Diana Ross was born in Detroit in 1944. She began taking classes in clothing design, millinery and pattern making as she aspired to become a fashion designer.
However, at fifteen, Diana joined a girl band called the Primettes, and following a talent competition win in 1960, they were invited to audition for Motown records. Originally a quartette, they signed with Motown in 1962 under their new name The Supremes. A year later they became a trio when one of the girls left the group.
The Supremes scored their first number one hit with Where Did Our Love Go, paving the way for unprecedented success between 1964 and 1967. as the group became Motown’s most successful vocal act throughout the sixties.
The group released a record-setting twelve number-one hit singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, including Where Did Our Love Go, Baby Love, Come See About Me, Stop! In the Name of Love, You Can’t Hurry Love, You Keep Me Hangin’ On, Love Child, and Someday We’ll Be Together.
Following her departure from the Supremes in 1970, Diana continued a successful solo career. Her 1980 album Diana produced another number-one single, Upside Down, as well as the international hit I’m Coming Out, and the duet Endless Love with Lionel Richie.
She is a 12-time Grammy nominee and the recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. Diana was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and Academy Award for her performance in the film Lady Sings the Blues (1972); she recorded its soundtrack, which became a number-one hit.
In 1993, the Guinness Book of World Records declared Diana Ross the most successful female music artist in history, due to her success in the US and the UK, having more hits than any female artist in the charts, with a career total of 70 hit singles.
Diana has been married twice and has five children.
