The Ed Sullivan Show, a popular variety show from 1948-9171, was known for introducing new and soon-to-be incredibly famous acts with breakout performances.
In addition to Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Doors, Barbara Steisand, and so many more, The Supremes also debuted their talents on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson were three women from Detroit who, after a bit of tweaking to the band, name, and sound, created the group The Supremes in 1962.
The women sang Motown like no one else. While they experienced almost immediate success with their release of the song “Your Heart Belongs to Me” in 1962, most agree that their debut on The Ed Sullivan Show catapulted the girl group into fame.
On December 27, 1964, Ross, Ballard, and Wilson made their first appearance on the show, singing “Come See About Me.”
The women wore bouffant hair-dos and matching simple dresses for the performance. And although the show was aired in black and white at the time, The Supremes dazzled!
The audience and viewers became utterly enamored with the voices, charm, and energy of the girls, and they quickly became one of the most popular groups in music.
“Come See About Me” was the third of five consecutively released singles from the group that topped the American Billboard pop singles chart.
At the number one spot on the charts for almost a month from December 13, 1964, to January 16, 1965, there’s no doubt that the country simply could not get enough of the track.
Over the next decade, The Supremes appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show 14 times. Ed affectionately called them “the girls,” and they were indeed one of his audience’s favorite acts.
Only four years later, The Supremes had transitioned from “cute girls” to intoxicating women. Their performances on the show became more elaborate, and their costumes went from simple dresses to magnificent gowns.
And in 1969, the group would perform their final act together on the very same stage where their journey began on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Their last performance, so different from their first in their confidence and demeanor, brought a tear to Ed’s eye as he told the audience that Diana Ross would be leaving the group to pursue a solo career.
It is said that The Supremes learned a great deal about the stage, their music, and themselves during their time on the popular variety show.
But whether you remember “Come See About Me” from the radio, your old records, or The Ed Sullivan Show, there is no doubt that it will never be forgotten and is an absolute classic Motown tune.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LJkGNytc2I
