For some strange reason I've always had a fascination for a certain woman. I think originally it had to with her name which seemed so different and is definitely a great drag name.
The woman is Cindy Birdsong. To those who don't know, Cindy was a Supreme. She joined the group when original member, Florence Ballard was fired and Diana Ross asked her to join up. Cindy was one of the Bluebelles (of Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles) and as the Supremes were preparing to oust Florence, they had Cindy in rehearsals so that she could take over at a moment's notice. On one gig when Florence didn't show, Cindy stepped in and eventually took Flo's role permanently but not before causing mayhem between The Supremes and The Bluebelles. The Supremes were known as a classy group with heavy makeup and some glamour and restraint on stage whereas the Bluebelles were rough round the edges. On tour, the groups met and Diana took a liking to Cindy and invited her to the Supreme's dressing room where she completed Cindy's face and wigged her up and sent her back to the Bluebelles who ripped Cindy's wig off leaving Diana and the other Supreme's in stitches.
As of 1967, Cindy was a Supreme although Diana's solo career was pretty much mapped out, Cindy stayed with the group after Diana left until 1972 where she left to have a baby. Cindy was also kidnapped in late 1969 by a workman in her apartment building, Cindy was a smart cookie and jumped out of a speeding car and was found alive and semi well before any real damage could be done to her.
Cindy returned to the Supremes in the early 1970s for another stint but left again and ended up working in the offices of Motown, the company that she had an integral part of building, being part of it's most successful export. Cindy's relationship with Diana Ross hasn't dimmed unlike Mary Wilson who wrote a tell all book - Cindy turned up at a Diana Ross concert without letting Diana know in Vegas. It's a standing rule that when a star of Diana Ross' magnitude is on stage, no bills are placed on tables unless the star is offstage where the waiters whizz round the floor. On this occasion, Diana spotted the bill on Cindy's table. At the end of the concert, Diana met up with Cindy and she explained the unpaid bill. Diana snapped her fingers and demanded to a lacky "Don't you know who this is? This is Miss Cindy Birdsong - a guest of mine. Have this taken care of!" With that Cindy and Diana headed for a private chat in Diana's dressing room.
All of this just adds to my fascination of Miss Cindy Birdsong and the real legacy that she created by being a main player in Diana Ross's career and as part of one of the most influential groups of all time.
Monday, March 26, 2007
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2 comments:
I remember reading about Cindy in the Diana Ross tell-all (unauthorised) biography, "Call Her Miss Ross". A real juicy read!! Sounds like Diana hasn't let up atall in the diva stakes.
I actually liked some of the Supremes' post-Diana songs like "Up The Ladder To The Roof" and "Stoned Love" - great toons.
Do you know what Cindy is up to now?
Maxine Ballard writes the True Story of Florence Ballard!
Florence "Blondie" Ballard, Diane "Diana" Ross and Mary Wilson met and
became childhood friends during the 1950's. Under the watchful eye and
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