Diana Ross

The life behind the music

Diana Ross emerged from Detroit’s Motown world as the lead voice of the Supremes before building a solo career at the start of the 1970s. Her singing is often associated with elegance, but elegance alone does not explain its effect. She can place a phrase lightly against a beat, give a spoken passage theatrical poise, or let a melody gather intensity without making the delivery heavy.

The 1970s and 1980s reveal a performer comfortable with very different musical settings. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough gives her a sweeping dramatic canvas. Love Hangover moves from intimacy into a dance-floor pulse. The 1980 album diana, made with Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, adds the taut rhythmic language of Chic. Her work in film also makes her a natural bridge between our Music Artists and future Actors collections.

A few turning points

Five ways into the music