Lynda Laurence (also spelled Lawrence, born Lynda Tucker) is an African-American singer. She is best known for being a part of two Motown acts: Stevie Wonder's backup group Wonderlove and one of the post-Diana Ross versions of The Supremes. She is the daughter of Ira Tucker, gospel songwriter, producer, and lead singer of The Dixie Hummingbirds.

Biography

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Early years

Lynda began her career singing with a group named the Pendelles. Her sister, Sundray Tucker, was also in this group. She eventually made her way to Stevie Wonder's group Wonderlove. At this time, her sister was going by the name Cindy Scott, and rejoined Lynda in the group Wonderlove.

The Supremes

Main entry: The Supremes

In 1972, Mary Wilson, who chose to continue the legacy of The Supremes after the departure of Florence Ballard in 1967 and lead singer Diana Ross in 1970, was about to lose another member of the group, Cindy Birdsong, due to expecting a baby. Cindy originally replaced Sundray Tucker in the group The Ordettes, later to be named Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles, so it was ironic that Sundray's sister, Lynda, would be taking Cindy's place as a background singer. At this time, Jean Terrell was the lead singer of The Supremes.

Although difficult to find Laurence singing lead on any of the Supremes' 70s CDs, she did have to perform lead in her first concert with the new group. In March of 1972 The Supremes (Jean Terrell Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong) were scheduled to tour Australia and Hawaii when Jean fell ill and was unable to join the group on the tour. Both Wilson and Birdsong wished the tour to continue and as Lynda and been rehearsing with Jean and Mary ready to step-in to departing member Cindy's shoes, suggested that Lynda take over the lead vocal chores for this tour. Sadly the majority of the tour was scrapped as the group's promoters and management felt it unwise to tour without Jean. However, a few of the tour's last dates, Hawaii, were saved and this short-lived new grouping of the Supremes performed at the prestigious HI.I.C Arena, with Lynda doing a fabulous job as lead vocalist. Lynda Laurence appeared on the cover of the May 1972 Floy Joy album, although the album was recorded before she has joined, and first sang with the Supremes on the 1972 album The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb. Her brother, also named Ira Tucker, produced and co-wrote the 1973 single "Bad Weather" for the group with Stevie Wonder, charting at #37 on the UK pop charts. Around the same time Lynda, Mary and Jean recorded a strong version of 'Love Train', which sadly was not released until 1978 on a compilation album entitled, 'At Their Best'. Other tracks were recorded by this line-up of The Supremes, but still awaiting release; these include 'Soft Daze', 'Loneliness Is A Lonely Feeling' and several others. In June 1973 The Supremes toured Japan, where the recorded a magnificent live album which saw limited distribution in Japan and an edited version being released in the UK, before the album was pulled from the shelves altogether (The album was finally released on CD in 2005). However, when Laurence planned to leave The Supremes to start a family of her own, she didn't know that Jean Terrell was also leaving due to difficulties with management. Laurence and Terrell both left in 1973, and Mary Wilson asked Cindy Birdsong to rejoin the group. Mary then took over management of The Supremes, and producer Lamont Dozier recommended Freda Payne as the new lead singer of The Supremes. When Freda declined, the role was given to her younger sister Scherrie Payne, lead singer of the group Glass House.

In 1976, Cindy Birdsong left once again, due to conflicts with management. Susaye Greene became the last of the Supremes, and had almost as short a timespan in the group as Lynda. Susaye was also a former member of Wonderlove, and had the widest vocal range of any of the previous Supremes. In 1977, Mary, Scherrie, and Susaye disbanded the Supremes, ending a legacy that had begun eighteen years earlier.

Later career

As a solo artist, Lynda has not released many songs, although there is a wealth of excellent material languishing the in the vaults of the various labels Lynda recorded for. In the mid 1980s Lynda recorded several tracks under the name of Norma Lewis, these tracks include, 'Give Me Back Just A Little Piece Of My Heart', 'Love Is The Reason', Make You're Own Kind Of Music' and several others.

In 1990 Lynda recorded a several solo tracks for the British Motoricty label, which have subsequently been released on the Hot Productions album titled 'The Very Best Of The Supreme Ladies'. While with Motorcity Lynda had one single release, 'Living With A Married Man', a firm favourite amongst her legions of fans.

Lynda Laurence, Jean Terrell, and Scherrie Payne began performing together in the late 1980s and early 1990s as "FLOS: Former Ladies of The Supremes". Unlike before where Laurence was restricted to being a background singer, she took a lead position alongside Terrell and Payne. Mary Wilson became angered at the use of the "Supremes" name, especially when Jean Terrell left the new group and was replaced by Sundray Tucker, and later by Freddi Poole. At the same time, background singer Karen Ragland of Mary Wilson's 1980s touring act began recording under the name "Sounds of The Supremes". Wilson sued both groups, claiming that the Supremes name had no right being used if an original Supreme wasn't present. In recent years, the steam has cooled down and Laurence has expressed wanting to reunite all the Supremes.

Lynda Laurence continues to show pride in being a former Supreme member, as she still performs with The Former Ladies of the Supremes. Lynda has stated in many interviews that her two favourite Supremes songs are 'Love Is Here And Now You're Gone' and 'Up The Ladder To The Roof', which Lynda takes the lead on during the FLOS concerts.

African American musicians | American female singers | Supremes members