Did You See The Supremes in Birmingham in 1965?
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is looking for people who saw The Supremes make their Birmingham debut on 25 March 1965. At the Odeon on New Street that night they performed alongside a whole host of Motown’s hottest talents including Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.
The Museum wants to hear memories of that extraordinary show as it prepares to celebrate 50 years of Motown with The Story of The Supremes, a stunning exhibition of original stage costumes and memorabilia from the collection of founder member Mary Wilson.
Running from 21 February to 7 June 2009, the Story of The Supremes features over 50 performance costumes alongside shoes, wigs and jewellery that chart the changing image of the group from their early days when they were known as The Primettes to the glamorous Hollywood designs they wore at the height of their fame.
The exhibition also features the group’s music, album covers and archive performance footage, new video interviews with Wilson and Maxine Powell, Motown’s in-house Artist Development Director and a range of memorabilia including tour programs, magazines and photographs.
The Supremes recorded 12 US No.1 hits between 1964 and 1969, including an unprecedented five consecutive chart toppers. Set against the backdrop of the meteoric rise of Motown Records and the turbulence of the American civil rights movement, the exhibition explores both the inspirational role that The Supremes played in changing racial perceptions and their influence on today’s performers.
Cllr Ray Hassall, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture said: “It’s fantastic that we can bring this tremendously successful exhibition to Birmingham. This is a demonstration of the wide variety of shows brought to Birmingham by the Museum and Art Gallery, which range from international popular culture exhibitions like this to fine art from local artists like David Cox.”
The Story of The Supremes runs in the Waterhall from 21 February to 7 June 2009.
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