Diana Ross

Music career

Diana Ross, together with Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Barbara Martin formed The Primettes in 1959. After signing to Motown, in 1960, they changed the name of the group to The Supremes in 1961. Barbara Martin left the group shortly after and the group carried on until 1967, when they became "Diana Ross and the Supremes". Cindy Birdsong joined the group reforming a singing quartet. During this period the group recorded 12 number one hits.

In October 1969 Diana Ross left the group to start a solo career, finding chart succes , notably with the number one song Ain't No Mountain High Enough in 1970. Ross also starred in a biopic of Billie Holliday, Lady Sings the Blues, which earned her an academy award nomination and a number one album soundtrack.

Ross released a duets album with Marvin Gaye in 1973, entitled Diana and Marvin, scoring several chart hits. In 1975 another return to acting, this time in the film Mahogany (1975) saw the theme song Do You Know Where You're Going To? reach number one. Her second, self titled album charted in the top ten.

A duet with Lionel Richie called Endless Love in 1981 proved to be the biggest record of her career and her last hit on the Motown label. She signed to RCA and had several successful releases. After a downturn in record sales during the mid to late 80's she returned to the Motown fold.

Personal

Diana Ross is the second of six children, three girls and three boys, from factory worker Fred Ross and teacher Ernestine Earle Ross. From 1971 to 1977, Diana Ross was married to music promoter Robert Ellis Silberstein, with whom she has two daughters. From 1985 to 2000 she was married to Norwegian businessman Arne Næss jr., with whom she has two sons. (Naess died in a South Africa mountain accident in January 2004). She also has a daughter with Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr.

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