She was just a teenager when an important record producer heard her voice and was enchanted by her, even if he initially preferred not to sign her due to her young age. Today March 26th He’s turning 80 years old, and in the meantime Diana Ross became the queen of that record company, the legendary Motown Records, as well as the undisputed star of soul. In over half a century of career she has sold millions of records, giving the world hits such as Ain’t No Mountain High Enough e Love Hangoverand making a generation dance to the rhythm of Upside Down e I’m coming out. But she was also an actress, winning a Golde Globe for her role in Lady Sings the Bluesand a sensational one style icon, whose influence is still more alive today than ever: if sequins are also worn during the day, it is above all thanks to her. Among the first African-American women capable of achieving success of this magnitude, Diana Ross is a true icon of culture and customs, who on the occasion of her birthday we want to remember through ten little-known anecdotes regarding her life and career. .
He wanted to become a stylist
Born in Detroit as Diane, and became Diana due to a transcription error, as a young girl she cultivated the dream of working as a stylist. She enrolled in a technical institute in which studiò fashion design, millinery, tailoring; Furthermore, he attended evening modeling and cosmetology courses. Coming from a working class family, made up of father, mother, three brothers and two sisters, Diana tried from a very young age to contribute to her livelihood, carrying out odd jobs here and there related to styling (for example she tried her hand at hairdressing and had customers and neighbors). But her artistic streak soon took another direction.
His role in Supremes
As is known, Diana Ross made her debut in the world of music with The Supremes, a quartet that later became a trio in which she was the lead singer. Initially called Primettes, the very young singers were between fourteen and sixteen years old when they were signed by Motown Records, but at the time the group’s income did not yet allow them to enjoy the entourage that would accompany them in the years to come. Diana Ross was therefore not only the lead singer, but also the hairdresser, the make-up artist, the stylist and the costume designer of the girl band.
She suffered from anorexia
In the mid-1960s the Supremes experienced international success, but record producer Berry Gordy quickly realized that the real star was Diana Ross. He therefore wanted the girl to become the frontwoman of the group, and for her to be the only one to express herself during the interviews. For a moment the band called each other Diana Ross & the Supremes. On the advice of the record company, he embarked on a solo career, but those years of climbing the ladder to success put his health to the test: anxiety provoked by Gordy’s increasingly ambitious prospects led her to suffer from anorexia nervosa. In 1967 collapsed on stage during a concert in Boston because she was exhausted.
He discovered Michael Jackson
She never explicitly boasted about it, but the Motown label credits Diana Ross with ‘discovering’ the Jackson 5, the pop band made up of Michael Jackson and his four brothers. In 1969 Diana Ross, who was already famous at the time, hosted the five boys in her home, fresh from their recording contract: from then on she and Michael cultivated a friendship that lasted until the pop star’s death in 2009. It is said that Michael Jackson at one point fell in love with Diana Ross, who however rejected him due to the age difference (14 years).
She was the first African-American host of the Oscars
Diana Ross has not only tried her hand at music, but also at cinema. Her role in Lady Sings the Bluesa film in which she played Billie Holiday, earned her a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination in 1973. She did not win the award for Best Actress, but the following year was called to present the Academy Awards alongside John Huston, Burt Reynolds and David Niven: it was the first time it happened to an African-American woman.
It was in the Guinness World Record
In 1993 the Guinness World Record declares Diana Ross “the most successful female artist of all time”. She is recognized for the number of singles and albums that have entered the world’s music charts, and for the quantity of her records (over 200 million) sold. But to Diana Ross’s recognitions must be added the one she received as “The greatest female artist of the 20th century” attributed to her by Billboardas well as the White House tribute which in 2016 awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedommedal for civil valor.
He has never won a Grammy
Despite topping charts around the world, breaking sales records, dozens of gold and platinum albums, as well as the aforementioned awards, it is surprising to discover that Diana Ross has never won a Grammy: she received an Oscar of Music ‘ in 2012 but only as a tribute to his career.
He sang for Beyoncé’s birthday
A tribute from queen to queen: on the occasion of Beyoncé’s 42nd birthday, Diana Ross surprisingly sang a Happy Birthday on the stage of Renaissance World Tour. Visibly moved, Beyoncé appreciated her dedication and thanked the queen of soul, recognizing her important role in breaking the proverbial glass ceiling: “I wouldn’t exist without you. Thank you for your sacrifice and your beauty. Thank you for opening doors for me.”
She launched a line of tights
It is not counted among her successes, yet Diana Ross was one of the first artists to also dedicate herself to those entrepreneurial projects that are so popular among stars today: in the 1980s she created the Diana Ross Ultra Sheersa line of tights characterized by bold colors and patterns.
Saint Laurent chose her as its testimonial at 79 years old
His legacy in the fashion world is enormous. Naomi Campbell, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez have declared that Diana Ross is their inspiration. Her outfits, characterized by sequins and sequins, feathers and tulle in abundance, managed to be spectacular but always chic. It’s still like this today: at 80 years old, Diana Ross is capable of wearing a dress covered in silver glitter with incomparable class. Always magnetic and elegant, last year she was chosen by Anthony Vaccarello as Saint Laurent spokesperson, and she posed for the spring 2024 campaign in which she abandoned her disco glam clothes in favor of a sophisticated total black minimalism.
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– 2024-03-31 11:42:24
