Ballard, Florence, 1943-1976

found: Benjaminson, Peter. The lost Supreme, c2008:ECIP t.p. (Florence Ballard) data view (Florence Ballard, Flo Ballard, d. 1976) Chapter 2 (b. June 30, 1943 in Detroit)

found: All music guide WWW site, June 14, 2013(Florence Ballard; born Florence Glenda Ballard, June 30, 1943, Rosetta, MS, died February 22, 1976, Detroit, MI; styles: soul, Motown, pop-soul; member of the Supremes)

found: African American National Biography, accessed December 11, 2014, via Oxford African American Studies Center database:(Ballard, Florence; singer; born 30 June 1943 in Rosetta, Mississippi; booked as a solo act at the Primes' performances (later renamed the Temptations) recording for Motown Records (1961); put together a singing group of her own, initially a female counterpart to the Primes called the Primettes (1960); was the group's first lead singer; the Primettes changed their name to the Supremes (1963) and became Motown's primary success story; her heavy drinking led to her forced removal from the group (1967); sang at Richard Nixon's 1969 inauguration; signed with ABC Records (1968); she was abusing pills and alcohol and was forced to go on welfare and move into public housing with her family (1970); died 22 February 1976)