in 1997 on the same bill, the recordings featured on the above compact disc album were culled from three separate projects of previously released live shows from each group.
*"I Hear a Symphony" (1997) Produced by Steve Weaver

*"Simply Supreme!" (1997) Produced by Steve Weaver

*"Reflections: The Hit List" (1998) Produced by Steve Weaver

Links

* [http://www.scherriepayneandlyndalaurence.com Scherrie Payne & Lynda Laurence Official Site]
* [http://e-fansite.com/freddipoole Freddi Poole FanSite]
* [http://www.losangelesmusicagency.com Los Angeles Music Agency]