Historical Figure
Diana Ross
b. 1944
American singer and actress (born 1944)
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Biography
Diana Ross is an American singer and actress. Known as the "Queen of Motown", she was the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown's most successful act during the 1960s and one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. They remain the best-charting female group in history, with a total of 12 number-one pop singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
In Their Own Words (2)
A reporter once asked me if I ever cried. I wonder if people think I'm just as hard as a rock and have no emotions at all.
As quoted in Call Her Miss Ross : The Unauthorized Biography of Diana Ross (1989) by J. Randy Taraborrelli , 1989
You can't just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream, you've got to get out there and make it happen yourself.
As quoted in Jet magazine, Vol. 67, No. 2 (4 February 1985), p. 40 , 1985
Timeline
The story of Diana Ross, told in moments.
The Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Four more consecutive No. 1 hits followed. They became Motown's biggest act.
Left the Supremes to go solo. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" reached No. 1 immediately. She would chart six solo No. 1 singles over the next decade.
Starred as Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. The soundtrack went triple platinum.
The album Diana, produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic, yielded "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out." The latter became a gay anthem.
Artifacts (1)
Costume hat worn by Diana Ross as Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues
Bob Mackie, American, born 1940
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