Diana Ross

Diana Ross

Diana Ross was born in 1944. Emerging from the housing projects in Detroit to become an international superstar, she gained prominence first as a member of the supremes, then as a solo artist. The mention of her name evokes the indelible image of the broadly smiling diva, the long hair, sequined gowns, etc.

Ross first recorded on the small lupine label in 1959, as a member of the Primettes. The group signed to Motown in1961, and later changed their names to the supremes. In 1963, all the singles released by the supremes featured Diana Ross as the lead singer. That year they first hit the top 40 with "when the love light starts shining through his eyes".

In 1964 the supremes single " where did our love go" began a run of five consecutive #1 singles. Thereafter where a series of #1 hits such as, "the happenings", "baby love", " stop! in the name of love", " you can't hurry love", and you keep me hanging on". Someday well be together was Ross' last hit with the supremes before going solo.

Ross moved to California to launch her solo career. Her reworking of the Ashford and Simpson standard "ain't no mountain high enough" became their first #1 hit as a solo artist. In 1971, Her first child Rhonda was born later announced as berry Gordy child (the founder of Motown).

Ros married her first husband, Robert Ellis Siberstein, a union that produced two children, Tracee (from girlfriends) and Chudney Ellis. In 1972 Diana Ross made her first debut portraying the late jazz singer Billie holiday in " lady sings the blues". The film was successful, and Ross was received an Oscar nomination for her performance. Later in 1975 she played in "mahogany" and in 1978 she played in " the wiz".

During this time, Ross' recording career proved to be quite erratic, but she did enjoy several hits during the decade, including "touch me in the morning" in 1973, " theme from mahogany(do you know where you're going to?)in 1975, love hangover in 1976(her introduction to disco), and the boss in 1979.