Michael is joined by Bernard Zuel, freelance music writer & critic, regarding the history & legacy of the Supremes who released their first single ‘I Want A Guy’ on this day sixty years ago.

The American female singing group were a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s, Motown’s most commercially successful act to date and America’s most successful vocal group with 12 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100.  Most of these hits were written and produced by Motown’s main songwriting and production team, Holland–Dozier–Holland.

Founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, they changed their name to the Supremes before releasing their first two Motown singles in 1961 – ‘I Want a Guy’ & ‘Buttered Popcorn’ on Motown subsidiary Tamla.

At their peak in the mid-1960s, the Supremes rivalled the Beatles in worldwide popularity and it’s said that they helped change the public image of African Americans during the civil rights era making it possible for future African American R&B and soul musicians to find mainstream success.

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

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