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Diana Ross

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Diana Ross is a celebrated American singer and actress.

1966 The Supremes
1966 The Supremes

She is widely recognized as the "Queen of Motown." This title honors her massive influence on the Motown record label. She rose to fame as the lead singer of The Supremes. This vocal group became one of the best-selling girl groups in history. They achieved 12 number-one pop singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

The Supremes 1967
The Supremes 1967

This success established them as the best-charting female group of their era.

Ross's journey began in Detroit, Michigan, where she was born on March 26, 1944. She was the second of six children born to Ernestine and Fred Ross Sr. Her childhood involved several moves within the city. When she was seven, her mother became ill with tuberculosis. During this time, the family lived in Bessemer, Alabama. They later returned to Detroit and moved to the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects.

Frederick Douglass HomestowerDetroit
Frederick Douglass HomestowerDetroit

At Cass Technical High School, Ross studied fashion design, tailoring, and millinery. She also took classes in modeling and cosmetology to build her skills.

Music became a professional path for Ross at a very young age. At fifteen, she joined a group called the Primettes. This group was a sister act to a male group named the Primes. The Primettes eventually auditioned for Tamla Records, a label under Motown. Music manager Berry Gordy was famously struck by her singing voice. In 1961, the group changed their name to The Supremes. This name was chosen by member Florence Ballard.

Diana Ross (1981)
Diana Ross (1981)

The group soon became a dominant force in the music industry.

As the lead singer, Ross drove the group toward unprecedented success. Between 1964 and 1967, The Supremes earned ten number-one hit singles. These songs also performed well on the U.K. charts. Ross took on many responsibilities during these early years. She worked as the group's hairstylist, make-up artist, and costume designer. However, the pressure of fame and management demands was intense. Ross suffered from exhaustion and anorexia nervosa due to these stresses.

Diana Ross performing at Caesars Windsor, 2023-09-08 01
Diana Ross performing at Caesars Windsor, 2023-09-08 01

She eventually left the group in early 1970 to pursue solo work.

Her solo career proved to be just as impactful as her time with The Supremes. In 1970, she released her self-titled debut solo album. Between 1972 and 1980, she recorded four top ten albums. Her album titled "Diana" became her most successful studio release. Over a fifteen-year period, she recorded twelve top ten singles. Six of these songs reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. These hits included "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Endless Love."

Diana Ross (2105872881)
Diana Ross (2105872881)

She became the leading female solo act in the United States at that time.

Ross also achieved significant recognition as a professional actress. Her debut role was in the 1972 film "Lady Sings the Blues." She portrayed the singer Billie Holiday in this production. This performance earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination. She was the first African-American actress to receive an Academy Award nomination for a debut film.

AnthonyPerkinsDianaRossMahoganyTrailer
AnthonyPerkinsDianaRossMahoganyTrailer

She later starred in the films "Mahogany" and "The Wiz." Her acting work expanded into various television films throughout her career.

Throughout her life, Ross has received numerous prestigious honors. Billboard named her the "Female Entertainer of the Century" in 1976. She has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Ross is one of the rare performers with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

She has received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award twice. In 2016, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her legacy connects her to the history of American pop culture and the evolution of the music industry.

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🖼️ Images & Media (13)
File:Frederick Douglass HomestowerDetroit.jpg
Frederick Douglass HomestowerDetroit.jpg
File:1966 The Supremes.JPG
1966 The Supremes.JPG
File:The Supremes 1967.JPG
The Supremes 1967.JPG
File:Diana Ross Roosevelt Grier Danny Thomas Make Room for Granddaddy 1971.JPG
Diana Ross Roosevelt Grier Danny Thomas...
File:AnthonyPerkinsDianaRossMahoganyTrailer.jpg
AnthonyPerkinsDianaRossMahoganyTrailer.jpg
File:Diana Ross (1981).jpg
Diana Ross (1981).jpg
File:DianaRossPlayground NYC.jpg
DianaRossPlayground NYC.jpg
File:DianaRoss 027.jpg
DianaRoss 027.jpg
File:DRossLongleat010722 (16 of 43) (52189231200).jpg
DRossLongleat010722 (16 of 43) (52189231200).jpg
File:Diana Ross performing at Caesars Windsor, 2023-09-08 01.jpg
Diana Ross performing at Caesars Windsor,...
File:Diana Hollywood Star.jpg
Diana Hollywood Star.jpg
File:President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush stand in the Blue Room of the White House.jpg
President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura...

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