Diana Ross, The #79 Artist of the Rock Era

"Ms. Ross' delivery is exceptional."

"A Supreme voice."

"What a voice.  What a career."

"She was a superstar in the 60's, 70's and 80's.  The Lady = Quality."

"Diana Ross is a true icon."

"One of the greatest singers of all-time."

Diana Ross is brilliant!!

"A fabulous singer that makes one feel what she sings."

"Diana was pure magic."

"Hit after hit.  An absolute legend."

Diana Ross was born on March 26, 1944 in Detroit, Michigan although according to Ross, her real name is "Diane" but a clerical mistake led to her name being recorded officially as "Diana".  By a Rock Era coincidence, Smokey Robinson lived nearby growing up.  When Diana's mother became seriously ill from tuberculosis, the rest of the family moved to Alabama and then moved back to Detroit when she recovered. 

Ross attended Cass Technical High School and Diana took several courses to prepare for a career in fashion design.  She worked at Hudson's Department store and made extra money providing hairdressing for neighbors.  

Diana joined the Primettes when she was 15, a group that eventually became known as the Supremes, the greatest female group of all-time.  It was neighbor Smokey Robinson who helped the group get a recording contract with Motown.

Towards the end of the 1960's, Motown CEO Barry Gordy Jr. strategized to begin paving the way for a solo career for Diana.  In 1968, Ross performed by herself on several television shows.  The following year, she began recording for her debut album.  Her first solo release, "Someday We'll Be Together", was actually credited to the Supremes and became their 12th and final #1 song.  Diana appeared for the last time as a Supreme on January 14, 1970 at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

Later in 1970, Ross released her self-titled debut album.  The lead single, "Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)" was a Top 10 R&B hit but stalled at #20 overall.

The Andantes, Jimmy Beavers, Jo Armstead, Ashford & Simpson and Brenda Evans and Billie Calvin of the Undisputed Truth.

 

Her signature song was next, the remake of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", which Diana turned into her own.  The multi-format smash, featuring incredible backing vocals from songwriters Ashford & Simpson, the Andantes, Jimmy Beavers, Jo Armstead and Billie Calvin and Brenda Evans of the Undisputed Truth, soared to #1 on both the R&B and Popular charts, #6 on the Adult chart and #6 in the U.K. while reaching #7 in Canada.

Diana was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, one of an astounding 10 nominations in which she never was given a trophy before the academy embarrassingly tried to make up for it with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.  She released the albums Everything Is Everything and Surrender the following year.  Ross starred in the television special, Diana! with guests the Jackson 5.

Ross had a relationship with Motown boss Berry Gordy, Jr. for several years, but married Robert Silberstein in 1971.  Those two divorced in 1977.

Ross had movie aspirations as well, and drew raves for her performance in Lady Sings the Blues, a film loosely based on singer Billie Holiday.  Diana received both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress and came away with the American Music Award for Favorite Pop or Rock Album.  The soundtrack album went to #1 and has sold two million copies.

 

In 1973, Ross scored another #1 with "Touch Me In The Morning", title song from her fourth studio album that earned Diana another Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 

Later in the year, two of Motown's biggest stars, Ross and Marvin Gaye, collaborated for the album Diana & Marvin.  The song "You're A Special Part Of Me" made it to #4 R&B and #12 overall.

Meanwhile, Diana released her solo album Last Time I Saw Him, containing the #1 Adult title song.

Diana toured throughout the year and became the first entertainer in history to receive an invitation to the Imperial Palace in Japan.  Diana's universal popularity led to her hosting the Academy Awards in 1974.

 

Both Diana's singing and acting careers benefited in 1975 with the release of the movie Mahogany and its soundtrack album.  Panned by critics, who never know much of what they are writing about, the film was a box office success.  The soundtrack, meanwhile, featured another #1 from Ross, the poignant and personal "Theme From 'Mahogany' (Do You Know Where You're Going To?)"  

 

Diana scored another American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Vocalist.  In 1976, the disco craze was just getting underway and Diana capitalized with one of her biggest career hits, the #1 smash "Love Hangover".

She was nominated again in 1977 for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Vocalist at the American Music Awards and for Best R&B Female Vocal Performance.  Ross promoted the album with a tour and a two-week stay at Palace Theatre in New York City as well as a television special which received an Emmy nomination.

Diana starred in the movie The Wiz in 1977, and then collaborated with co-star Michael Jackson on the hit "Ease On Down The Road".  

 

In 1980, Diana returned to the Top 10 with "It's My Turn", from the movie of the same name.  She connects with the heart and emotion of the lyrics in a way few can.  

Diana's albums Baby It's Me and Ross did not produce big hits but in 1979, Ross released the album The Boss.  

Diana hosted an episode of The Tonight Show and hosted the HBO special Standing Room Only during her concert tour.  

 

Ross enjoyed her most successful album, Diana, in 1980.  "I'm Coming Out"

 

"Upside Down" gave Ross her fourth #1 as a solo performer.

 

Ross captured American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Vocalist and Favorite Soul/R&B Single ("for "Upside Down") and was nominated for Best R&B Female Vocal Performance.  She then teamed up with Lionel Richie for the theme song for the movie Endless Love that gave her another trophy for Favorite Soul/R&B single.  It was nominated for Grammys for Record of the Yeae and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and an Academy Award and is one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*, #1 in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand and Top Five in every major country in the world.

 

Diana hosted the television special Diana and then shopped around for a new label, signing a seven-year deal with RCA for $20 million.  Her first effort with RCA was the 1981 album Why Do Fools Fall in Love. The title song was another across-the-board winner--#2 Adult Contemporary, #6 R&B and #7 overall.

 

The album has sold over one million copies. "Mirror, Mirror" gave Ross her ninth career Top 10 away from the Supremes.   

Diana won her seventh American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Vocalist in 1983.  She formed her own production company, Anaid Productions, and toured in the United States and throughout the world.  In 1982, Diana received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and sang the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XVI.  

 

Ross released the album Silk Electric, which went Gold and contained another Top 10--"Muscles".

Her next effort was the album Ross, which did not generate a good deal of attention.  In 1983, Diana performed for free in a concert in New York City's Central Park, with proceeds going to build a playground in Ross's name.  But midway through, a torrential downpour ensued and the show had to be canceled.  Diana returned the next day and performed again, but memorabilia that was supposed to raise money for the playground had been destroyed by the storm.  Ross wrote a personal check for $250,000 to cover the cost of the project, and the Diana Ross Playground was built three years later.

 

In 1984, Diana released the album Swept Away, which featured the #2 AC smash "All Of You", a duet with Julio Iglesias.

Lionel Richie wrote the song "Missing You" as a tribute to Marvin Gaye, and Ross recorded and released it as a single. It topped the R&B chart while also reaching #4 on the Adult chart and #10 Popular.

 

Ross joined Richie and many others for USA for Africa's charity song "We Are The World", which sold over 20 million copies worldwide.

Diana met her second husband, Arne Naess, Jr. in 1985 and the two married the next year.

Diana released the album Eaten Alive in 1985, produced by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, with "Chain Reaction" hitting #1 in the U.K., Australia and Ireland.

In 1987, Ross released the album Red Hot Rhythm & Blues to little success.  However, Diana's television special landed three Emmy Award Nominations.  Ross hosted the American Music Awards in both 1986 and 1987.

In 1988, Ross chose to go back to Motown.  When Barry Gordy solid it to MCA, Ross was asked to return to Motown in exchange for giving her shares in the company.  She agreed.

Diana recorded "If We Hold On Together", the theme to the movie The Land Before Time.  In 1989, Ross released the album Workin' Overtime, but the album stalled at #34.  Her next albums, The Force Behind the Power in 1991, Take Me Higher in 1995, and Every Day Is a New Day, were similarly treated.  

In 1991, Diana performed before Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London.  Ross had a role in the television movie Out of Darkness in 1993 and earned another Golden Globe nomination for her performance. 

Ross released the compilations One Woman:  The Ultimate Collection as well as the box set Forever Diana:  Musical Memoirs in 1994.  In 1996, Diana performed at halftime of Super Bowl XXX and released the live DVD of her Tokyo concert in Nippon Bodukan Stadium, called Diana Ross:  Live in Japan.

Diana received the Lifelong Contribution to the Music Industry Award at the World Music Awards in 1996.  Ross hosted the Motown 40 television special anniversary show in 1998.  She starred in the television movie Double Platinum in 1999 and released her album Every Day Is a New Day. 

Diana invited all members of the Supremes to join her on a world tour, but Jean Terrell and Susaye Greene declined, but Scherrie Payne and Lynda Laurence joined her for performances on the tour as well as on television shows.

In 2000, Diana received a Heroes Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. In 2002, Diana to her great credit admitted herself into the Promises Institute in Malibu, California for a 30-day substance abuse program due to a growing alcohol problem.  She emerged strong and performed several concerts, including a show at London's Hyde Park for Prince Charles' Prince's Trust charity which drew 60,000 fans. 

In 2004, Diana's husband, Arne, fell to his death in a mountain climbing accident in 2004.

Ross was performing to sold-out shows in the U.S. but re-entered the rehabilitation center.  In 2005, she helped raise money for victims of the Indonesian tsunami when she performed at Tsunami Aid:  A Concert of Hope televised live.

The following year, Diana released her first studio album since 1999 with I Love You.  She promoted the album with a world tour and in 2007, was presented with the Kennedy Center Honors.

In 2008, Diana performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway.  She toured the world again in 2010.

In 2012, Ross received her first Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement.  That tells us all much about the Grammys--one of the greatest superstars of our lifetime does not win one award and then they finally recognize their colossal series of mistakes by presenting her with a lifetime award.

Diana released a DVD of her Central Park concerts called For One & For All.  

Ross has continued to perform and in 2015, set up a residency at The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Diana received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama on November 22, 2016.  She released the album Diamond Diana in 2017 and the following year, began a short residency at The Wynn Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.

Ross has 18 #1 songs to her credit, 12 with the Supremes.  Those of course do not count in the methodology of these rankings, but nonetheless show the totality of her career body of work.  Diana is the only female in history to enjoy a #1 song as a solo performer, as a member of a duet (with Lionel Richie), as a member of a trio, and as an ensemble member (her work with USA for Africa).

Ross also has another impressive distinction:  she tallied a Top 10 hit in the U.K. in each of the last five decades, and sang lead on a Top 75 hit at least once per year from 1964 to 1996 in the U.K., an astounding string of 33 consecutive years, which is an all-time record.

In her amazing career, Ross charted 27 hits, with 8 of those going Top 10 and 6 fabulous #1's.

Diana won seven American Music Awards out of nine nominations and a Grammy Award among 11 nominations.