The Supremes receive Randolph well. In April 1967, Gordy then contacted Cindy Birdsong, a member of Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles who superficially resembled Ballard, with plans to bring her in as Ballard's replacement. He made his plans clear to Ballard and her group mates at a mid-April meeting, and Birdsong was brought in to begin rehearsals. Gordy did not fire Ballard outright at that time, asking Ballard instead to quit on her own. Birdsong first appeared with the Supremes in Ballard's place at a benefit concert at the Hollywood Bowl on April 29, 1967. Following the performance, Gordy quickly learned
Larry Birdsong by Red Wortham in 1966. In the late 1960s he recorded for the Ref-O-Ree label, again owned by Ted Jarrett. His only recording after 1973 was a gospel single, "I Felt Alright", in 1981. He died in Nashville in 1990, at the age of 56. Larry Birdsong Lawrence E. Birdsong (June 15, 1934 – August 7, 1990) was an American R&B singer who recorded between the 1950s and 1970s. His biggest hit was "Pleadin' For Love", which reached the "Billboard" R&B chart in 1956. He was born in Pulaski, Tennessee, into a musical family; all his brothers and singers also