Betty McGlown

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Betty McGlown was an African American singer, one of the founding members of The Primettes, later known as The Supremes.

In 1959, a teenage Betty McGlown was dating Paul Williams of The Primes (later to be known as The Temptations). Being a singer, McGlown is sometimes referred to as the first Primette, a quartet that would become the sister group of The Primes. A husky voiced Florence Ballard was already singing at venues with the Primes, so it was decided that a group would be formed around the girls. Ballard asked Mary Wilson and Diana Ross, then known as Diane, to join the group with her.

Along with their guitarist, Marv Tarplin, the girls performed for Berry Gordy who, although impressed, told them they were too young for the business and encouraged them to finish school. On Lupine Records, McGlown sang backing vocals for Mary Wilson on "Pretty Baby" and backing vocals for Diana Ross on "Tears of Sorrow." These became the only known recordings of McGlown, although her voice does not stand out by itself in either song. McGlown eventually became Mrs. Betty Travis and left the Primettes in 1960 to concentrate on her new marriage. She was replaced by Barbara Martin the same year.

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