Effie White/Florence Ballard

[AnthVoice2010]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 2:52pm

The thread last week, Diana Ross Sings The Great Ladies of Broadway, made me wonder. Just how similar were the lives of the fictional Effie White and the very real Florence Ballard:

EFFIE formed “the Dreams”.

FLORENCE formed the Primettes (which later became “The Supremes").

EFFIE was the original lead singer.

FLORENCE shared leads with all three of the girls till it became clear that Diana’s voice was more “pop” sounding thus more commercial. She was never the sole lead.

EFFIE aggressively looked for work and a future for “The Dreams”.

FLORENCE, while mildly ambitious, was a cipher compared to the overwhelming ambition of Diana Ross who pushed the group relentlessly, to anyone and everyone, much to Flo’s amazement. Florence did not expect fame or riches. Diana Ross, however, when asked by her 8th grade teacher why she wasn't doing her homework anymore, simply replied, "I don't need too. I'm going to be a very famous singer".

EFFIE was romantically involved with Curtis, the owner of a record label.

FLORENCE Ballard was never romantically involved with Berry Gordy. They were barely even friends. Diana Ross set her sights on Berry Gordy from the moment she met him. Their affair lasted 10 years and produced a daughter.

EFFIE recorded songs meant to be singles for ‘The Dreams”.

FLORENCE was never given any major leads (i.e. singles) after the first two unsuccessful singles the Supremes recorded. She was featured as lead on a few album tracks. Diana Ross was given every major lead vocal within the first two months of signing with Motown.

EFFIE is dismissed as lead singer for Deena thus drama ensues (“Family”).

Not much drama. Once ‘Where did out love go” charted at Number 2, everyone saw dollar signs, trips around the world and fur coats flash before their eyes, including Flo. That would change down the road but not at the beginning.

EFFIE is resentful of the fame Deanna receives as the lead singer.

FLORENCE is resentful of the fame Diana receives. However, It was assumed (by everyone) that she herself would take over the lead singer spot once Diana left the group. She would have her moment in the sun as well. FLORENCE, however can’t seem to grasp that.

EFFIE is abandoned by Curtis and is asked to leave “The Dreams”.

FLORENCE Ballard, at the height of her fame, developed a major drinking problem as well as severe depression. She missed rehearsals (something Diana Ross, a woman happy to rehearse all day long, found decidedly unprofessional) and when she did show up she was often inebriated. She was indeed “…getting fatter all the time” as the song lyric goes. The fat coming from the booze, not a pregnancy. FLORENCE is given numerous warnings. Ross and Mary Wilson try their best to help her. When FLORENCE started missing performances and started lashing out at Ross, that was the beginning of the end.

EFFIE is secretly pregnant with Curtis’s child.

FLORENCE Ballard was never romantically involved with Berry Gordy. They were barely even friends.

EFFIE refuses to leave and tells them she’s "not going."

FLORENCE left with her tail between her legs. She knew precisely what her problems were. She knew her now rampant alcoholism was out of control and refused to do anything about it. At first, she is put “on suspension”. She did not ask for help. She did not fight. She did not demand to be heard. She simply left Berry Gordy’s house with her Mother after he announced he was going to fire her.

EFFIE is immediately removed from the “Dreams”.

FLORENCE continues to work on and off with” The Supremes” for months, including a lengthy stay at New York’s “Copacabana”. Everyone is hoping for the best while preparing for the worst. The final straw came when an inebriated Flo went on stage with “The Supremes” in Las Vegas. Her costume could not hide her weight gain. She could not hide her drunkenness. She is fired, once and for all, by Berry Gordy

EFFIE starts a successful solo recording career (even after attempts by Curtis to block her).

FLORENCE did sign with a record label, she released two unsuccessful singles. Berry Gordy did ask that she not use the words “The Supremes” in any of her publicity material, other than that, that seems to be all he did. He did fight with her about royalties and back payments. In 1970, he awarded her $165,000 (which would be about $550,000 dollars in 2013 money) for back royalties. The money was lost by a crooked investor.

EFFIE lives happily ever after as a faux Aretha Franklin.

FLORENCE does not have the luck EFFIE did. FLORENCE spent many years battling alcoholism, depression and poverty. She lost her home and was admitted into rehab. After rehab, her career starts to gain some traction. Magazine articles appear. She is hoping to write an autobiography and is singing again. On February 21, 1976, dies of a coronary. She was 32.

Updated On: 4/29/13 at 02:52 PM