Diana Ross

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Diana Ross first rose to prominence in the early 1960s as a member of the Supremes, a vocal trio formed with Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard that became one of Motown’s flagship acts. Her supple voice, clear phrasing and melodic sense supported a repertoire that spanned soul, orchestrated pop and rhythm and blues, before she moved more decisively toward disco and dance at the end of the 1970s. After leaving the group in 1970, Diana Ross launched a solo career with the album Diana Ross (1970) and followed with several records that established a more personal style—ranging from soul ballads and sophisticated pop to dance productions—from Touch Me in the Morning (1973) to Diana (1980), conceived with Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. She also recorded Diana & Marvin with Marvin Gaye in 1973 and the duet Endless Love with Lionel Richie in 1981. At the same time she pursued a film career, notably in Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Mahogany (1975) and The Wiz (1978). After periods with Motown and later RCA, Diana Ross continues to perform on major international stages and more recently released Thank You in 2021, her first album of original songs since the late 1990s.