The Supremes celebrate big 50th anniversary

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Tuesday marked the 50th anniversary of The Supremes. Once upon a time in a housing project in Detroit, three girls, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard just wanted to sing. Their love of music would become a part of Motown history.

The Supremes had a great swinging 60's style, a far cry from when they made their own outfits and wore pearls they bought from Woolworth's.

"We came from a time when, as black people, you didn't dream about becoming a star, you didn't dream about making money," Mary Wilson said. "It was all about being a human being, being respected, being equal."

Wilson said stardom was "magic."

"I always knew that we were going to last forever," Wilson said, "and when it didn't, it really almost destroyed me in a way of that dream being, "wow, how could it end when it was so good?'"

But it did end. Florence Ballard left The Supremes and later died.

Diana Ross went solo, and Mary Wilson carried on with other faces in the group.

For Wilson, now 70, that original break-up helped her grow and helped her find herself, beyond just singing.

"God didn't give me that talent, but what he did give me was the talent to perform, and I know I'm as great a performer as anyone out there," she said.

Wilson said she misses that magical time in her life, but wouldn't want it again.

"Flo, Diane, for me, are like my sisters," Wilson said. "Now, I would love, yes, for us to be buddies. But we're not buddies. I would like for us to be, you know, closer. But I'm very realistic. Life goes on. People do their own things and, you know, sometimes you can get back together. Sometimes you can't."

Wilson keeps going.

In this new music world, you can download her new album, "Life's Been Good To Me." She calls the biographical work her best ever.

From those early days, the stage has been Wilson's home. These days, the stage might be home to her live jazz show, and a song that really says it all about Mary Wilson.

"I still believe in chasing dreams and placing bets but I have learned that all you give is all you get, so give it all you got," Wilson said, adding that it's her favorite song.

Over the years, The Supremes had 12 No. 1 hits. Wilson hopes maybe there's a No. 1 song in her new album, just for her.