Florence Glenda Chapman was an American singer, a founding member of the popular Motown vocal female group the Supremes. She sang on 16 top 40 singles with the group, including ten number-one hits. 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 end of the decade. Ballard struggled with alcoholism, depression, and poverty for three years. She was making an attempt at a musical comeback when she died of a heart attack in February 1976 at the age of 32. Ballard's death was considered by one critic as "one of rock's greatest tragedies". Ballard was posthumously inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Supremes in 1988.
| Birth name: | Florence Glenda Ballard |
| Also known as: | Florence Chapman |
| Born: | June 30, 1943, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died: | February 22, 1976, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres: | R&B, pop, soul, doo-wop |
| Occupation(s): | Singer |
| Instruments: | Vocals |
| Years active: | 1959–1970, 1975–1976 |
| Labels: | ABC, Motown (The Supremes), Lu Pine (The Primettes) |
| Associated acts: | The Supremes, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, Barbara Martin, Betty McGlown, The Marvelettes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, Bill Cosby |
| IMDb: | Florence Ballard's IMDb |
About Florence Ballard
A founding member of the legendary 1960s Motown group The Supremes who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Before Fame
She managed to get an audition at Motown through her friend Smokey Robinson.
Achievement
She sang hits like "Pretty Baby," "Baby Love," and "The Ballad of Davy Crockett."
Family Life
Her family moved to Detroit so her father could work in the city's thriving auto industry.
Associations
She and Diana Ross were both members of The Supremes.
Information related to Florence Ballard
- The Supremes members
- ABC Records artists
- Singers with a three-octave vocal range
- American sopranos
- Musicians from Detroit
- African-American female singers
- American soul singers
