Florence Ballard, a founding member of the Supremes, was born 79 years ago today.
Ballard sang on sixteen Top 40 singles with the group — including 10 #1 hits.
After being removed from the Supremes in 1967, Ballard tried an unsuccessful solo career with ABC Records before she was dropped from the label at the end of the decade. She struggled with alcoholism, depression and poverty for three years.
She was making an attempt for a musical comeback when she died of cardiac arrest in February, 1976 at age 32.
Ballard's death was considered by one critic as "one of rock's greatest tragedies."