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If there was a single phase to describe Diana Ross, it would have
to be "consummate artist." Over the course of nearly 40 years,
she has entertained the world as a singer, a dancer, an actress, a producer, a
songwriter and, behind the scenes, a businesswoman. In the process, she
has earned a place in musical history by becoming one of the most successful
female singers of all time.
During her journey to legendary status, Diana had accomplished many amazing
feats that, unfortunately, have been severely overlooked or ignored by the music
industry. Billboard magazine had once named her 'Entertainer of the
Decade,' The U.K. Guinness
Book of Records jointly awarded her with its Lifetime Achievement
Award and the title of the 'most successful female vocalist of all time,'
BET bestowed her their 'Heritage Award.'.
In the sixties, as lead singer of the The Supremes, Diana achieved the
unprecedented feat of twelve number one singles in the USA, rivaling
only The Beatles for the position of the biggest hit group of that
generation. Of that total, The Supremes topped the charts with five
#1 singles in a row...the first time anyone has accomplished that feat.
As a solo artist, Ms. Ross accomplishments are just as stunning. She was
the first female artist to reach the Billboard pole position six times.
She was nominated for an Academy Award for best actress in 'Lady Sings the
Blues.' Her duet with Lionel Richie, 'Endless Love,' peaked at #1 for
eleven weeks and went on to become the best selling movie song. of all
time. Her television special, 'Diana Ross at the Forum' was the first 90
minute special by a solo performer. Through her own company Anaid
Film Productions Inc. she has executive produced five specials for
ABC, CBS, HBO and Showtime. For four decades, Diana has produced an endless stream of chart singles
and sell-out tours. She moved easily between pop and soul; she sang
jazz and blues and dabbled in country. Diana even performed with the Three
Tenors to extend her fan base to the classical arena. Diana knows of no
boundaries and she is not afraid of tackling new challenges or directions.
She has survived the tumultuous musical landscape for forty years by adapting to
the winds of change. The biggest evidence is her acceptance in the dance
community. From 'Love Hangover' and 'The Boss' in the '70's to 'Eaten
Alive,' and 'Chain Reaction' in the '80's, Diana has continued to give her fans
a reason to groove. 'Take Me Higher,' took Diana to the pinnacle of the
dance charts in the 90's and the millennium saw Diana release remixes of 'Until
We Meet Again,' and 'Not Over You Yet,' the former reaching
#2.
Diana's career has taken her around the world, including Russia,
where she was one of the first South Africa's President Nelson Mandela,
once remarked, in a meeting with her, as "someone who always
seems to be running, never walking, she is an inspiration to us all".
In fact, Ms. Ross has been noted throughout her career for the
encouragement and support she has given to other artists - among them
the young Jackson 5 whose career she was inextricably linked with
during their formative years - and as a result has become a major
influence to many aspiring performers always willing to share with
them the depth of her knowledge and wisdom gained over her many
challenging years in the industry. At a recent British Music Industry
awards evening at which she appeared, both The Spice Girls and Fugees
paid tribute to the inspiration she provided during their early days.
Again venturing down new paths, in 1994 Ms. Ross made her dramatic
television debut in "Out of Darkness", a film for television on which
she also acted as executive producer. Her role as a victim of
schizophrenia earned her glowing reviews and a Golden Globe
nomination.
In 1992 she again proved the diversity of her talent with her
production of the live pay-per-view television music special, "The
Lady Sings Jazz and Blues - Stolen Moments", which grew to become a
CD, home video, and a Disney music special.
Television and film continue to be a key interest for Ms. Ross, with a
number of projects presently in development through Anaid Productions.
Her rich career shows no signs of diminishing; in recent years have seen
a number of further highlights including her appearance in "Christmas In Vienna", a television special with two of the world's great tenors,
Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. As well as being seen across the
world by an audience of tens of millions, it also led to a number one
CD on the classical charts.
Such was the success of the event that Ms. Ross has since performed
further concerts around the world with the two tenors under the banner
of the "Super Concert Tour". More recently, at the invitation of
President Nelson Mandela, Ms. Ross made her first concert appearance in South Africa at the opening of the newly built
Sundome, the
country's largest purpose built indoor arena.
She has received The Soul Train Legend Award, the French Commander des
Lettres medal, and was honored with an entire day of celebration at
the international MIDEM music festival in the South of France becoming
the only woman to receive such an honor in the 25 year history
of the event.
With an amazing capacity to combine so many different interests, and
with seemingly tireless energy, Diana Ross continues to exert her
influence through each new generation. Awards and accolades aside, she
is also conscious of the struggle to make the world a better place,
championing many causes, especially those concerned with children. She
was spokesperson for National Children's Day, for which she testified
before congress, and is also on the board of A Better Chance (ABC),
the only national program that recruits and places academically
talented inner city children in the nation's best preparatory schools.
In her efforts, she has raised millions of dollars for the numerous
charities to which she has lent her name. Her efforts have earned her
much deserved recognition as a woman of strength, integrity and
above-all, concern.
That concern is never more evident than in the strength of
relationship she holds with her family. The proud mother of five
children, the three eldest each now having established a high
education and successful careers, she credits resourcefulness and
determination as a Ross family trait gained from an achiever father -
president of a Union Local 174 and a mother who encouraged
individuality. While Ms. Ross pursued and succeeded in a singing
career, her eldest sister, Dr. Barbara Lee Beverly made her own mark
as the first Black female dean of Ohio medical university.
From the young girl who sat hopefully on the steps of Hitsville,
Motown's humble Detroit headquarters, to the world legend she has
become, the constants in Diana Ross's life have been belief in
herself, and belief in others, with the rare ability to share her
experience and advantages. At the same time she credits her children
as being the source of her 'grounding' and ability to remain in touch
with changing trends. The other constant in her life is her continued
ability to find her profession exciting and magical. As she says in "Secrets of A
Sparrow", her best selling book of memoirs which recalls
her life and career: "I love life fiercely, desperately. I've always
had a gift of seeing the good bits. I've had lots of fun. It has been
wonderful. I've also had many struggles, inward and outwards, being a
mother, a wife, a feminist. The complexity of being black and female,
performer, having my own business, being strong and decisive, sometimes being sad and afraid.
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