Which Motown luminaries are represented by the thinly veiled characters in the movie Dreamgirls?

Well, if you want to know about the Supremes, then read Mary Wilson's book called "My Life as a Supreme". It was great.

Here who the characters represent:

Jamie Fox--Berry Gordy

Dina Jones--Diana Ross

Jennifer Hudson--Florence Ballard

Anika Noni Rose--Mary Wilson

Eddie Murphy---a combination of a few soul stars from James Brown to Jackie Wilson, and Marvin Gaye

As for Dreamgirls, where it matches is that yes, the Supremes had 3 girls that crossed over into huge mainstream sucess. Yes, Diana Ross overshadowed the group and became the leading star and the other 2 girls went in the background. Yes, Berry Gordy deliberatly made Diana into the star because she was had a "pop" sound to her voice so that the group could be crossover.Diana Ross sang lead to every song even though Florence had the more powerful, soulful voice. Yes, the Supremes had a extremely glamorous image and they did TV shows, had number 1 songs for years, and became the most sucessful group of the 60's. Yes, Diana dated Berry for many years. Yes, Florence Ballard was kicked out of the group because she became difficult and didnt like playing in the backgroud.

But was different was that Florence Ballard did not ever date Berry Gordy--so there was no tug or war between Diana Ross and Florence over him. Florence Ballard was not a heavy set woman in real life--but her voice was very soulful which was not "pop". In real life, Diana Ross is the one who had a secert lovechild with Berry Gordy in 1970, which she didnt let anyone know he was the father until years later. Also, the main difference in the movie is that--according to Mary Wilson's book, Diana Ross was the one who wanted to be the big star, and she agressivley stole the spotlight from the others by wearing glamorous clothes and singing all the lead songs until she re-named the group "Diana Ross & The Supremes"--but in the movie, Beyonce plays like an innocent victim of Jamie Foxx's scheme to make her into the star...Also, in real life, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard did not have a happy reunion, and Florence died in the mid-70's from alcoholism. Diana Ross left the group in 1970, and went on to become a huge star and actress with hit songs like "Aint No Mountain High Enough" and "I'm Coming Out".

Gordy berry, Dianna Ross and the Surpremes