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
Dickey-Birdsong Plantation property is now the Birdsong Nature Center and is located on what is now known as Birdsong Rd. Birdsong Nature Center was created as a 501c3 corporation in 1986. Its mission is "to foster awareness, understanding, and appreciation of nature and its interrelationships." Dickey-Birdsong Plantation The Dickey-Birdsong Plantation is a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. It includes four contributing buildings, five contributing structures, and a contributing site. It is a wildlife preserve. It has a 1912 dwelling, the "Dickey-Komarek House", which includes Classical Revival architectural details, and is a frame one-and-a-half-story