Diana Ross

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Biography

Born March , , Detroit, Michigan, USA. American vocalist, producer, and occasional actress. Working within groups early on in her musical career, she is equally known as an artist in her own right, and has released music in many genres; R&B, soul, disco, and jazz. Initial success came as lead singer of a. Sister to Motown songwriter Arthur Ross.

  • Real name
  • Diana Ernestine Earle Ross
  • Name variations
  • D. Ross·D.Ross·Diana·Diane·Dianna Ross·Dianne Ross·Dina Ross·Ernestine Ross·Ross·With Entire Cast·Дайана Росс·Дайна Роз·Дайяна Росс·ダイアナ・ロス·マーヴィン・ゲイ
  • Aliases
  • ダイアナ・ロス·Diana Ernestine Earle Ross·Dianna Ross·Daina Rose·Diane Earle
  • The Primettes·The Supremes·The Wiz Stars·USA For Africa·We Are Family Collective
  • Primary profession
  • Music_artist·soundtrack·actress
  • Country
  • United Kingdom
  • Nationality
  • British
  • Gender
  • Female
  • Birth date
  • 26 March 1944
  • Place of birth
  • Detroit
  • Death date
  • 2000-05-04
  • Death age
  • 90
  • Place of death
  • Gosforth
  • Children
  • Evan Ross·Rhonda Ross Kendrick·Tracee Ellis Ross
  • Spouses
  • Arne Næss Jr.·Berry Gordy
  • Education
  • Cass Technical High School
  • Knows language
  • English language

Music

Lyrics

Movies

TV

Books

Awards

Trivia

Mother of Rhonda Ross Kendrick ( with Berry Gordy but raised as Robert Silbersteins daughter because Diana married Robert in Jan 1971 before Rhondas birth ). From her marriage to Robert Ellis Silberstein , she has daughters Tracee Ellis Ross (b. October 29, 1972) and Chudney Ross (b. 4 November 1975). With her second 16-year marriage to Norwegian shipping millionaire Arne Naess Jr, she has sons Ross Naess (b. 7 October 1987) and Evan Ross .

23 September 1999 - Arrested for grabbing an airport security guards breast, whom she claimed touched her breast while she was being frisked after setting off an airport metal detector.

Entered Malibu, CA drug and alcohol rehab Promises center May 20, 2002 prior to start of global summer tour.

In 1983 introduced a line of pantyhose "Diana Ross Ultra Sheers"

Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Supremes ) in 1988.

Renewed vows with now-ex-husband Arne Naess Jr. on 1 February 1986 in Switzerland.

A member of The Supremes from 15 January 1961 - 14 January 1970.

The second of 6 children.

Graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1962

In January 1965 Music Business Magazine named The Supremes the #1 Female Soul Artist.

The Supremes once co-hosted "The Mike Douglas Show" .

In January 1967 The Supremes was voted #1 by the readers of Playboy Magazine.

Made her first solo TV appearance with Lucille Ball and Dinah Shore.

On November 8, 1969, she announced that she was leaving The Supremes in order to pursue a solo career, but the last Supremes concert with Ross was played on January 14, 1970, at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Was honoured by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1993 as the most successful female singer of all time.

Received the Lifetime Achievement Award from MIDEM in 1994

Performed the half-time show on Super Bowl in 1996

Received the BET (Black Entertainment Television) Walk of Fame Award on October 23, 1999

Received a 2000 Heroes Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). The award was the highest distinction bestowed by the New York Chapter.

(21 September 2001) 10 days after the terrorist attack (9-11), she sang, "God Bless America", at Shea Stadium in New York City, New York.

Sang the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in 1982

Ross is the 2nd of six children born to Baptist family by Fred Ross Sr. and Ernestine Moten in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up in in Detroits Brewster Housing Projects.

Intended to call her third daughter (born in 1975) "Chutney", yet misspelled the name as "Chudney" on the birth certificate.

Grew up in Detroits Brewster Housing Projects.

When she was with The Supremes the group had 12 #1 songs and 18 top ten songs in the US.

Her ex-husband, Arne Naess Jr., died on 13th January, 2004 in a climbing accident in South Africa.

Ranked #38 on VH1s Greatest Women of Rock N Roll

Mother of Rhonda Ross Kendrick , Tracee Ellis Ross , Ross Naess , Chudney Ross and Evan Ross.

Sister of Barbara Ross (doctor), Rita Ross (schoolteacher), Fred Ross, Jr., Arthur T-Boy Ross (successful Motown songwriter), and Wilbert "Chico" Ross (a dancer on Ross tours).

February 2004 - Sentenced to two days in jail, 36 hours of counseling, and one year probation after a no-contest plea for driving under the influence in Tucson, Arizona, in 2002.

Is the most successful female recording artist ever with 18 US #1 hits and 70 top 10 hits since 1964

Brother Arthur was murdered in Detroit in 1996.

Has been nominated for 12 Grammy awards, but never won.

In 1972 she and Cicely Tyson were nominated for the same "Best Actress in a Leading Role" award category (for different roles, in different films), for the same performing, nomination, and award year for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences , more commonly known as the Oscars. This was only the second time in the history of the Academy Awards that African-American actresses had been nominated in the "Best Actress" Academy Award/Oscars category, although there had been several nominations in best supporting actress categories. The first, and only previous, female nominee in the best, or leading actress category, had been Dorothy Dandridge s nomination for Carmen Jones . Coincidentally, the same two actresses, Ross and Tyson, were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom award in the same ceremony, from President Barack Obama , in his final "class," or group, on November 22, 2016.

Billboard Magazine named her Female Entertainer of The Century.

Is on the board of A Better Chance, the only national program that recruits and places academically talented inner city children in the nations best prepatatory schools.

Ranked #86 on VH1s 100 Sexiest Artists in 2002.

She and The Supremes had appeared on "Toast of the Town" (aka "The Ed Sullivan Show") 17 times from 1964-1969.

She has two stars on the Hollywood walk of fame, one for her work with The Supremes and one for her solo career.

Her 1981 song "Im Coming Out" was used in The Princess Diaries trailer and in the Maid in Manhattan soundtrack, which was revived by Amerie.

Inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Foundation as a member of The Supremes on February 21, 2003.

Has won the Legendary Female award from the Capitol Gold Legends Award .

Does not write songs of her own like Linda Ronstadt and Barbra Streisand.

Won a Special Tony Award in 1977.

Performed a memorable free concert through a terrible storm in New York Citys Central Park in the summer of 1983. The storm caused much damage to the park, and she agreed to pony up the costs of repair a few years later.

She and The Supremes had appeared on "Toast of the Town" (aka "The Ed Sullivan Show") 17 times from 1964-1969.

The Supremes ranked #16 on VH1s Greatest Women in Rock N Roll.

Is portrayed by Holly Robinson Peete in "The Jacksons: An American Dream" .

When interviewed on the TV show "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" , she explained that her hit song, "Missing You", was in memory of her good friend, Marvin Gaye.

Is one of 9 African-American actresses to be nominated for the Best Actress Oscar. The others in chronological order are: Dorothy Dandridge , Cicely Tyson , Diahann Carroll , Whoopi Goldberg , Angela Bassett , Halle Berry , Gabourey Sidibe and Viola Davis.

Her father, Fred Ross, passed away November 20, 2007 at the age of 87.

Recipient of the 2007 Kennedy Center Honors. Other recipients that year were Leon Fleisher , Steve Martin , Martin Scorsese , and Brian Wilson.

Daughter Tracee Ellis Ross had previously been best known to the public for her starring role as "Joan Clayton" on "Girlfriends" , but as of 2014/2015/2016, Tracee Ellis Ross is best known to the public for her starting role as Rainbow "Bow" Johnson, on "Black-ish" .

Classmate and former neighbors of Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson , who later joined Ross in The Supremes.

Her parents were both African-American.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6712 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

The Supremes were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Lives in Manhattans renowned Beresford apartment building, northwest corner of 81st St. and Central Park West, which is also the residence of Jerry Seinfeld , Glenn Close and other celebrities.

Won her first Grammy award in 2012.

In 2013, sold out the Hollywood Bowl with 20,000 seats.

Release of the book, "Diana Ross" by Patricia Mulrooney Eldred.

Release of her book, "Secrets of a Sparrow: Memories".

Release of her book, "Diana Ross: Going Back".

Release of her book, "Upside Down: Diana Ross - The Real Story".

Release of the book, "Diana Ross" by Geoff Brown.

Release of the book, "Diana Ross: An Unauthorized Biography" by Randy J. Taraborrelli.

As of Lena Horne s passing in 2010, Diana is the last surviving principal cast member of The Wiz.

She is known to be a very private person.

Had known and was close friends with Michael Jackson from when he was only 8 years old, through until his death, in 2009. Ross was a very important influence on him, throughout his career.

When she released her 1st solo album, in 1970, it sold over 500,000 copies.

By the time she was 14, Rosss parents had 6 children to support. Money became tighter for her family.

Attended the funeral of her former classmate and former co-Supreme member Florence Ballard , when she passed away in 1976.

Her decision in becoming a singer infuriated her father.

Shares the same birthday with Steven Tyler , who is 4 years Rosss junior. He approached her son, Evan Ross , who was also conversing with a few young friends when Evans black SUV pulled up to the sidewalk and he rolled down his window to do a little catching up.

Appeared in Rod Stewart s video, "Ive Got a Crush on You," which was a remake of the 1939 song, sung by Lee Wiley , but was written by Ira Gershwin.

In 1991, Ross became one of the few American artists to have headlined the annual Royal Variety Performance, when she performed a selection of her UK hits in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London.

After her contract from RCA expired, she returned to Motown in 1989.

In February 2012, Ross received her first ever Grammy Award, for Lifetime Achievement, and announced the nominees for the Album of the Year.

Ex-girlfriend of Gene Simmons.

Is very good friends with: Paul McCartney , Eric Clapton , Steven Tyler , Michael Jackson , Smokey Robinson , Melba Moore , Donna Summer , Tina Turner , Aretha Franklin , Berry Gordy , Gladys Knight , Dionne Warwick , Rod Stewart , Elton John , Lionel Richie , Stevie Wonder , Gloria Gaynor , Pat Benatar and Al Green.

Moved to Detroits Brewster Projects on the exact day of her fourteenth Birthday, in 1958.

At a very young age, she really admired her Detroit projects neighbor, Smokey Robinson , but she wanted to compete with somebody older than herself, that person turned out to be her own father.

Mother-in-law of Ashlee Simpson.

She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian award, by President Barack Obama , in a live televised ceremony held in the East Room of the White House, on November 22, 2016, along with twenty other recipients, the the largest, and final Medal of Freedom ceremony of Obamas presidency. At this ceremony, the twenty-one recipients, in alphabetical order, included: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , Elouise Cobell (posthumous award given to her son), Ellen DeGeneres , Robert De Niro , Richard Garwin , Bill Gates , Melinda Gates , Frank Gehry , Margaret Hamilton (as Margaret H. Hamilton), Tom Hanks , Rear Admiral Grace Hopper (posthumous award given to her niece), Michael Jordan , Maya Lin , Lorne Michaels , Newton Minow , Eduardo Padron (as Eduardo Padrn), Robert Redford , Diana Ross , Vin Scully , Bruce Springsteen , and Cicely Tyson.

Quotes

Instead of looking at the past, I put myself ahead twenty years and try,to look at what I need to do now in order to get there then.

In my life I want to keep moving forward, but sometimes reflection is a,good thing.

I want an autobiography without revealing any personal information.

Most people don’t understand performers are really sheltered and protected so much sometimes that they don’t get a chance to live their lives.

Years ago I wanted to buy an apartment in New York City. I was a single female - I had gone through my divorce - I had three children, I was in show business and black. It was, like, impossible.

They tell me that it will be hard to find a man strong enough to love my own strength and independence, and not worry about being Mr. Diana Ross, but I disagree. I know absolutely that that man is somewhere out there.

I majored in fashion design in school, and I have always wanted to design my own line of clothing, jewelry, and stuff like that; so this was just a step for me in that direction.

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