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'{{short description|American singer}} {{More citations|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist |name = Barbara Martin |background = solo_singer |image = |image_size = |birth_name = Barbara Diane Martin |alias = Barbara Richardson |birth_date = {{birth date|1943|06|016}} |birth_place = [[Detroit]], Michigan, U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|2020|03|04|1943|06|16}} |death_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |origin = |genre = [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[pop music|pop]] |occupation = Singer |years_active = 1960–1962 |instrument = [[Vocals]] |label = [[Motown]] |associated_acts = [[The Supremes]], [[Diana Ross]], [[Florence Ballard]], [[Mary Wilson (singer)|Mary Wilson]] |website = }} '''Barbara Diane Martin Richardson''' (June 16, 1943 – March 4, 2020) was an American singer, best known as of the original members of Motown group [[The Supremes]]. She was born in [[Detroit]]. After [[Betty McGlown]] left the Primettes due to her upcoming nuptials, Martin replaced her in the group in 1960.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-51766812|title=Former Supremes singer Barbara Martin dies|date=2020-03-06|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-03-06|language=en-GB}}</ref> She and her group mates, [[Diana Ross]] (then known as Diane), [[Mary Wilson (singer)|Mary Wilson]] and [[Florence Ballard]], signed a recording contract with [[Motown]] founder [[Berry Gordy]] on January 15, 1961 as the Supremes, a name that Ballard had chosen (as she was the only group member in the studio at the time) from a list provided by Motown songwriter [[Janie Bradford]]; the group became part of the Motown stable of performers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/09/19/motown-sixty-anniversary-detroit-hitsville-berry-gordy/2287281001/|title=At 60, Motown set to celebrate cultural legacy|website=Detroit News|language=en|access-date=2020-03-06}}</ref> While recording a handful of early singles, none of which became hits, Martin, Wilson, Ross, and Ballard worked as studio backing singers, providing vocals and rhythmic effects, such as hand claps, for Motown's leading groups. In October 1961, Martin became pregnant. Her husband supported her decision to stay in the group, but, she left in the early spring of 1962 – leaving Ross, Wilson and Ballard a trio.<ref>Slonimsky, Nicolas & Kuhn , Laura Diane. "Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians". Schirmer Books, 2001. 3539. {{ISBN|0-02-865527-3}}</ref> Although Martin sang on many of the group's early singles (including a shared lead vocal with Diana Ross on "(He's) Seventeen"), and most of the tracks on the group's first album ''[[Meet the Supremes]]'', she is not pictured on the album's cover.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://consent.yahoo.com/collectConsent?sessionId=1_cc-session_ecd0e0eb-e158-4e8f-9287-0148d1ff112a&lang=en-gb&inline=false|title=HuffPost is now a part of Verizon Media|website=Consent.yahoo.com|access-date=2020-03-06}}</ref> After leaving the group, Martin eventually earned a degree in psychology and worked in mental health.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/news/6814-barbara-martin-dies.html|title=BARBARA MARTIN DIES....|website=Soulandjazzandfunk.com|access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref> She never spoke publicly about her tenure with the Primettes/Supremes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthread.php?13238-Where-is-Barbara-Martin|title=Where is Barbara Martin?|website=Soulfuldetroit.com|access-date=2020-03-06}}</ref> She denied interviews over the years with the exception of one interview she gave in 2009 for the 2010 release of ''Meet the Supremes: Expanded Edition''.<ref name="auto"/> Martin died in March 2020 at the age of 76.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-supremes-singer-barbara-martin-21641859|title=Original member of The Supremes dies at 76|first=Molly|last=Pike|date=March 5, 2020|website=Mirror.co.uk}}</ref> ==References== {Funeral will be held at The Promised Land Church, Bishop Melvin Williams first lady Phyllis Williams{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{Discogs artist|Barbara Martin}} {{The Supremes}} {{Authority control}} {{Portal|United States}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Barbara}} [[Category:1943 births]] [[Category:2020 deaths]] [[Category:Musicians from Detroit]] [[Category:American rhythm and blues musicians]] [[Category:The Supremes members]] [[Category:American soul singers]] [[Category:African-American female singers]] [[Category:American female singers]] [[Category:American rhythm and blues singers]]'