Diana Ross
1944~
Ross, Diana
(b. March 26, 1944, Detroit, Mich.), American singer and actress, lead vocalist of the Supremes, whose songs topped the Billboard charts throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.Diana Ross was born Diane Ross, the second of six children, to Fred and Ernestine Ross. She grew up in a poor district of
Detroit, Michigan. As a child, Ross sang with her siblings and parents in the choir at the Olivet Baptist Church and collaborated with neighborhood friends on renditions of the most popular songs of the day. She showcased her talent by performing on street corners, in school talent shows, and at dances. In 1959, while still in high school, Ross joined Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard, and Betty McGlown in a vocal group called the Primettes, the "sister act" for a group of male singers which later became the Temptations. In 1961, after both McGlown and her replacement Barbara Martin left the group, the Primettes signed a recording contract with Motown Records as a trio and changed their name to the Supremes.The Supremes did not enjoy immediate recognition and success. Initially, they sang as backup vocalists or served as handclappers for other Motown acts, including Mary Wells,
Marvin Gaye, and the Shirelles. After three years as a group, the Supremes achieved their first number-one hit in July of 1964 with "Where Did Our Love Go," their ninth release. A string of number-one recordings followed: "Baby Love" (1964), "Come See About Me" (1964), "Stop! In the Name of Love" (1965), and "Back in My Arms Again" (1965). In 1967, Cindy Birdsong replaced Florence Ballard, and the group changed its name to Diana Ross and the Supremes. In 1970, Ross left the Supremes to pursue a solo career in singing and acting, but not before issuing one more group hit, "Someday We'll Be Together." A series of female singers assumed the lead vocals of the Supremes before the group's breakup in 1977.Ross launched her career as a soloist with the number-one single "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (1970). She then turned her attention to
film. In 1972, Ross's portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues, in which she co-starred with Billie Dee Williams, earned her an Academy Award nomination. Ross starred in Mahogany (1975), singing the hit theme song, "Do You Know Where You're Going To?," and later in The Wiz (1978). After recording two disco sensations, "Love Hangover" (1976) and "Upside Down" (1980), Ross collaborated with Lionel Richie on the ballad "Endless Love" (1981). Ross left Motown Records in 1981 but returned in 1989 to work as a recording artist, an equity partner, and a director of the company.The Supremes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, confirming their status as the most famous black performing group and the most famous female recording group in American music history. As the lead vocalist for the Supremes, Ross had 12 number-one singles and sold over 50 million records. Between 1970 and 1984, she recorded 31 albums and more than 50 singles, six of which reached the top spot on the Billboard chart. Ross is considered to be one of the most influential and versatile recording artists of the twentieth century.
Contributed By:
Aaron Myers