Founding member of Motown pop trio The Supremes Mary Wilson has died in Las Vegas.

She was 76 years old. Her publicist Jay Schwartz did not disclose the cause of her death.

Wilson’s was a supreme talent, who helped propel the Motown group into major stardom. Theirs were stars that shone brightly in the popular music firmament for the best part of two decades.

Songs like Baby Love, Stop! In the Name of Love, Where Did Our Love Go are classics.

The Supremes signed their first recording contract back in 1961 with Wilson joining the group as a teenager. They would go on to have 12 number one hits.

Always stylish and well-choreographed, The Supremes paved the way for succeeding generations of women ensemble pop acts like En Vogue, TLC, The Bangles, Brownstone, SWV, The Spice Girls, Destiny’s Child.

Founder of Motown Records and the man responsible for launching the Supremes career, Berry Gordy said: “The Supremes were always known as the ‘sweethearts of Motown. Mary along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard came to Motown in the early 60s. After an unprecedented string of No.1 hits, television and nightclub bookings they opened doors for themselves, the other Motown acts and many, many others…. She was a trailblazer, a diva and will be deeply missed.”

After leaving the Supremes in 1977, Wilson embarked on a solo career and also became an accomplished author, penning the bestselling memoir which was turned into a movie, “Dreamgirls: My Life as a Supreme”.

Of the Supremes, Wilson once said: “I coined the phrase BLAPS: ‘Black American princesses. We were Cinderellas. We truly made our dreams come true. We were real Cinderellas at a time when Black wasn’t beautiful yet.

“I will never regret being a member of the Supremes. I absolutely adored being a Supreme. If I die, I want to come back being Mary of the Supremes.”