In a remarkable career spanning over 40 years, Diana Ross has proven herself the consummate music artist as well as one of the most iconic female singers of all time.

Diana Ross is a leader, gifted, talented; ‘the spirit, power and history of American soul music condensed into one voice'. These are just a few of the many enthusiastic accolades bestowed upon her as one of the most prominent women in popular music history of the late 20th century, something affirmed when in 1993 The Guinness Book of Records jointly awarded her with its Lifetime Achievement Award and the title of 'most successful female vocalist of all time'. Her citation noted, "there are no direct contenders for Miss Ross's award. "

And even today, some four decades after she first reached the No.1 position in both the USA and UK charts with "Where Did Our Love Go" (the first of a number of consecutive no.1 hits in the US), Diana Ross is still receiving awards and accolades. When London's leading radio station Capital Gold asked its listeners to vote for the greatest legends of all time, Diana collected the Legendary Female Artist award, confirming her their favourite female singer of all time.

Beginning in the sixties, as lead singer of the world renowned singing group, The Supremes, and as a solo performer Ms. Ross achieved the unprecedented feat of twelve number one singles in the USA, rivaled only by The Beatles for the position of the biggest hit group of that generation.

In 1970, Ms. Ross moved to a solo career and for more than three decades has continued to produce an endless stream of chart singles and sell-out tours, at the same time showing herself to be also a high achieving business woman unafraid to take on new challenges and new directions which her remarkable career have brought to her. It was something remarked upon by South Africa President Nelson Mandela who at his first meeting with her referred to her as "someone who always seems to be running, never walking, she is an inspiration to us all".

Outside of her recording career her achievements are many: she was Oscar nominated for her first film role, an extraordinary performance as Billie Holiday in "Lady Sings The Blues", and went on to star in further films, "Mahogany" and "The Wiz". Through her own company Anaid Film Productions Inc. she has executive produced five specials for ABC, CBS, HBO and Showtime.

In 1992 she again proved the diversity of her talent with her production of the live pay-per-view television music special, "The Lady Sings Jazz and Blues - Stolen Moments", which was later released as CD, DVD, and a Disney music special.

Again venturing down new paths, in 1994 Ms. Ross made her dramatic television debut in "Out of Darkness", a film for television on which she also acted as executive producer. Her role as a victim of schizophrenia earned her glowing reviews and a Golden Globe nomination.

Her rich career demonstrates an artist always willing to venture into new areas. Recent years have seen number of further highlights including her appearance in "Christmas In Vienna", a television special with two of the world's great tenors, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. As well as being seen across the world by an audience of tens of millions, it also led to a number one CD on the classical charts. Such was the success of the event that Ms. Ross has since performed further concerts around the world with the two tenors under the banner of the "Super Concert Tour". At the invitation of President Nelson Mandela, Ms. Ross made her first concert appearance in South Africa at the opening of the newly built Sundome, the country's largest purpose built indoor arena. She returned again to South Africa last year for a concert supporting the Nelson Mandela Children's
Fund.

She has received The Soul Train Legend Award, the French Commander des Lettres medal, and was honoured with an entire day of celebration at the international MIDEM music festival in the South of France becoming the only woman to receive such an honour in the 25 year history of the event. She was again honoured in France last year, when she received the city's highest award, when she received the medaille de vermeil de la Ville de Paris (City of Paris Medal), given to those who have played a positive role in favour of the Parisian community.

In 2004 McNally Smith College of Music honored her by the establishment of a full four year scholarship in her name. The Diana Ross Performance Scholarship is awarded each year to an outstanding student who is pursuing a Bachelor of Music.

Awards and accolades aside, she is also conscious of the struggle to make the world a better place, championing many causes, especially those concerned with children. She was spokesperson for National Children's Day, for which she testified before congress, and is also on the board of A Better Chance (ABC), the only national program that recruits and places academically talented inner city children in the nation's best preparatory schools. In her efforts, she has raised millions of dollars for the numerous charities to which she has lent her name. Her efforts have earned her much deserved recognition as a woman of strength, integrity and above-all, concern.

That concern is never more evident than in the strength of relationship she holds with her family. The proud mother of five children, the three eldest have graduated from university and established successful careers. Her oldest son started university in the fall of 2006 and her younger son has begun a career as an actor, having stared in several movies before his 18th birthday. She credits resourcefulness and determination as a Ross family trait gained from an achiever father - president of a Union Local 174 and a mother who encouraged individuality. While Ms. Ross pursued and succeeded in a singing career, her eldest sister, Dr. Barbara Ross- Lee made her own mark as the first black, female dean of Ohio Medical University.

From the young girl who sat hopefully on the steps of Hitsville, Motown's humble Detroit headquarters, to the world legend she has become, the constants in Diana Ross's life have been belief in herself, and belief in others, with the rare ability to share her experience and advantages. At the same time she credits her children as being the source of her 'grounding' and ability to remain in touch with changing trends. The other constant in her life is her continued ability to find her profession exciting and magical. As she says in "Secrets of A Sparrow", her best selling book of memoirs which recalls her life and career: "I love life fiercely, desperately. I've always had a gift of seeing the good bits. I've had lots of fun. It has been wonderful. I've also had many struggles, inward and outwards, being a mother, a wife, a feminist. The complexity of being black and female, performer, having my own business, being strong and decisive, sometimes being sad and afraid.

"But at the same time, singing has opened up a world touched by wonder...a world of possibility."

It is that love of life, that never-ending wonder, the appreciation of goals and achievements and sheer human spirit which defines the artist that is Diana Ross and continue to make her one of the most identifiable, unique, beloved and influential singers of successive pop generations.

Recently returning to live concerts, with a sold-out tour in the UK and Europe, the reviews she received showed that Ms. Ross remains aloft as one of the world's
greatest entertainers and performers:

"Magnificent Ross is still queen as she defies the passage of time to weave her magic again. Diana Ross's performance is an act of intimacy…she is truly fabulous. The performance is consummate…from pop's first and greatest goddess. " David Robson. Daily Express.

"A Supreme set from the queen of Motown. The fired-up 59-year-old polishes off one of the most brilliant back catalogues in pop. While the first half re-establishes Ross as the queen of Motown and disco, the second explodes in an emotional Vesuvius. She's on spellbinding form…"
Dave Simpson. The Guardian.

"With a voice that's still pitch perfect, a sensational figure and possessing a luminosity which envelopes a room, she was every inch the superstar." Maureen Ellis. Glasgow Evening Times.

"It's been a while since I have witnessed an audience so in tune with the person or group they had come to see. No-one wanted it to end. It has been seven years since she was on Tyneside. There'll be 10,000 people praying she doesn't leave it so long next time. Ross is still the boss…"
Sam Wonfor. The Newcastle Upon Tyne Journal.


"Before J-Lo even learnt her first nursery rhyme Diana Ross was the original diva. Her star quality is such she needs no distractions to entertain this utterly devoted audience. Even with her 60th birthday approaching next week, Diana Ross is still showing all the others how it should be done." Siobhan Grogan. Sunday Mirror.

And so the legend continues. Ms. Ross was last year celebrated by MAC Cosmetics as the face of its new ICONS collection and recently was among the 25 ‘legends' (including Tina Turner, Coretta Scott King and Maya Angelou) honoured by Oprah Winfrey as her personal heroines.

With the imminent release "I Love You", Miss Ross' first studio album in six years, expect more of that unique magic from the first lady of soul and pop.



Ends.




DIANA ROSS FACTFILE supplied by The Book of British Hit Singles, published by Guinness World Records. New gold edition available now.

• Fronted Detroit-based trio the Supremes, the world's most successful girl group in chart history.

• Diana Ross is the most prolific American female singer in UK chart history, singing lead vocals on at least one hit for 33 consecutive years (1964-1996)

• Diana Ross has had more albums on the UK chart – including 17 that reached the Top 10 - than any other American female artist

• The Supremes racked up 12 No.1 singles in their homeland and 8 UK Top 10 hits before Diana Ross went solo in 1969

• The Supremes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988

• Diana Ross has been inducted into the Soul Train and Songwriters' Hall of Fame and received a Lifetime Achievement award at the World Music Awards (1996)

• Diana Ross has had 3 UK chart-toppers ("Baby Love" (with the Supremes), "I'm Still Waiting" and "Chain Reaction") and a total of 28 UK Top 10 hits (including the Supremes) since 1964

• Total weeks on UK singles chart (including hits billed as the Supremes and Diana Ross and the Supremes) – 634

• Collaborated with the likes of Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie

• Film credits include "Lady Sings the Blues" (1972), "Mahogany" (1976) and "The Wiz" (1978)