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Diana Ross

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Diana Ross was born on 26 March 1944 in Detroit. Her mother wanted to call her Diane, but Diana ended up on the birth certificate by mistake. Smokey Robinson was a boy from the neighbourhood. In 1959 she formed the group The Primettes with Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Barbara Martin. After signing with Motown, the group was called The Supremes from 1961.

Music and breakthrough

The Supremes became Motown's most successful act of the 1960s. Almost all of their big hits were written and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland. With twelve number ones on the US Billboard Hot 100, they are the most successful girl group in chart history. Ross left the group at the end of 1969 and began a solo career. Her first big hit was in 1970, a new version of Ain't No Mountain High Enough. After that came, among others, Touch Me in the Morning, Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To), Love Hangover, Upside Down, I'm Coming Out and Endless Love. In 1973 she made a duets album with Marvin Gaye.

Influence

Ross was also an actress. For her role as Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues (1972) she received a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. Later she appeared in Mahogany (1975) and The Wiz (1978). Her clear, somewhat restrained voice and her polished presentation fitted exactly the polished style with which Motown wanted to reach a broad audience. Between 1964 and 1981 she sang on eighteen American number ones. In 1988 she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Supremes.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Ain't No Mountain High Enough in the 1970 version by Diana Ross. Notice how the song builds slowly, with spoken passages and strings, before the chorus finally bursts out at full strength.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists