LA VOIX STUDIO
GOLDEN ICON AWARD ​
​HONOREES

2023 LA VOIX STUDIO GOLDEN ICON AWARD HONOREES

THE SUPREMES

The Supremes became Motown's most consistent hitmakers and the most popular female group of the '60s, bridging the worlds of pop and soul with their polished singing style.

Much of their success was a result of the tailor-made songs for them by Motown's in-house writing and production team comprising Holland Dozier Holland. At the height of the British Invasion in June 1965, the group set a record for the most consecutive No. 1 hits by an American group when "Back in My Arms Again," "Baby Love," "Come See About Me," "Stop! In The Name Of Love" and "Where Did Our Love Go?" rose to the top of the Billboard singles chart.

The trio continued to perform and record into the '70s, keeping the name and the music alive, until The Supremes' final performance was at London's Drury Lane on June 12, 1977. Not only did the Supremes come to epitomize the Motown sound, they earned a place in music history as performers whose popularity in the '60s was second only to the Beatles. ​

This year, we are celebrating and paying homage to all of the members of The Supremes. This tribute is our way to recognize and say thank you for inspiring generations of our musical students and for being an inspiration to so many all over the world throughout the years.

Diana Ross

Ms. Diana Ross is an American singer, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Ross rose to fame as the lead singer and founding member of the vocal group The Supremes. During the 1960s, they became Motown's most successful act, and are the best charting girl group in US history, as well as one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. The group released a record-setting twelve number-one hit singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, including: "Where Did Our Love Go", "Baby Love", "Come See About Me", "Stop! In the Name of Love", "You Can't Hurry Love", "You Keep Me Hangin' On", "Love Child", and "Someday We'll Be Together". Ross departed from the Supremes in 1970 for her solo career and continues to perform.

Mary Wilson

​Ms. Mary Wilson was an American vocalist, best known as a founding member and longest member of the Supremes. Wilson remained with the group following the departures of other original members, Florence Ballard in 1967 and Diana Ross in 1970, Following Wilson's own departure in 1977, the group disbanded. Wilson released solo albums, best-selling autobiographies and continued performing. Wilson also became a musicians' rights activist as well as a musical theater performer and organizer of various museum displays of the Supremes' famed costumes. Wilson was inducted along with Ross and Ballard (as members of the Supremes) into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Florence Ballard

​Ms. Florence Ballard was an American singer. Ballard was a founding member of the popular Motown vocal female group the Supremes. Ballard sang on 16 top 40 singles with the group, including ten number-one hits, paving the way for ten number-one hits recorded by Ross, Ballard and Wilson between 1964 and 1967. Ballard's vocals were so loud she was made to stand 17 feet away from her microphone during recording sessions. Marvin Gaye, for whom Ballard sang backing vocals on occasion, described her as "a hell of a singer. All in all, Ballard contributed vocals to ten number-one pop hits and 16 top forty hit singles between 1963 and 1967.

Barbara Martin

​Ms. Barbara Martin was one of the original members of Motown singing group the Supremes. After Betty McGlown left the Primettes, Martin replaced her in the group in 1960. She and her group mates, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard, signed a recording contract with Motown founder Berry Gordy on January 15, 1961 as the Supremes. While recording a handful of early uncharted singles, Martin, Wilson, Ross, and Ballard worked as studio backing singers, providing vocals and rhythmic effects such as hand claps for Motown's leading groups. Martin left in the early spring of 1962, leaving Ross, Wilson and Ballard a trio.

Cindy Birdsong

​Ms. Cindy Birdsong is an American singer who became famous as a member of The Supremes in 1967, when she replaced co-founding member Florence Ballard. Birdsong had previously been a member of Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles and in Holt's singing Philadelphia group The Ordettes. Cindy was the only member of The Supremes to join the trio, twice singing from 1967–1972 and 1973-1976. Cindy sang featured backgrounds on several collaborations with The Temptations, live album tracks, and some studio LP tracks, Birdsong. Cindy can be heard doing a brief solo during "Let the Sunshine In" on their Farewell performance.

Jean Terrell

​Ms. Jean Terrell is an American R&B and jazz singer. She replaced Diana Ross as the lead singer of The Supremes in January 1970. Terrell and her brother formed a group called Ernie Terrell and the Heavyweights. Motown President Berry Gordy discovered the 24-year-old Terrell performing with her brother in 1968 in Miami, Florida. Gordy first signed Terrell to Motown as a solo artist, but then decided to drop her into The Supremes as Ross's replacement alongside continuing, fellow members Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong. Terrell made an instant impact fronting the new Supremes, recording prolifically and successfully with several of Motown's top producers. The revitalized Supremes scored more chart success right from the beginning of the new decade; scoring big in the UK, while managing several pop and soul hits in the US: "Up the Ladder to the Roof", "Stoned Love", "River Deep – Mountain High" (with the Four Tops), "Nathan Jones", and "Floy Joy". Birdsong quit to start a family and was replaced by Lynda Laurence in 1972. Terrell and Laurence left the group in 1973.

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Lynda Laurence

​Ms. Lynda Laurence is an American singer. Laurence is best known for being a part of two Motown acts: Stevie Wonder's backup group Wonder Love The Third Generation, and one of the post-Diana Ross 1970s line-ups of The Supremes from April 1972 through October 1973, performing alongside lead singer Jean Terrell and founding member Mary Wilson, replacing Cindy Birdsong after her departure from the group. In 1985 until 2017, she continued to sing with former ladies of The Supremes, Scherrie Payne and Jean Terrell, then Jean left in 1992 and she and Scherrie continued with sister Sundray Tucker, then Freddie Poole who's now singing with the Three Degrees, and lastly, Joyce Vincent of Tony Orlando and Dawn. In 2000, she joined and toured in concert with Diana Ross, as a member of Diana Ross and the Supremes on their "Return To Love" tour. While touring, they appeared in several News Magazines and Talk Shows including the “Oprah Winfrey Show”.

Scherrie Payne

Ms. Scherrie Payne, is officially recognized as The Supremes' final lead singer, and is featured on many of the Motown record mega hits. Ms. Payne is the younger sister of Freda Payne, is from the home of the Motown sound. A talented writer and performer, Scherrie was discovered by famed producer Eddie Holland of Holland/ Dozier/ Holland fame. Before The Supremes, Scherrie was the lead singer of a start up group "Glass House" and is featured on all of their hits on the Invictus label including, "Crumbs off The Table" which she co-wrote.  Scherrie has recorded as a solo artist and has had her own hit songs including, "I'm Not In Love" and the famous "One Night Only" which was reintroduced to this generation in the movie “Dream Girls” by R&B recording artist, Beyoncé.  Scherrie has worked with many major stars including her sister Freda Payne, George Benson, and Jose Feliciano. In 2000, she joined and toured in concert with Diana Ross, as a member of Diana Ross and the Supremes on their "Return To Love" tour, appearing in several News Magazines and Talk Shows including the “Oprah Winfrey Show”. Today she continues to perform with some of the Former Ladies of the Supremes’ around the world.

Susaye Greene

Ms. Susaye Greene, is an American singer–songwriter. Greene is best known for being the last official member to join the Motown girl group The Supremes, remaining in the group during its final years of existence from 1976 to 1977. Prior to joining the Supremes, she sang behind Ray Charles as a Raylette and Stevie Wonder in Wonderlove. She wrote hit songs with Stevie Wonder for Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall album “I Can’t Help it” as well as Deniece Williams “Free”. Greene was a member of The Supremes from early 1976 to summer of 1977 (replacing Cindy Birdsong), and performed on their last two albums, High Energy and Mary, Scherrie & Susaye. Working alongside original member Mary Wilson and Scherrie Payne. Susaye took lead on "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," in the group's live shows, which never failed to garner a standing ovation, and recorded "High Energy", the title song from the High Energy album. On June 12, 1977, the Supremes performed their farewell concert at the Drury Lane Theater in London and disbanded.

J. Randy Taraborrelli

2023 LA VOIX STUDIO GOLDEN ICON AWARD HONOREE
J. Randy Taraborrelli is the author of 20 books, 15 of which have made the New York Times bestseller list, including his latest, Jackie, Janet & Lee – The Secret History of Janet Auchincloss and her daughters, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and Princess Lee Radziwill (2018).  His other best sellers include Call Her Miss Ross; Elizabeth Taylor; Michael Jackson – The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story (also nominated for a W.H. Smith award in England); and After Camelot – A Personal History of the Kennedy Family, 1968 to the Present.  
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Taraborrelli’s The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe appeared on the New York Times list both in 2009 and then again in 2012 when it became the number two e-books bestseller. Taraborrelli’s Madonna – An Intimate Biography was a massive bestseller in many countries around the world — translated into more than 30 languages. It remained on the London Times’ bestseller list for six months and was also nominated for the prestigious W.H. Smith Award in England. The book was a New York Times bestseller, as well. The author has also written critically-praised biographies about Frank Sinatra, Carol Burnett and Cher, as well as a pictorial history of Motown Records.

Not only is J. Randy Taraborrelli a respected journalist, he is a recognizable entertainment personality and in-demand guest on many television programs, including Today, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Entertainment Tonight and CNN – Headline News. Additionally, he is a news analyst for CBS News; his six-months-plus coverage of the Michael Jackson molestation trial in Santa Maria for that network was widely praised. (He was the only CBS News TV reporter in the court room for the verdict). Taraborrelli co-anchored coverage of Jackson’s funeral with Katie Couric for CBS.

For more information about Randy Taraborrelli, go to http://www.jrandytaraborrelli.com/
*You will notice that due to Covid-19, we had to postpone our 2019 event. 

Freda Payne

​2018 LA VOIX STUDIO GOLDEN ICON AWARD HONOREE
Ms. Freda Payne is a prolific singer and actress. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she began singing at the age of 12 years old. Since the start of her career as a young girl, she has worked with many different singers and producers including Quincy Jones, Pearl Bailey, David Gest, Bill Cosby and Sammy Davis Jr. She also made guest appearances on numerous television shows including "Merv Griffin," "Johnny Carson" and "Jay Leno." "Band of Gold”, was her first hit single which gave her a Gold Record known all over the world in the early 1970s, followed by her second Gold Record "Bring the Boys Home."

Ms. Payne worked as an actress in several movies, Broadway, and other theatre productions. She continued her acting career appearing in movies like The Book of Numbers (1973), Ragdoll (1999), The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) and Fire & Ice (made-for-TV, 2001). As if that weren’t enough, Freda continues to perform all over the world. Freda recently made her appearance and gave a star performance on the hit show American Idol. And after the recent tragedy in Haiti, legendary producer, Quincy Jones asked her to participate in the remake of a new “We Are the World for Haiti”.

​In a addition to her own Jazz Concerts, she is currently touring all over the country doing her "ELLA - First Lady of Song" show based on the life of Ella Fitzgerald. For more information about Freda Payne, visit www.fredapayne.com.

Quincy Jones Congratulatory Video to Freda Payne

Quincy Jones Congratulatory Video to Freda Payne for being honored and receiving the 2018 "La Voix Golden Icon Award"

Reginald "Reggie" Dozier

2018 LA VOIX STUDIO GOLDEN ICON AWARD HONOREE
Mr. Reggie Dozier, Masterful Engineering and Producing for Five decades, Grammy Award winning Recording, Mixing and Producer Engineer, Reggie Dozier has been behind the recording console creating musical history with legendary artists at Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, United Artists, Universal Pictures, Motown, Atlantic, A&M Records, ABC, and Capitol Records.
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Since he first pushed the record button in 1958 he has made a noteworthy contribution as one of the founding architects of popular commercial music recording methods in the United States. For his engineering work on Outkast’s album Speakerboxx/The Love Below, he was awarded the 2004 Grammy for Outstanding Engineering. For Universal Pictures, he engineered the soundtrack for the motion picture Endless Love. The classic title song sung by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie was nominated for an Academy Award. The song shot to #1 on the Billboard charts, and went on to be the best selling single of 1981.

​A few of the world renowned artists he has worked with include: Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Lionel Richie, Johnny Mathis, Aretha Franklin, Phil Collins, Natalie Cole, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Kenny Rogers, Miles Davis, Patti La-Belle, Brian McKnight, Outkast, Mary J. Blige, The Four Tops, B.B. King, Bobby Bland ,Marvin Gaye, the Isley Brothers, James Ingram, Bobby Womack and the Temptations. Reggie Dozier is at the pinnacle of his celebrated career and busy with an exciting mix of hand selected music projects. To read more about Reggie, visit reggiedozier.com

James "Jim" Gilstrap

2017 LA VOIX STUDIO GOLDEN ICON AWARD HONOREE
Jim Gilstrap, With a portfolio whose collective sales boasts more than 100 million albums & CD’s sold, Jim Gilstrap is one of the most prolific male session singers in the music industry. His list of credits reads like a veritable who’s who of the entire musical spectrum – from Barbra Streisand to Celine Dion to Michael Jackson to Herbie Hancock – just to name a few. Born in Pittsburgh, Texas, Jim grew up listening to R&B and Blues, idolizing Bobby "Blue" Bland. 

When his family moved to California, he set about pursuing a career in music, joining the Doodletown Pipers before moving on to a more soulful unit called the Cultures, who offered background support to established pop and soul artists. Jim first honed his vocals behind such luminaries as The Temptations, Streisand and Rod Stewart. While doing session work for top producers like Quincy Jones, Jim met his idol, Stevie Wonder, which led to his tenure with Stevie’s “Wonderlove” backing group. Among the many gold and platinum albums now hanging on his wall, is one given to him by Wonder for his vocal work on “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life.”To see more of Jim's Full Bio, click Sight Singing Sight Reading Teacher.
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