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Happy 72nd birthday to the supreme Diana Ross!
There are stars and there are STARS.
Diana Ross has been one of the biggest for more than 50 years and is still going strong. When I last saw her in concert at Hollywood Bowl in 2013, it was as if time had stood still. She looked amazing, the voice was in fine form and she had a capacity crowd wrapped around her finger. Look forward to seeing her again this summer!
Her decade as lead singer of The Supremes secured her place in music history then she went out on her own and scored a stunning series of number one hits including Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Touch Me in the Morning, Do You Know Where You’re Going To, Love Hangover, Upside Down, and Endless Love. Then there was the wonderful anthem adopted by so many gays: I’m Coming Out, the dance faves The Boss, Chain Reaction, Mirror, Mirror, I Will Survive and the beautiful ballads Missing You, Reach Out and Touch and It’s My Turn.
I’ve also seen the legend in concert in 1989 (Workin’ Overtime tour), 1991 (Force Behind the Power tour), 1995 (Take Me Higher tour) and in 2008 at Hollywood Bowl and have just about every solo CD including Diana’s most recent: I Love You, her biggest seller in many years. She has only released three CDs in the past 20 years as her once-famous ambition seems to have leveled off. She’s also an Oscar nominated actress (Lady Sings the Blues) whose last full-on dramatic role was in the 1993 movie-for-television Out of Darkness. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for what was, I think, the best acting performance of her career second only to Lady Sings the Blues. She also starred in Mahogany and The Wiz but her most recent film, Double Platinum, was a decade ago!
The drop-off in professional output could be because she has had other interests like her five amazing kids, some of whom are making their way in showbiz including Girlfriends star Tracee Ellis Ross and actor Evan Ross. She’s also a grandmother now. It’s probably easier to pick and choose when you’ve accomplished just about all there is. In 2007, Miss Ross was among the recipients of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors award, the highest tribute any artist can get from this country.
Well deserved!
So on her birthday, here is Miss Ross singing some of her many hits through the years.
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Joe says:
I watch the Kennedy Center Honors every year and I can’t remember Diana being honored at that event. Nevertheless, if I had to pick one celebrity who I’ve loved forever, it is Miss Ross. <3
jj says:
Such great video clips. I love MISSING YOU. Also, check out Miss Ross’ Facebook page for a video of her daughter Rhonda speaking about Motown at Lehman College.
Calvin Smit says:
Since I was a little boy, I remember the song “When the lovelight starts shining through his eyes” … I loved everything about that song. Then in 1979, doing my military service in South Africa, my friends bought me the LP of The Boss, by Diana Ross for my birthday and I was hooked! Since then I began collecting everything of The Supremes, Diana Ross & The Supremes, and Diana Ross … you name it: seven singles (45 speed); LP’s; cassettes; VHS videos; CD’s; DVD’s; Cards; concert programmes and T-shirts. Over the years I have been blessed to see Ms Ross in Concert 4 times and now that we are older and wiser, we can appreciate those wonderful times and the fact that she means so much to her fans throughout her illustrious career. I am amazed by this woman’s youthful look and spirit plus the fact that she is still in fine form and voice. God Bless you Ms Ross and may I also. together with legions of your fans, wish you a blessed 72nd birthday!
Much love
Calvin
Rl says:
Wow! Supreme hair! Lol I always wanted a decent mop to clean my floor with. Just over the top! A decent hair cut and style let alone the nutty make up and she would look less like a Clown!