Longest-running of the early-60s Motown Records girl groups, begun as
The Primettes, sister group of Detroit doo-woppers The
Primes). Florence Ballard (replaced by Cindy Birdsong of
The Bluebelles), Mary Wilson, Diana Ross. They were Motown's
flagship, and got the best parking space. Diana left at 60s end; the group did great stuff without her. Motown "retired" the name in 1978; Mary discovered she couldn't take it with her (see: The Jackson Five).