Ross, Diana (1944–)

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Ross, Diana (1944–)

African-American singer and actress. Name variations: The Supremes. Born Diane Ross, Mar 26, 1944, in Detroit, MI; dau. of Fred Earl Ross and Ernestine (Moten) Ross (d. 1984); m. Robert Silberstein Jr., 1971 (div. 1976); m. Arne Naess (shipping magnate), 1985 (div. 1999).

With Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard, recorded 1st song for Motown (1964) as one of "The Supremes"; saw recording of "Where Did Our Love Go" reach Billboard's Top 100; had 7 #1 hits and was rarely out of Top 10 (1965–69) with such songs as "Your Heart Belongs to Me" (1964), "Baby Love" (1964), "Come See about Me" (1964), "Stop! In the Name of Love" (1965), "Back in My Arms Again" (1965), "Nothing But Heartaches" (1965), "I Hear a Symphony" (1965), "My World Is Empty Without You" (1966), "You Can't Hurry Love" (1966), "You Keep Me Hangin' On" (1966), "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" (1967), "Love Child" (1968) and "Someday We'll Be Together" (1969); left the group to pursue solo career (1970), appearing in films Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Mahogany (1975), and The Wiz (1978); on tv, starred in "Double Platinum" (1999). Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1988).

See also J. Randy Taborelli, Call Me Miss Ross (Carol, 1989); Dreamgirls, loosely based on The Supremes, opened on Broadway (1981); and Women in World History.