Florence Glenda (Ballard) Chapman (1943 - 1976)

Born 30 Jun 1943 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas L. Chapman — married 1968 (to after 1972) in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

Died 22 Feb 1976 at age 32 in Detroit, Wayne County, MIchigan, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Florence (Ballard) Chapman is Notable.

Florence Ballard was an American singer and a founding member of the Motown group the Supremes.^[1]

Florence Glenda Ballard was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 30, 1943 to Lurlee Wilson and Jesse Ballard, as the eighth of thirteen children.^[2] Her mother was a resident of Rosetta, Mississippi. Her father was born Jesse Lambert in Bessemer, Alabama; after his grandmother was shot and killed, he was adopted by the Ballard family.^[2]

Times were hard for the family, who moved from home to home in Detroit, until they settled in the Brewster-Douglass housing projects. Florence was 15 by the time they arrived at the Projects, sadly a year later, her father died.

She later attended Northeastern High School, where was vocally coached by Abraham Silver. Whilst at the school, Florence met Mary Wilson and they became friends. In 1959, Florence was spotted by a talent scout named Milton Jenkins, who was looking to recruit young women for a female version of the group the Primes (later to become the Temptations), called the Primettes. Florence recommended Mary Wilson to Milton, who, in turn, recommended her neighbor, Diane Ross. And the Primettes, later to become the Supremes, with Florence as lead singer, were born.^[3]

The Supremes early releases saw only minor success, leaving the group with a regular reputation for missing out on chart success. Diana Ross then took the place of Florence as the group's regular lead vocalist, which did bring chart success at last.

By 1967, Florence had grown increasingly unhappy in the supporting role into which manager Berry Gordy had re-positioned her into.

Florence began to drink heavily, she put on weight, and at times could no longer comfortably wear many of her stage outfits. Resentful of the attention given to Diana Ross, Florence relied heavily upon the advice of fellow Supreme Mary Wilson, imparting her belief that Diana Ross and Berry Gordy were intent upon her dismissal from the group. That belief saw fruition in 1967, with Florence becoming replaced by Cindy Birdsong (a former member of the Patti La Belle and the Bluebelles group)

In 1967, the Detroit Free Press reported that Florence had taken a temporary leave of absence from the group due to "exhaustion".

Florence married Thomas L. Chapman, a former Motown chauffeur, in 1968, and her contract with Motown was eventually finalized.^[4] Florence was removed in February 1968, when she received a one off payment of $139,804.94 in royalties and earnings.

Florence pursued a short lived solo career with ABC Records. She signed with ABC Records in 1968, releasing two solo singles with the label. The singles did not sell well, and a proposed album release was shelved. Florence continued to perform as a solo artist, opening for Bill Cosby at Chicago's Auditorium Theater.

Later in 1968, Florence gave birth to twin daughters.

The following year 1969, Florence performed at one of the new President Richard Nixon's inaugural balls.

Florence departed ABC Records in 1970. In 1971, she took Motown to court again, in search of further unpaid royalties.

Florence gave birth to her third daughter in 1972.

She and her husband separated after several domestic disputes, her home was foreclosed, with Florence becoming reliant on alcohol to cope with her misfortunes. Florence moved in with her sister.

Mary Wilson then invited Florence to rejoin the line-up of the Supremes. Florence did show for a couple of shows, but was reluctant to sing, instead just playing the tambourine.

When she applied for welfare, she also checked in to the Henry Ford Hospital for rehab treatment. Florence made a patient recovery, and in 1975, Florence received an insurance settlement, which helped her buy a home in Detroit's Shaftsbury Avenue. Her upturn in fortunes encouraged her back into singing, performing at the Henry and Edsel Ford Auditorium in Detroit that year. Florence began talks regarding signing a new record deal, when she was admitted into the Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital.

She complained of numbness in her extremities, passing away the following morning from a cardiac arrest, caused by a coronary thrombosis. Florence Glenda Ballard died abruptly on 22nd of February 1976 from coronary thrombosis at the age of 32.^[3] Florence is buried in Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery, Warren, Macomb County, Michigan.

Florence Ballard was posthumously inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Supremes in 1988.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia: Florence_Ballard
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Benjaminson, Peter (September 1, 2009). The Lost Supreme: The Life of Dreamgirl Florence Ballard. Chicago: Chicago Review Press. ISBN 1-5565-2959-7.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Florence Ballard (http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Florence%20Ballard.html)
4. ↑ All Music (https://www.allmusic.com/artist/florence-ballard-mn0000149294/biography)

• Find A Grave: Memorial #4041

See Also:

• Wikidata: Item Q257308, en:Wikipedia